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Book of Mormon/Anachronisms/Language/Modern phrasing
< Book of Mormon | Anachronisms | Language
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Criticism
Critics maintain that Book of Mormon phrases or language is too "modern" to be of ancient origin.
To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, click here
Response
The Book of Mormon is a translation. As such, it may well use phrases or expressions that have no exact ancient counterpart. Modern Bible translations use similar expressions or phrases, and yet remain translations of ancient documents.
Criticism
- Critics claim that the Book of Mormon cannot be an ancient work because it contains material that is also found in the New Testament.
- In the Book of Mormon, Jesus quotes a paraphrase of Moses' words found in Acts 3:22-26.
To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, click here
Response
The Book of Mormon claims to be a "translation." Therefore, the language used is that of Joseph Smith. Joseph could choose to render similar (or identical) material using King James Bible language if that adequately represented the text's intent.
Only if we presume that the Book of Mormon is a fraud at the outset is this proof of anything. If we assume that it is a translation, then the use of (say) 19th-century language tells us merely that Joseph translated it in the 19th century.
Endnotes
None