Revision as of 20:52, 16 February 2012

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Lesson 8: O How Great the Goodness of Our God

Lesson #8- Sunday School Manual: O How Great the Goodness of Our God

1. Through His Atonement, Jesus Christ offers redemption from temporal death and spiritual death. (2 Nephi 9)

Helpful Insights

Structure of 2 Nephi 9:

• Jacob explains the Resurrection and the Jugement (1-16)
• A Hymn to the Holy One of Israel (17-24)**The Law and the First Wo (25-27)
• Nine More Woes (28-38)
• Jacob Exhorts His People to Remember (39-54
  • (Structure according to Grant Hardy, The Book of Mormon: A Reader's Edition)

Jacob's Sermon: 2 Nephi 6-10 is a sermon by Nephi's younger brother Jacob, given at the instruction of Nephi (2 Nephi 6:4). This sermon is inserted into the text by Nephi with no warning, and immediately follows Nephi's conclusion of his family's journey and the eventual tragic division of the family into "Nephites" and "Lamanites". It may be that Nephi felt that Jacob's sermon appropriately addressed some of the challenges that Nephi's community was facing. Jacob begins his sermon by quoting Isaiah and commenting on the meaning of it. In chapter 6 Jacob reveals that God has told him that Jerusalem has been destroyed, but that Israel will be gathered again, both in that century and again at the Messiah's second coming. Chapters 7-8 are direct quotations of Isaiah 50-52:2.

• Did Joseph Smith plagiarize from the KJV Bible?, FAIR Wiki, http://en.fairmormon.org/Book_of_Mormon/Plagiarism_accusations/King_James_Bible

Jacob "Read" His Sermon: In 2 Nephi 9:1 Jacob notes that he "read" Isaiah to his audience. The custom among ancient Jews was to stand and read from the scriptures in the synagogue. Jacob's sermon was originally delivered orally, and perhaps only later written down either by Jacob or by Nephi.

• "Reading the Torah", http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/torah_reading.html

Death and Hell as Monsters: In describing the power of God Jacob explains that God rescues men "from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell". This conception of death and hell as "monsters" echoes some ancient ideas that existed among the Canaanites and Israelites about death. God was conceptualized as fighting against, and conquering, cosmic forces which often took the form of monsters. Similar ideas are also found in Paul's "participationist" model of salvation in which sin is a cosmic power which Jesus defeats.

• Brant Gardner, "Second Witness", vol 2, pg. 163-174
• Bart Ehrman, "A Brief Introduction to the New Testament", pg. 266-268, http://www.us.oup.com/us/companion.websites/0195161238/studentresources/chapter16/?view=usa

Faith Affirmations

2. Certain attitudes and actions prevent us from receiving all the blessings of the Atonement. (2 Nephi 9)

Helpful Insights

3. The Lord remembers His covenants with His people. (2 Nephi 10)

Helpful Insights

Potential Criticisms