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Difference between revisions of "The Apocrypha and the Book of Mormon"
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===The story of Judith=== | ===The story of Judith=== | ||
| − | The two stories actually have more dissimilarities than parallels, and the | + | The two stories actually have more dissimilarities than parallels, and the similarities are very superficial.{{ref|allen1}} |
{| valign="top" border="1" style="width:100%; font-size:85%" | {| valign="top" border="1" style="width:100%; font-size:85%" | ||
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||Judith, a Jewish resident of the city of Bethulia, tells the people that she will deliver them. | ||Judith, a Jewish resident of the city of Bethulia, tells the people that she will deliver them. | ||
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| − | |Nephi enters Jerusalem under cover of darkness. | + | |Nephi enters Jerusalem under cover of darkness. He does not intend to kill Laban. |
| − | ||Judith enters the camp of the Assyrians. | + | ||Judith enters the camp of the Assyrians with the intent to kill Holofernes. |
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| − | |Nephi finds Laban drunk and lying in the street. | + | |Nephi finds Laban drunk and lying in the street. Nephi resists the idea of killing Laban even after he is told to do so. |
||Judith impresses Holofernes with her charms and gets him drunk. He passes out on his bed. | ||Judith impresses Holofernes with her charms and gets him drunk. He passes out on his bed. | ||
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||Judith holds up Holofernes’ head by the hair and cuts it off with his own sword. | ||Judith holds up Holofernes’ head by the hair and cuts it off with his own sword. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |Nephi leaves Laban lying in the street, but takes his armor and sword. | + | |Nephi leaves Laban lying in the street, but takes and puts on his armor and sword. |
||Judith takes Holofernes’ head with her back to the city to prove what she has done. | ||Judith takes Holofernes’ head with her back to the city to prove what she has done. | ||
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Revision as of 20:28, 9 June 2008
This article is a draft. FairMormon editors are currently editing it. We welcome your suggestions on improving the content.
Contents
Criticism
Critics claim that the Apocrypha was used as a source for the Book of Mormon.
Source(s) of the criticism
- Grant H. Palmer, An Insider's View of Mormon Origins (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 2002) 55. ( Index of claims )
- Jerald and Sandra Tanner, The Changing World of Mormonism (Moody Press, 1979), 114.( Index of claims )
Response
The following claims are made:
- That Joseph Smith created the story of Nephi and Laban by plagiarizing concepts and phrases from the story of Judith and Holofernes in the Apocrypha.
- That Joseph Smith copied the name "Nephi" from the Apocrypha.
The story of Judith
The two stories actually have more dissimilarities than parallels, and the similarities are very superficial.[1]
| The story of Nephi and Laban | The story of Judith and Holofernes | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Nephi and his brothers are sent to Jerusalem to obtain the plates of Laban. | Holofernes is sent by King Nebuchadnezzar to conquer the rebellious Jews. The city of Bethulia is under siege by the Assyrians. | |
| Nephi tells his father that he will return to Jerusalem to obtain the Brass plates of Laban. | Judith, a Jewish resident of the city of Bethulia, tells the people that she will deliver them. | |
| Nephi enters Jerusalem under cover of darkness. He does not intend to kill Laban. | Judith enters the camp of the Assyrians with the intent to kill Holofernes. | |
| Nephi finds Laban drunk and lying in the street. Nephi resists the idea of killing Laban even after he is told to do so. | Judith impresses Holofernes with her charms and gets him drunk. He passes out on his bed. | |
| Nephi holds up Laban’s head by the hair and cuts if off with his own sword. | Judith holds up Holofernes’ head by the hair and cuts it off with his own sword. | |
| Nephi leaves Laban lying in the street, but takes and puts on his armor and sword. | Judith takes Holofernes’ head with her back to the city to prove what she has done. | |
| Nephi obtains the records from Laban’s house and leaves the city. | The Jews, upon learning of the death of Holofernes, leave the city and plunder the Assyrians camp. |
The name "Nephi"
Conclusion
Endnotes
- James B. Allen, "Asked and Answered: A Response to Grant Palmer (Review of: An Insider's View of Mormon Origins)," FARMS Review 16/1 (2004): 235–286. off-site
Further reading
FAIR wiki articles
FAIR web site
- FAIR Topical Guide: