The Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is the foundation for the
theology and practice of Christian Science. In particular,
Jesus’ ministry illustrates how healing and regeneration are
experienced as we recognize through prayer that our true nature is
spiritual and that we are made ‘in the image and
likeness’ of God, as the first chapter of Genesis records.
Further examples of spiritual healing can be seen in the biblical
accounts of Jesus’ immediate disciples and followers, as well
as in the lives of Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and the prophets in the
Old Testament.
For Mary Baker Eddy, Christian Science flowed out of an
inspired understanding of the Bible, which illumined the divine laws
behind spiritual healing. These laws of God are powerful mandates,
always present and operating to heal, redeem, and bless humanity.
The title of her primary work, Science and Health, includes the
phrase “Key to the Scriptures,” indicating its
inseparable connection with the Bible. When describing her discovery
of Christian Science, she wrote, “The Bible has been my only
authority,” and, “The Bible contains the recipe for all
healing” (Science and Health, pp. 126, 406). Of the
six brief tenets of Christian Science, the first is: “As
adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our
sufficient guide to eternal Life” (Science and Health, p.
497).
A weekly Bible Lesson offers individual study and is the heart of the Sunday worship services. Sunday School for students up to the age of 20 is anchored in the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Sermon on the Mount. And readings from the Bible are also featured in midweek testimony meetings, where those gathered share ways they’ve applied the spiritual lessons of the Scriptures to real-life challenges—big and small.