contradictions between the bible and the book of mormon

Bible - Must repent of basic rebellion. As we have seen, none of these paired scriptures contradict each other. Faithful Study Resources for Come, Follow Me. What is an issue is making seeing the flaws our first instinct. See Early Teachings of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, which Contradict Present- day LDS Theology See Early Teachings of Joseph Smith. Notes There Are a Couple of Principles to Keep in Mind When Dealing With These, 13. Contradictions in the Bible and Book of Mormon The critics are looking to find fault, and so strain at gnats. And whereas the Bible is organically linked to the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ by extensive surviving manuscript evidence going back as far as A.D. 125-30, the Book of Mormon is wholly lacking in any such evidences of ancient origin. In light of this fact, two questions arise concerning the presence of the King James English and text in the Book of Mormon: (1) Why does the Book of Mormon incorporate King James English? Parallel passages from the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible sometimes disagree not only with the King James Version of the Bible, but also with each other, Joseph had different purposes in mind in his different translations. He also read a book in vision that said that Jerusalem should be destroyed, and the inhabitants thereof; many should perish by the sword, and many should be carried away captive into Babylon (1 Nephi 1:13). Frank Daniels, "When was the Passover? Copyright 1997-2023 by The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Lord is indeed bound by a moral law that is factual. For example, Brigham Young's teaching that Deacons in the Church of . Rather, column B points out that if members of the Church refuse to tithe, this is good evidence that they are proud and wickedthey remain committed to Babylon, a symbol of worldliness. The Book of Mormon restores plain and precious truths that have been lost from the Bible. It is claimed that the Holy Bible and other scriptures in the standard works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints contain contradictions. In contrast, from the Bible it is clear that during His earthly ministry, Jesus himself constantly quoted from the Old Testament Scriptures, and showed full confidence in their completeness and accurate transmission as they had survived down to His time. LDS - Exaltation in Celestial Kingdom - ability to bear children in heaven - must have a Temple Marriage. We can know that something more important is at stake when the controversy in question centers around a moral/ethical question. (Matt. Its authenticity has been proven through time and aligns with historical events. This list is illustrative only, not exhaustive. 1 Timothy 6:16 (NIV) gives praise to the God who "alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. If they resist the Babylonian invasion, they face the sword, famine, and pestilence until they die. Column A speaks of "decrees of God"the commandments which God has given about how to return to him, and the consequences for disobedience. And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism. Salvation is wholly of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 11:6; Titus 3:5-6), not by grace plus works. [11] Thus, defending the faith is a duty we take on as we have covenanted with God to do so. 19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Alma 11:27-39, 44; 2 Nephi 31:21; Mormon 7:7; 3 Nephi11:27; Testimony of Three Witnesses; . edward@christiandefense.org, The Necessity of the Incarnation of God the Son. The young man in the long white garment may just be a description of an angel that Mark decided to give. Bible - says Mary was ". Abraham misled the Egyptians by not disclosing all the facts. Let's talk a little bit more about infallibility/inerrancy. Emphasis added. In contrast, the Bible teaches that God made of one blood all nations of men (Acts 17:26, KJV), that in Christ distinctions of ethnicity, gender and social class are erased (Galatians 3:28), and that God condemns favoritism (James 2:1). But there are three other Mormon scriptures as well. In contrast, the Bible specifically declares that Adams transgression was a sinful act of rebellion that unleashed the power of sin and death in the human heart and throughout Gods perfect world (Genesis 3:16-19; Romans 5:12; 8:20-21). Furthermore, the explanation for Abraham's claim is also included in the Biblesee. Repentance requires that we appreciate that we have not kept all of God's commandments, and we regret not doing so. As is typical in such charges of self-contradiction, the critics either: In this case, the critics have committed all three mistakes. ", Latter-day Saints believe that God is one, but accept the Biblical witness that this is a oneness of purpose, intent, mind, will, and love. This list misunderstands and misrepresents LDS doctrine. Thus, this article can also be considered a blueprint for defending the teachings of General Authorities. There Seems to be Historical Contradictions in Scripture, There Seems to Be Theological Tensions/Contradictions in Scripture, 1. "We, like the first-century apostles, resort to these standard translations to teach our people in terms they can verify by resorting to their own Bibles, yet admittedly, none of these translations is completely free of faults. [NOTE: See our article, Mormonism and Black Skin, for an documented and expanded look at the LDS views both delineated in the LDS scriptures and by way of sermon or statements by LDS General Authorities (LDS Presidents, Apostles, etc.) One critic has claimed that Jeremiah 27 proves that Lehi wasnt a true prophet and that the Book of Mormons authenticity is thus affected negatively. CONCLUSION: The contradictions between the Book of Mormon and the Bible constitute a most serious obstacle to accepting the Book of Mormon as Latter-day scripture supplemental to the Bible. "Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Sometimes, our best thinking and tools do not allow us to know what is the most important moral good to achieve and how to structure our behavior nor or in the future as well as individually or communally to achieve that good. Jim, There are also many contradictions within the Bible itself. That is, this office became a kind of "political football," rather than following the appointment process dictated in the Law of Moses. Critics ask which translation did Joseph get right, implying that one is wrong, hence bringing his prophetic calling into question. The King James Bible and the Joseph Smith Translation Doctrine & Covenants 84:2122 reads "And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh; For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live." Nothing in column B promises forgiveness of sins. A much celebrated example is: Matthew 6:25-27 (Joseph Smith Translation). One could assume the opposite: that Elhanan was credited with the death of Goliath wrongly but not for a nefarious purpose. Revelation may "contradict" itself and change as we fulfill those moral goods and then have other moral goods that we must meet. Good works are a result, not the basis, of a right relationship with God (Ephesians 2:10). So, you would put the Book of Mormon above the Bible. Both boys are equally right. Many conservative Protestant critics have reproduced a table which purports to show how LDS scripture contradicts itself. If he tells John to go on a mission, and John refuses, then God may need to "reassign" someone else to carry out John's former task. Scholars have argued, and not without merit (and also not without some informed pushback), that the story of Joseph being sold into Egypt in Genesis 37:1836 can actually be divided into two separate, unified narratives about how Joseph was sold. "Hey, prophet, I need you to write about the importance of charity." Biblical Contradictions - American Atheists We will first list the scriptural texts, and then discuss each of the three reasons for which they are not properly seen as contradictory. A contradiction is making a claim and then denying it: stating X and then denying X. Those with less spiritual knowledge may be forgiven of murder following sincere repentance (. Aside from direct quotations (which do not constitute plagiarism) from the OT (of which 1/3 of Isaiah is quoted and a couple of chapters of Malachi) plus the sermon on the mount being redelivered to the Nephites. LDS - Father God is a resurrected man with physical body, Christ is a separate resurrected man with physical body. Reply HelenEk7 Additional comment actions The Bible says a true prophet never contradicts a previous one.. Supposed contradictionMultiple versus single creators? These scriptures are not contradictory, for at least three reasonsany one of which is sufficient to disprove the critics' claim. Question: Are Mormon scriptures full of contradictions? Factual errors in the Book of Mormon - Department of Christian Defense Post date: October 3, 2011. To him be honor and might forever. 2 Nephi 25:23 says ".for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after al. Good works are a result, not the basis, of a right relationship with God (Ephesians 2:10). [1] Giving the Bible the benefit of the doubt. Lehi heard prophets in Jerusalem saying that the people must repent, or that great city Jerusalem must be destroyed (1 Nephi 1:4). Lehi told his contemporaries of this way out of destruction via repentance, but, according to Nephis account of Lehis ministry, Lehi was mocked and his people sought to take away his life (1 Nephi 1:20). The approaches are mirror opposites. This may be one option to consider when evaluating the contradictions of scripture. 21:1-3). The Creation Story. 1. The Book of Mormon teaches that little children are not capable of sin because they do not have a sinful nature (Moroni 8:8). Biblical Contradictions - Does the Bible Contradict Itself? In fact, it is easily proven that Smiths early teachings as contained in the Book of Mormon (and early sections of D&C) controvert present- day LDS theology on many accounts. Now let's lay out some principles and procedures to consider/follow when evaluating any contradiction. PDF 101 Clear Contradictions In The Bible - University of California, Berkeley Suggested reading for any interested. Joseph Smith had different purposes in mind when bringing forth the Book of Mormon and the Joseph smith Translation. "How many angels were at the tomb of Jesus after His resurrection?" He did not disclose that Sarai was his wife. The Book of Mormon contradicts the Bible! Might not the Bereans have said in reply, thats not the way we find it in our Bible. See John 18:13, which describes Annas as father-in-law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.). The Book of Mormon teaches that black skin is a sign of Gods curse, so that white-skinned people are considered morally and spiritually superior to black skinned people (2 Nephi 5:21). Departing from the King James Version, i.e., the translation familiar to those who would become the Book of Mormon's first readers, would have been a stumbling block in achieving its purpose. (4) The Book of Mormon teaches that, it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do (2 Nephi 25:23; see also Moroni 10:32). For instance, "Matthew 28:2 says there was only one angel at the tomb of Jesus, while Mark 16:5 [says] there was one young man clothed in a long white garment. (Jer. Churches described in column A offer forgiveness and absolution with no change in behavior or character. There are many serious objections to the claim of Joseph Smith and the LDS church that the Book of Mormon is divinely inspired latter-day scripture supplemental to the Bible. It may be that one of the writer's position came via revelation from God and the other(s) writer's did not. Tithing thus prepares us and helps transform us. These scriptures are not contradictory, for at least three reasons, Reason #1: The scriptures are discussing two slightly different issues, Reason #2: The audience and presumed intent for the audience are slightly different, Reason #3: The question presupposes that "forgiveness" is a single, unique event, when in fact it is an on-going process. * However, none are more significant than the numerous contradictions between Book of Mormon teaching and the Bible. Jesus declared that heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away (Mark 13:31; see also Matthew 5:18), and promised His disciples who were to pen the New Testament that the Holy Ghost shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you (John 14:26); Jesus further promised the apostles that they would bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain (John 15:16). These usually revolve around the difference between Genesis 1 and Genesis 2. and (2) How did such English get into the Book of Mormon text? . The Book of Mormon teaches that about 600 years before Christ, a Nephite prophet predicted that "many plain and precious parts" (1 Nephi 13:26-28) would be removed from the Bible. After the period of apostasy, God has called prophets anew. As several Church leaders have cautioned, the scriptures must be read intelligently. In her effort to discover what obstacle stood between me and Mormonism, we talked about a lot of different doctrinal issues. The baptism is an outward sign of our repentance and determination to keep God's commandments, and this willingness to covenant with Jesus allows us (as the first case notes) to "receiveof the Spirit of Christ," which begins the process of remitting our sins. Thus, God may give specific commands in one situation, and different commands in a different situation necessary for carrying out His work. There should be no disparity in the Word of God. Scholar Pete Enns gives the example of Gods opinion of the Assyrians: in the book of Jonah, God really likes the Assyrians and wants them to be saved; but in the book of Nahum, God destroys them. However, none are more significant than the numerous contradictions between Book of Mormon teaching and the Bible. FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As the scripture says, the consequences of this will "be answered upon the heads of the rebellious"there is still a penalty for disobedience, but God's plans cannot be thwarted by mortal disobedience. Difference or Contradiction? - Ligonier Ministries The End of the World. Scripture Can Still Be Instructive and Valuable as Scripture Even When it Contains Contradictions. Joseph had different purposes in mind in his different translations. Bible and Book of Mormon Contradictions - utlm.org The King James Bible and the Book of Mormon Bible - God not a man. The Bible also contains similar examples of God commanding a prophet to make a "strictly true" statement intended to deceive the wicked and protect the lives of the innocent, and other cases in which God ratified a decision to withhold the truth to save innocents. Column B is addressed "unto the Church." LDS - believe Christ's death brought release from grave and universal resurrection - Salvation by grace is universal resurrection - beyond this, man must earn his place in heaven. It is our sacred duty as Latter-day Saints to defend the faith. We can't say that a passage is truly contradictory until all scenarios for resolving the contradictions are ruled out. A volume built on this insight has been created for Latter-day Saints. Below are just some of the contradictions we've found between the Bible and the Book of Mormon. The Egyptian language was a very corrupt language from idol [] The scriptures affirm that there is "One God" consisting of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. In some cases, the essential argument being made by critics may have merit and, in others, may not. These promises clearly imply that the fruit of the apostles the New Testament Scriptures and the Christian church would endure. One of the glorious messages of the Restored Gospel is that the heavens are still open and God still speaks to his children through living prophets. Christianity's critics cast doubt on the New Testament's reliability by pointing out disparities in the Gospels. Please, pray for the Mormon people won't you? The Book of Mormon contradicts Itself and other inspired Mormon writings! "[12] But this may mean, instead of the passages being contradictory, that some accounts were simply more detailed in their relation of events after Jesus' resurrection from the tomb than others. The Book of Mormon teaches that little children are not capable of sin because they do not have a sinful nature (Moroni 8:8). There May Be Ideological Purposes Behind Contradictions. The contradictions exist, some scholars propose, because writers either wanted to undermine or shore up David's credibility and legitimacy as king of Israel. Contradictions Between Bible and Book of Mormon 2 Timothy 3:7; " Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Background Reading Russell M. Nelson, "Scriptural Witnesses," Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 43-46. Prophecy of "Jesus Christ". Again, these scriptures are complimentary and addressing different aspects of an issue. This list is illustrative only, not exhaustive. Column A is addressed to those who have not yet accepted and covenanted with Christ"ye Gentiles." Some of them are substantial doctrines that define key doctrines; others are factual contradictions that may or may not have much in the way of doctrinal consequence, but beg the question: Is the Book of Mormon really the "most correct of any book on earth"? (Rom. All rights reserved. Two of the best books on this subject are Philips Longs The Art of Biblical History and Robert Alters The Art of Biblical Narrative. Knowledge to that prophet would then have to be restored "line upon line" just as it was before. . Protestant critics do not like the fact that Latter-day Saints reject the nonbiblical Nicene Creed, which teaches a oneness of substance. They may be recounting this history based off of oral tradition (like people passing stories or rumors from one person to another) or written tradition (like typical documents that historians work from today to reconstruct the past). Latter-day Saints should defend scripture as much as possible, 2. LDS - Mormon Church system and doctrines. Lehi is saying that if the people repent they dont have to face each other. Mormonism is based on earning righteousness for salvation. The Scriptures in Question May Be Focusing on a Specific Question Rather than Historical Accuracy, 9. The critics are careful to omit the verse of scripture that explains this apparent contradiction. (Rom 6:23; Eph 2:1). The Book of Mormon teaches that the disobedience of Adam and Eve in eating the forbidden fruit was necessary so that they could have children and bring joy to mankind (2 Nephi 2:23-25). Cornelius received the Holy Ghost before he was baptized, which was the convincing power of God unto him of the truth of the Gospel, but he could not receive the gift of the Holy Ghost until after he was baptized. However, this would make the earlier prophecies of 1 Nephi and Helaman internally contradictory with later BOM references, since their phrasing of "the isles of the sea those who are of the house of Israel" and "the whole face of the whole earth" is difficult to understand as merely a localized time of darkness. *) 2. It may not be necessary to find consensus nor synthesize. This decision to repent and follow Jesus will ultimately lead to forgiveness, and the baptism of fire and the purging out of sin that comes with the receipt of the Holy Ghost (after baptism). Missionaries begin their efforts by explaining that what the Lamanites called "The Great Spirit" was God. Alma says that man's body was created after the image of God. Thus, Jeremiah is telling people to not actively resist the Babylonian invasion whether by violence or some other means but to submit to their rule. When we study the Book of Mormon, our understanding of the doctrines in the Bible is clarified. Father is Spirit and Invisible (John 4:24; I Tim 1:17). LDS - believe God, as a resurrected, physical man, is literal Father of Jesus - same manner in which men are conceived on earth - believe Matt 1:18 in error. Archer says: "Suppose Paul had chosen to work out a new, more accurate translation into Greek directly from Hebrew. One example of this principle in action may be how the Doctrine & Covenants resolves a contradiction in the Bible. Such symbols, however, are of little use in establishing a literal geographic location in either the Old or New World. See our expanded article on the Book of Mormon here Book of Mormon, Note, Aside from the seven contradictions briefly listed below by IRR (and many others can be shown), one additional Book of Mormon false teaching is its repeated affirmation of Modalism, that is, Oneness theology see Modalism and the Book of Mormon. 13:41-43). Scripture writers are often doing something closer to the work of historians and recounting what prophets have revealed in the past rather than doing the work of prophets and dictating revelation word for word as they receive it from God. Doctrine & Covenants 19:67, 1012 states: Prior to this time, Joseph Smith's revelations seem to indicate that "endless punishment" might refer to something like eternal torment in a burning hell. The table is also misleading, since Latter-day Saints use the term "saved" in a variety of ways, and would not regard most of those discussed in the Column B as "saved" in the same sense discussed in Column A. There is no Biblical support for the view that Adam and Eve could only fulfill the command to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28) by disobeying Gods command regarding the forbidden fruit (Genesis 2:17). One will notice that Elder Uchtdorf 1) declares Solomon wrong; and 2) uses scriptures to establish what he believed was the correct view. Question: How can one view contradictions in Scripture in a faithful way? This is not an attempt to give a theological description of God's nature, but to build on common beliefs. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Doctrine and Covenants/Criticism/Alleged contradictions, The Joseph Smith Translation and Ancient Texts of the Bible, https://www.friktech.com/rel/passover.htm, https://www.neverthirsty.org/bible-qa/qa-archives/question/how-many-angels-at-the-tomb-of-jesus/, How the Bible Came to Be: Part 2, The Word Is Preserved, Can a Man See God? We've outlined that here. If I say there is an unstoppable force and then deny that there is an unstoppable force, then I am contradicting myself. Amen."[25]. In contrast, it is clear from the Bible that only one individual at a time occupied the office of high priest under the Old Testament dispensation (see, for example Leviticus 21:10; Matthew 26:3; Hebrews 8:6-7). Column B has had the next verse (v. 24) omitted, which is need to properly interpret verse 23. The supposed contradictions arise from 1) misinterpretation, 2) comparing two verses when are speaking of different things and 3) reading Protestant meanings into scriptural terminology, Question: Why does the Book of Mormon and Book of Moses describe "God" as creating, while the Book of Abraham describes "Gods? Had he not taken this sign or ordinance upon him, the Holy Ghost which convinced him of the truth of God, would have left him. In this case of David/Elhanan, perhaps we can just take the disagreement and find it to be an interesting aspect of the Bible. Theres a Difference Between a Contradiction and a Paradox, 11. Salvation is wholly of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 11:6; Titus 3:5-6), not by grace plus works. ), the LDS doctrine has always rejected the biblical revelation of Christ. The best way to tell which writers' position came from God may be to read the rest of the scriptures and find if other authors agree with one of the writers. This may be one of the reasons that the Book of Mormon so strongly emphasizes the importance of preserving records to accurately record how God has dealt with his children. (Heb 5:9; II Tim 2:2). (This does not mean that those who die in infancy are lost.**). 7. Babylon was forming a then-impending invasion on Israel. Is it not reasonable, therefore, to make the Bible the standard for judging the Book of Mormon, and not the other way around? LDS - Must be performed by LDS priesthood. Column B notes that humans may be in changing circumstances. Bible - Makes no distinction between immortality and eternal life. 8. Book of Mormon Contradictions - Truth Magazine But another important element of this is that Elder Uchtdorf didn't state that Solomon was wrong for expressing the view or that the scripture wasn't inspired for having a "wrong" view. (a) Two hundred (Ezra 2:65) (b) Two hundred and forty-five (Nehemiah 7:67) CONTRADICTION: The Book of Mormon vs The Bible - YouTube 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? Neither scripture mentions "God's word" (which conservative Protestants would associate with scripture), but this terminology allows the critic to give the misleading impression that the verses are discussing the alteration of scripture, instead of on-going revelation adapted to the good and bad choices which mortals make. LDS - teach that everyone pre-existed - we all exist eternally. Yet, it would be unjust for God to impose identical punishment on the vast range of human sins. I'm not sure I see much of a point in pointing out such contradictions, they're a dime a dozen in any religion. (The mention in Luke 3:2 of "Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests" is not a real exception -- in Christs time Israel was under the domination of the Romans, who intervened to change the high priest at will. Scripture May Preserve Moral Fallibility So That We Can Learn From It, 10. Latter-day Saints do not believe in the doctrine of Scriptural Inerrancy where the scriptures must be completely historically accurate, contain no theological tensions, and have no contradictions. This is our duty as it relates to defending scripture: Why is this our duty? Latter-day Saints believe in the concept of dispensations: periods of time in which God reveals his will through a prophet. He believes that Israel and Jerusalem are so wicked that the Lord must punish them and, indeed, he has received revelation from God that God is going to do just that: punish Israel via the Babylonian invasion. There is no Biblical support for the view that Adam and Eve could only fulfill the command to "be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1:28) by disobeying Gods command regarding the forbidden fruit (Genesis 2:17). With apostasies, knowledge about God can be lost from others. (Eph 2:3; Rom 5:6). Yea, blessed are they who shall believe in your words, and come down into the depths of humility and be baptized, for they shall be visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins (3 Nephi 12:2). Indeed, authors of the Old Testament, New Testament, and Book of Mormon are often writing from the third person: talking about revelations received in the past by prophets and recounting them historically rather than receiving a dictated revelation in the style of Doctrine & Covenants. What Do Mormons Believe About the Bible and the Book of Mormon LDS - Specific acts - not man's basic nature. In fact, a Bible believer would expect there to be contradictions between the two, since the Bible never gives any legitimacy to the Book of Mormon, but actually condemns it (cf. Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish (1 Nephi 1:14). But a few books later, Jeremiah insists that if the people repent, "the Lord will . Perhaps if more writers agree with one over another, then we can take that position as the true/correct one. David can report this event to his parents as if only he went to the store: "Oh, this afternoon I went to Wal-Mart." Bible - Not limited to certain ones in heaven - no mention of parenthood or temple marriage but is given to ALL Christians. The prophet/author(s) of the different books of scripture may then be composing their narratives around that message and historical consistency may not be their focus when writing.

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