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The Bible
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Contents
- 1 The Bible as part of Latter-day Saint canon
- 1.1 Bible overview
- 1.2 Biblical accuracy
- 1.3 Biblical completeness
- 1.4 Biblical interpretation by Latter-day Saints and critics
- 1.4.1 Being "born again"—what does the Bible mean?
- 1.4.2 Christianity is a mystery
- 1.4.3 Cosmology of the Bible
- 1.4.4 Genealogy, condemnation of
- 1.4.5 "Eternal" commands in the Bible that were changed by later revelation.
- 1.4.6 Hebrews 7 and the Aaronic Priesthood
- 1.4.7 On-going divine revelation not necessary
- 1.4.8 Three degrees of glory not biblical
- 1.4.9 Textual criticism
- 1.4.10 Translations
- 1.4.11 Transmission versus translation
- 1.4.12 Trustworthy?
- 1.4.13 Old Testament practices
- 1.5 Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible
- 1.6 Relationship of the Bible to the Book of Mormon
- 1.7 Science and the Bible
The Bible as part of Latter-day Saint canon
Bible overview
Basics
Summary: Latter-day Saints consider the Bible to be holy scripture.Biblical accuracy
Inerrancy and the Bible
Summary: Critics claim 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: Critics claim that Latter-day Saint leaders diminish the Bible as untrustworthy.Biblical completeness
Completeness and sufficiency
Summary: Critics claim 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: Critics claim 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: Critics claim 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. Critics claim 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: Critics claim that Joseph Smith favored "Old Testament practices" including "teaching animal sacrifice." (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - 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)∗ ∗ ∗
- Animal sacrifice—
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.- As a restoration of the original Bible text—
Brief Summary: If the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) is Joseph Smith's 'correction' of Biblical errors, why do these corrections not match known Biblical manuscripts? (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - As the Church's official Bible—
Brief Summary: Why don't Latter-day Saints use the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible as the "official" Bible instead of the King James Version. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - JST an embarrassment to leaders?—
Brief Summary: Critics claim that the Church is "embarrassed" by the Joseph Smith Translation. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Relationship of the JST to the Book of Mormon—
Brief Summary: Some passages from the Bible (parts of Isaiah, for example) were included in the Book of Mormon text. However, the same passages were later revised for the Joseph Smith Translation of the Holy Bible. In some cases these passages are not rendered identically. Critics claim that if the JST was an accurate translation, it would match the supposedly more 'pure' Isaiah text possessed by the Nephites. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗
- As a restoration of the original Bible text—