Difference between revisions of "The Bible"

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|title=Bible: The Word of God
 
|title=Bible: The Word of God
 
|author=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 
|author=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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|publication=Gospel Topics (lds.org)
 
|summary=The Holy Bible literally contains within its pages the converting, healing Spirit of Christ, which has turned men’s hearts for centuries, leading them to pray, to choose right paths, and to search to find their Savior.
 
|summary=The Holy Bible literally contains within its pages the converting, healing Spirit of Christ, which has turned men’s hearts for centuries, leading them to pray, to choose right paths, and to search to find their Savior.
 
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The Holy Bible is well named. It is holy because it teaches truth, holy because it warms us with its spirit, holy because it teaches us to know God and understand His dealings with men, and holy because it testifies throughout its pages of the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
The Holy Bible is well named. It is holy because it teaches truth, holy because it warms us with its spirit, holy because it teaches us to know God and understand His dealings with men, and holy because it testifies throughout its pages of the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
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Revision as of 20:23, 18 December 2013

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The Bible as part of Latter-day Saint canon

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Holy Bible
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Gospel Topics (lds.org), "Bible: The Word of God"

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,  Gospel Topics (lds.org)
The Holy Bible literally contains within its pages the converting, healing Spirit of Christ, which has turned men’s hearts for centuries, leading them to pray, to choose right paths, and to search to find their Savior.


The Holy Bible is well named. It is holy because it teaches truth, holy because it warms us with its spirit, holy because it teaches us to know God and understand His dealings with men, and holy because it testifies throughout its pages of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Click here to view the complete article

Topics


Bible overview

Basics

Summary: Latter-day Saints consider the Bible to be holy scripture.

Biblical accuracy

Inerrancy and the Bible

Summary: It is claimed the Bible texts, at least in their pristine form, were inerrant. Therefore, it is incorrect for Joseph Smith to teach that the Bible contains errors, mistakes, or omissions.

Textual criticism

Summary: What can textual criticism tell us about the Bible? Does it have anything to say about the Bible being without error, as some Christians claim?

Translations

Summary: The Church insists on using the Authorized ("King James") Version as its official Bible, even though more modern translations are easier to read, are more accurate, and include more recent manuscript discoveries. Critics sometimes complain that the eight Article of Faith about believing the Bible "as far as it is translated correctly," implies that Bible translators are trying to hide God's truth.

Transmission versus translation

Summary: Critics try to show that by the term translation in the eighth Article of Faith, we really mean transmission.

Trustworthy?

Summary: It is claimed that Latter-day Saint leaders diminish the Bible as untrustworthy.

Biblical completeness

Completeness and sufficiency

Summary: It is claimed the Bible contains all necessary or essential knowledge to assure salvation. Therefore, things like modern prophets or additional scripture (such as the Book of Mormon) are unnecessary or even blasphemous.

"Adding to" or "taking away" from the Bible

Summary: It is claimed that the Book of Mormon cannot be true because nothing should be "added to" or "taken away from" the Holy Bible.

Biblical inerrancy

Summary: Does the Bible teach that it is "inerrant"? Is this an idea with any meaning?

Insufficient?

Summary: Critics interpret a statement by Orson Pratt to mean that Latter-day Saints believe that the Bible is "insufficient."

Lost scripture

Summary: I've heard about "lost scripture" mentioned in the Bible. What does the Book of Mormon mean when it says that "plain and precious" things have been taken out of the bible? What is this about, and what implications does it have for the doctrine of Biblical inerrancy and sufficiency?

Open canon vs. closed canon

Summary: It is claimed that the Church is in error because Christianity requires a "closed canon" (no more authoritative revelation) instead of the Church's "open canon" (potential for more binding revelation).

Biblical interpretation by Latter-day Saints and critics

Being "born again"—what does the Bible mean?

Summary: When the Bible talks about being "born again," what does this mean? How did the first Christians understand this concept?

Christianity is a mystery

Summary: Members of the Church believe that the gospel of Christ has been known since the days of Adam. It is claimed that the New Testament teaches that the Gospel of Christ was a mystery unknown until the advent of Christ. (In defense of this claim, they often cite such scriptures as Rom. 16:25; 1 Cor. 2:7, 1 Cor. 4:1; Eph. 3:1-10; Col. 1:25-27).

Cosmology of the Bible

Summary: What do we know about how Bible authors viewed the earth and the universe?

Genealogy, condemnation of

Summary: Critics of Mormonism charge that the Bible condemns genealogy, and therefore the Latter-day Saint practice of compiling family histories is anti-Biblical, often citing 1 Timothy 1:4 or Titus 3:9.

"Eternal" commands in the Bible that were changed by later revelation.

Summary: Critics of Mormonism attack Joseph Smith for altering things that were "eternal," while ignoring other matters labeled "eternal" that were later changed by biblical prophets.

Hebrews 7 and the Aaronic Priesthood

Summary: Hebrews 7 states that the Aaronic/Levitical Priesthood was "changed" to the unique priesthood "after the order of Melchizedek" held by Jesus Christ. Why then do Latter-day Saints still use the Aaronic Priesthood?

On-going divine revelation not necessary

Summary: Critics of Mormonism claim that there is no need for on-going divine revelation today; some even charge that claims of visions from God or revelations to a modern prophet is a blasphemous idea.

Three degrees of glory not biblical

Summary: Critics of Mormonism claim that the doctrine of three heavens has no basis in the Bible.

Textual criticism

Summary: What can textual criticism tell us about the Bible? Does it have anything to say about the Bible being without error, as some Christians claim?

Translations

Summary: What are the merits of various biblical translations?

Transmission versus translation

Summary: LDS doctrine expresses belief in the Bible "as far as it is translated correctly." Does translated have a broader sense than the modern one?

Trustworthy?

Summary: Do LDS regard the Bible as "untrustworthy"?

Old Testament practices

    • Animal sacrifice
      Brief Summary: It is claimed that Joseph Smith favored "Old Testament practices" including "teaching animal sacrifice." (Click here for full article)
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    • Cursing of enemies
      Brief Summary: Critics charge that Joseph Smith focused on Old Testament ideas and concepts, such as the "cursing of enemies." Critics appeal to New Testament prohibitions of cursing enemies (e.g., Rom. 12:14, and then argue that restoration scriptures or remarks by Church leaders are inconsistent with the Christian command to "bless, not curse." (Click here for full article)
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Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible

Joseph Smith Translation

Summary: A collection of articles responding to criticisms related to the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible.

Relationship of the Bible to the Book of Mormon

Isaiah, multiple authors of

Summary: The "Deutero-Isaiah" theory is the claim that parts of Isaiah were written later than others. The critical issue raised is that the Brass Plates of Laban quote from sections of Isaiah that this theory ascribes to Deutero-Isaiah, so how could the Nephites have these writings if they weren't written until after they left Jerusalem?

Science and the Bible

Archaeology and the Bible

Summary: Sectarian critics who accept the Bible, but not the Book of Mormon, sometimes claim that the Bible has been "proven" or "confirmed" by archaeology, and insist that the same cannot be said for the Book of Mormon.

Flood, global or local

Summary: Modern scientific knowledge regarding the diversity of species, language and evidence of continuous human habitation does not support the Biblical story that a global flood wiped out most life as recently as 4,400 years ago