Why does the bible use god in the plural sense in genesis. According to smith, the book was a translation of some ancient records. The gist of this question is that the word elohim here is followed by plural words. Let us go down and form man in our image, after our likeness. There is, however, a key difference between the inspired book of moses creation account and the book of abraham creation account. Why does god refer to himself in the plural in genesis 1. The book of abraham issues translation problems mormonthink. The book of abraham was supposed to have been given some years after the book of moses. Egyptologists study the three facsimiles included in the book of abraham as. Your fathers dwelt of old time beyond the river, even terah, the father of abraham, and the father of nahor.
It denotes the fullness of those attributes of power which belonged to the divine being. However, the word used for god in genesis, elohim, is plural. Book of moses versus book of abraham the truth about. The book of abraham is a work produced between 1835 and 1842 by the latter day saints.
The law of moses removes any doubt, stating, hear, o israel. In the ancient ugaritic texts from the coastal canaanite city of ugarit, the sky go. The word translation typically assumes an expert knowledge of multiple languages. Both books are supposed to contain a direct revelation concerning the creation of the world. In claiming biblical precedent for joseph smiths institution of plural marriage. When the book of abraham references the gods, saying, they, that is the. Council, chaos, and creation in the book of abraham byu. One thing that differentiates the book of abrahams account of the creation from the biblical account in genesis is that the book of abraham mentions plural gods as the agents carrying out the creation. Since the creation account was something about which the lord said i show these things unto thee before ye go into egypt, that ye may declare all these words abraham 3. Thus it is usually translated in the singular, god, when referring to the god of israel. When speaking of the god of abraham and his father, the phrase the lord their god is used. You can purchase the dvd from the fair mormon bookst. The pearl of great price states in the book of abraham, and they the gods said.
The book of mormon refers to god in singular form like the. The book of abraham translated from the papyrus, by joseph smith. Sep 06, 2018 though the book of abraham conceded to be a product of josephs own mind uses the phrases strange gods, and gods of wood and of stone, in relation to heathen gods, it does not support the idea of plural gods. By mighty curelom, january 4, 2005 in book of abrahammighty curelom, january 4, 2005 in book of abraham. Reconstruction designated as part of the book of abraham. By mighty curelom, january 4, 2005 in book of abrahammighty. Of abrahams father, he wrote that terah was a sculptor, molding and selling gods from stone and wood p. When reference is made to the gods of the other nations the word is translated in the plural, gods. Book of moses vs book of abraham page 2 book of abraham. The above donut chart shows percentages of the book of abraham section of letter to a ces director that fairmormon is in agreement, disagreement, and neutral on if one assumes that fairmormons undisputed silence is acceptance of the facts, fairmormon agrees with 90. Did joseph smith teach the doctrine of plural gods.
The writings of abraham while he was in egypt, called the book. May 31, 2009 the original pentateuch is clear that yhwh is the greatest god of gods, as you say, the plural indicating the highest god of many cf. So elohim is plural in form, but singular in concept. After the lifetime of joseph smith, archaeologists working in egypt, syriapalestine, and mesopotamia uncovered scores of texts. The book of mormon refers to god in singular form like the bible. Of abraham s father, he wrote that terah was a sculptor, molding and selling gods from stone and wood p. Book of mormon central evidences of the book of abraham. Especially in hebrew thought but also in nearly all cultures there was the conception that the appellation by which someone was known in some way communicated something of his character. The book of mormon refers to god in singular form like. The book of abraham papyrus has been conclusively proven to be ancient egyptian funerary texts and images. It came forth at a time when the study of the ancient egyptian language and culture was just beginning.
The altar for sacrifice, by the idolatrous priests, standing before the gods of elkenah, libnah, mahmachrah, korash, and. The plural is also found two other times in the book of abraham and its called in facsimile 2, fig. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham university of. Mormon handbook the book of abraham since abraham lived before moses, who authored the torah the first five books of the old testament, it would make the papyrus older than the book of genesis. Book of abraham definition mormonism research ministry. The veracity and value of the book of abraham cannot be settled by scholarly.
Book of abraham page 3 pearl of great price central. Finally, in contrast to typical jewish and christian beliefs in joseph smiths day, the creation account found in abraham, four and five describes plural gods instead of a singular god as carrying out the creation of the cosmos this depiction of a plurality of gods is much more in line with texts from abrahams day, the account even uses. So, in the context of the creation, the gods refers to two or more of elohim, jehovah, michael, and some of us the noble and great ones. This is a highbrow word for accepting the existence of many gods over. The original pentateuch is clear that yhwh is the greatest god of gods, as you say, the plural indicating the highest god of many cf. To understand the words of abraham, one needs to understand the trinity, and the relationship between the father, the son and the holy spirit. If this is correct, why dont english versions translate it that way. The book of abraham papyri were thought to have been lost in. Deseret news press, 1938, 3772 2 ibid, 372 3 stan larson points out that bullock, clayton, and richards all wrote while joseph spoke, but wilford woodruffs journal is likely a polished version based on notes taken during the sermon that are no longer extant. The book of moses refers to god as a singular personage while the book of abraham refers to gods, plural. It read first, in the beginning the head of the gods brought forth the gods, or, as others have translated it, the head of the gods called the gods together. Scholars from around the world have debunked joseph smiths claims about it. The meaning of the plural seems to be plenitude of powers.
The correct pronunciation inaudible means the so its the stars. Contemporary accounts refer to a long roll or multiple rolls of papyrus. In the book of a braham example, joseph renders the plural noun elohim and its singular verb as the gods. Illustration 3 ending of papyrus scroll prepared for horus. If this book be recited for him, then he will breathe like the souls of the gods for ever and ever. Contradictions in lds scriptures pdf version click here one god. And they the gods comprehended the light, and the gods called the light day and the darkness they called night. As luck would have it, the book of abraham also contained a version of the genesis creation account. For those familiar with this section, it provides an account of the creation similar to the priestly version, the notable difference being that multiple gods are mentioned in.
What evidence does the book of abraham demonstrate to. Has this fact affected your testimonies in any way. Though the book of abraham conceded to be a product of josephs own mind uses the phrases strange gods, and gods of wood and of stone, in relation to heathen gods, it does not support the idea of plural gods. The plural is also found two other times in the book of abraham and its called in. An introduction to the book of abraham byu studies. The book of abraham is a work produced between 1835 and 1842 by joseph smith based, he said, on egyptian papyri purchased from a traveling mummy exhibition. Lds worship one god, the father, and that we must not have any. In these two chapters, the plural designation gods is used over fifty times. There are other passages in the old testament in which god refers to himself using plural constructions. The book of abraham is a work produced between 1835 and 1842 by the latter day saints lds movement founder joseph smith that he said was based on egyptian papyri purchased from a traveling mummy exhibition. And the gods took counsel among themselves and said. This was the second edition of the pearl of great price published before canonization by the lds church in 1880. The book contains several doctrines that are unique to mormonism such as the idea that god organized eternal elements to create the universe instead of. To understand the words of abraham, one needs to understand the trinity, and the relationship.
And they went down at the beginning, and they, that is the gods, organized and formed the heavens and the earth. However, it was actually the book of abraham published in 1878 that omitted the words. A translation of some ancient records, that have fallen into our hands from the catacombs of egypt. This critique applies most notably to his discussion of the creation narrative in chapters 4 and 5 of the book of abraham. The first verse of scripture notes, in the beginning, god created the heavens and the earth genesis 1. Lecture notes on the names of god related media especially in hebrew thought but also in nearly all cultures there was the conception that the appellation by which someone was known in some way communicated something of his character. Anyone who has even seen ancient egyptian imagery can tell this.
The recent web posting on the book of abraham by the church of jesus christ. Finally, in contrast to typical jewish and christian beliefs in joseph smiths day, the creation account found in abraham, four and five describes plural gods instead of a singular god as carrying out the creation of the cosmos this depiction of a plurality of gods is much more in line with texts from abraham s day, the account even uses. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. Lds church publishes new web essay on book of abraham. Actually, the word itself is pluralgodsbut its the subject of verbs in the singular.
Evidence for the divine authenticity of the book of abraham. In the bible, gods covenant with abraham appears to begin during. The prophet joseph smith, of course, produces that inspired book of abraham that really rocked the foundation of the christian world at the time. According to a church manual, the book of abraham is an evidence of the inspired calling of the prophet joseph smith. Jan 04, 2005 as luck would have it, the book of abraham also contained a version of the genesis creation account. It is also interesting to note that elohim, one of the primary titles of god in the old testament occurring over 2,500 times, is in the plural form. When used in a singular context, or with a singular verb, elohim was used by the elohist to refer to his god. It is evident that the writings of abraham while he was in egypt, of which our printed book of abraham is a copy, must of necessity be older than. Then, referring to the creation of the world in abraham chapter 4 and 5, abraham moves to the plural use of gods i. Joseph smith and the biblical council of gods fairmormon. Eloheim is from the word eloi, god, in the singular number. While the book of moses states that i, god created the heavens and the earth, the. Purporting to be the writings of abraham while he was in egypt, called the book of abraham, written by his own hand, upon papyrus. While the book of moses states that i, god created the heavens and the earth, the book of abraham states that they the gods created them.
The word eloheim ought to be in the plural all the way through gods. When through this translation he revises genesis, chapter one, the priestly version of creation and introduces his concept of gods organizing the world. The concept of strict monotheism in the bible is a misnomer. And joshua said to all the people, thus says the lord, the god of israel, from ancient times your. Genesis, book of moses pearl of great price, book of abraham pearl of great price, the temple account. The book of abraham is a book of lds scripture that joseph smith translated from a collection of ancient egyptian papyri the church purchased. Critical appraisal of the book of abraham wikipedia. The lds church believes in 4 scriptural accounts of the creation.
It is clear that the plural is not a reference to there being multiple gods. Mar 30, 2019 the concept of strict monotheism in the bible is a misnomer. The final reference in this paragraph of the letter that seems to refer to the book of abraham is the mention of the council of the eternal god of all other gods, before this world was. The book of abraham is an 1835 work produced by latter day saints lds movement founder joseph smith that he claimed were translated from egyptian papyri purchased from a traveling mummy exhibition. Its like writing, gods creates the world, which would earn you a big red check mark. Because his perceptions of the egyptian alphabet gave rise to the translation that discusses plural gods it does not necessarily endorse that belief. The conflict of adam and eve with satan, composed in egypt in the fifth or sixth century a. In the very beginning the bible shows there is a plurality of gods beyond the power of refutation. The book contains several doctrines that are unique to mormonism such as the idea that god organized eternal elements to create the universe instead of creating it ex nihilo, the exaltation of humanity, a premortal existence, the first and second estates, and the plurality of gods.
Explores the joseph smith papyrus and demonstrates that joseph smiths claim that he had translated the book of abraham from it was a fabrication. The book of mormon contradicts itself and the bible. While it makes sense to translate elohim followed by singular words as god, elohim followed by plural words imply that the elohim is plural rather than singular. Hence especially in the hebrew mentality the concept of name was very important the personal character of a name in addition the a name is something personal, it is what identifies us as. Book of moses vs book of abraham book of abraham mormon. For those familiar with this section, it provides an account of the creation similar to the priestly version, the notable difference being that multiple gods are mentioned in the book of abraham instead of one.
296 202 1397 506 448 482 1024 804 993 857 1197 443 899 1378 768 1131 765 1045 322 204 302 104 1222 687 174 1407 1465 1406 839 259 419