Class 3 – Sections 77, 86, 91, 113
Joseph Smith’s Translation of the Bible
Translation of the Bible
•Begun in June 1830
•Much done in 1831-1832 in Hiram, Ohio
•Never completed
OT1
Fall 1830?
Copy of OT2?
OT2
6/30-4/31
Moses, Gen. 1:1-24:42
OT3
2/33-7/33
The rest of the OT
NT1
3/31-6/31
Matt 1:1-26:71
NT2
9/31-2/33
The rest of the NT
Translation of the Bible
•Revisions of the manuscripts continued
through 1844.
•Some verses were revised two or three times.
Translation of the Bible
Parts were published in church periodicals:
The Book of Moses
Matthew 24
Joseph Smith’s Bible remained with Emma Smith
What version of the Bible do we accept?
What version of the Bible do we accept?
• King James Version
• Joseph Smith Translation as a reference – but not as
our scripture.
Why haven’t we adopted the JST?
• To share a common Bible with other Christians.
• The JST was never completed.
• The RLDS Church (now the Community of Christ)
had the copyright.
Is it OK to use other versions of the Bible?
Is it OK to use other versions of the Bible?
• Yes, for personal study.
• It’s better to avoid other versions for talks and
classes.
What were the original languages of the Bible?
What were the original languages of the Bible?
• Old Testament: Hebrew
except Daniel: Aramaic
• New Testament: Greek
How did Joseph Smith translate the Bible?
How did Joseph Smith translate the Bible?
• Sometimes a scribe would write out lengthy changes.
• Often, the manuscript contained only a few words or a
phrase. The Bible was marked with dots where changes were
made.
• Passages were recorded sequentially, but the translation
wasn’t always sequential.
What are we understand by the term “translation”?
• Joseph Smith did not translate from Hebrew and Greek
• He did not restore the Bible to the “original texts” as far as
we can tell.
• We should think of it as an “inspired revision.”
Quiz – Section 77
1. What will the earth be like when it’s sanctified?
2. Are the beasts in Revelation real beasts?
3. Are the beasts in Daniel real beasts?
4. Are we to understand that the earth’s temporal
existence is limited to 7000 years?
Quiz – Section 77
5. What is the meaning of “Elias”?
6. Who are the “two witnesses”?
Quiz – Section 77
1. What will the earth be like when it’s sanctified?
A. A sea of glass, a Urim and Thummim. “You can
look in the earth and see all the eternities of God.”
-- Brigham Young
Quiz – Section 77
2. Are the beasts in Revelation real beasts?
A. Yes – (zoon are real vs. therion wild things)
Quiz – Section 77
3. Are the beasts in Daniel real beasts?
A. No, the Old Testament beasts are images –
symbolic forms (Joseph Smith).
Quiz – Section 77
4. Are we to understand that the earth’s temporal
existence is limited to 7000 years?
A. No, we needn’t consider years to be literal. Adam
is traditionally placed at 4000 BC, however…
Quiz – Section 77
5. What is the meaning of “Elias”?
A.- Literally, it is the Greek form of Elijah.
- It is a prophet from the time of Abraham.
- It is used to mean a forerunner.
Quiz – Section 77
6. Who are the “two witnesses”?
A.Two prophets who will preach in Jerusalem
just prior to the second coming. They will
fend off the Gentiles for 3 ½ years, be killed
and be resurrected.
Do I need to remember all this?
A few pieces only… check the Review!
Quiz – Section 86
1. Why did Jesus teach in Parables?
2. Who are the sowers?
3. When will the angels of destruction be sent to
reap for the final time?
Quiz – Section 86
1. Why did Jesus teach in Parables?
A. To hide the meaning from the unbelievers.
Quiz – Section 86
2. Who are the sowers?
A. The Apostles.
Quiz – Section 86
3. When will the angels of destruction be sent to
reap for the final time?
A. They left over 100 years ago. (Wilford Woodruff)
Quiz – Section 91
1. What does “apocrypha” mean?
2. What are the apocrypha?
3. How do we view the apocrypha?
Quiz – Section 91
1. What does “apocrypha” mean?
A. Literally, it means “hidden things.”
Quiz – Section 91
1. What are the apocrypha?
A.Books of a sacred nature that are accepted
by some Christians but not others.
Their origins are questionable – probably later.
Quiz – Section 91
3. How do we view the apocrypha?
A.They can be of value if read with the Spirit
to discern truth from error.
Quiz – Section 113
1. What does “stem” of Jesse mean?
2. Who is the stem of Jesse?
3. Who is the rod of Jesse?
4. Who is the root of Jesse?
5. Who is the root of David?
1. What does “stem” of Jesse mean?
The stock or trunk of Jesse. Jesse was the
father of David.
2. Who is the stem of Jesse?
Jesus Christ. He is also the branch of Jesse.
3. Who is the rod of Jesse?
A servant – probably Joseph Smith
4. Who is the root of Jesse?
A servant – maybe Joseph Smith
(Elder McConkie)
5. Who is the root of David?
Christ
For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I shall also
speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the
other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it;
and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it.
And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and
the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews
shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall
have the words of the Nephites and the Jews.
2 Ne 29:12-13