Thought: "The New Testament “is the centerpiece of scriptural
history, just as the Savior Himself should be the centerpiece of our lives. We
must commit ourselves to study & treasure it!”
(LTPerry-CR 5/11)
Book of the Week: How The New Testament Came To Be, 35th
Sperry Symposium (2006)
Ch. 1“Plain & Precious Things”: The Writing of the New Testament- Alexander B. Morrison-emeritus
70.
It has been nearly two millennia
since the bits and pieces of what would become the most influential book in
history were written, over a period of perhaps 50-70 years, by obscure and, in
some instances, perhaps unknown authors. At first glance, the New Testament
tells a fantastic tale…The story of the life and teachings of Jesus and His
Apostles—is the most oft-told tale in human history. It has had more influence
on the thoughts of men and women than any other book. Yet the story of how it
came to be lies squarely in the realm of uncertainty. Within a few years of
Jesus’ death and Resurrection, His followers began to write down their accounts
of His life and teachings and to record or comment on them in their worship services.
Thus, the 2nd-century Christian apologist Justin Martyr, killed at Rome about
AD 165, wrote of church services in Rome in his day: “On the day called Sunday,
all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the
memoirs of the apostles, or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as
time permits.”
Age and Authorship-Well-established techniques of textual criticism are commonly used to
estimate the age and authorship of New Testament manuscripts. Textual criticism
does not prove anything in the sense that a math or physics problem can be
proven.
The Four Gospels-Whatever the reasons they
were written, the four Gospels are, by no means, the unchanged and
unadulterated words of biographers or stenographers who followed Jesus around
and recorded His utterances verbatim. They probably began, in common with other
ancient scriptures, as oral traditions—collections of reminiscences, stories,
proverbs, and anecdotes.
Mark (the 1st of the Synoptic Gospels), was composed within a
few decades of Jesus’ death (c. AD 65–70). The author is likely John Mark, the
sometime missionary companion of Paul & Barnabas. Tradition tells us that
Mark wrote his Gospel under the direction of Peter, perhaps in Antioch, or
Rome. Mark’s Gospel, apparently written primarily for a Gentile audience,
emphasizes Jesus’ activities more than His sayings.
Matthew, is believed to have utilized much source material from Mark in
writing his Gospel, the longest and most eloquent of the 3 synoptic. Some suggest
that the book was written 10-15 years later than Mark’s, about AD 80–85. It
contains many of the same accounts found in Mark but adds, inter alia, a
detailed genealogy of Jesus, the story of the wise men, the flight to Egypt, &
the Sermon on the Mount.
Luke, the biographer of Paul’s missionary journeys, was a Gentile
physician who wrote his Gospel in idiomatic Greek, perhaps about the same time
as the Gospel of Matthew (AD 80–85). Luke emphasizes Jesus’ lovingkindness &
human understanding , while underlining His role as the Savior of all
humankind. He gives Gentiles a significant place in Christ’s ministry. Luke
tells many stories of faithful women about whom nothing is said in the other
Gospels, including Mary’s cousin Elisabeth, the widow of Nain & the woman
who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears. Mary the mother of Jesus, and not
Joseph, plays the principal role in the story of Jesus’ birth.
The Gospel of John, his epistles, and the book of Revelation were written by the
Apostle towards the end of the first Christian century (AD 90–95). John differs
from the other Gospels. It was written for a different audience, addressed to
middle-class, literate, Hellenistic members of the new Christian community. It
contains numerous accounts not found in the other Gospels, including Jesus’
conversation with Nicodemus, the story of the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well,
and the raising of Lazarus from the dead. John emphasizes Jesus’ divinity and
His Resurrection, affirming that He is the Only Begotten Son of the Father.
More abstract than the three synoptic Gospels. It begins with a beautiful
statement of Christ’s premortal life: (John 1:1). (D&C 7:3; 3 Nephi 28:6).
The Rest of the New Testament - The Acts of the
Apostles were written by Luke. It describes the lives of the
earliest
Christian missionaries, most notably Peter & Paul, & provides insights
into the struggling Church established by Paul and others throughout Greece and
Asia Minor. Much of the rest of the New Testament tells the story of the
Apostle Paul’s struggles to maintain the doctrinal purity of the infant
churches. Paul’s epistles are not primarily evangelistic but regulatory and
doctrinal in nature. Paul’s letters were to be read aloud to the congregation. To me the authorship of books of the New
Testament is of far less importance than the messages & testimonies of the
Holy Messiah which they bear. I honor them as holy scripture, the word of God
given for our edification and instruction, “as far as [they are] translated
correctly. The testimony of the Holy Ghost, which teaches us “all things” (John
14:26) & testifies that Jesus is the Only Begotten Son of the Father (John
15:26), is independent of who the author of a particular book was.
Paul’s letters to Thessalonica are the earliest of his epistles,
dating from late in the 5th decade of the Christian era, and are the oldest
known Christian texts of the New Testament. They were written, some 20 years
before any of the Gospel accounts
The Development of the Canon- In
addition uncertainties about who is the author of books of the NT, there is not
full agreement as to which books belong in the canon. The authors of early
Christian writings probably were little interested in contributing to a
collection of “orthodox” books of doctrine. But there still were differences of
opinion over the books which should be contained in the canon of scripture.
About AD 170, someone in Rome wrote, in Greek, a list of books considered
canonical by the Roman church of the day. That list provides the earliest
record of canonical books available. Seventy lines of this list, written in
very rough Latin probably copied from a Greek version in the eighth century,
were found in the Ambrosian library in Milan in 1840. The list is called the
Muratorian Canon, since it was found by a man named Lodovicio Muratori. The
Muratorian Canon lists the four Gospels and the other books currently in our
New Testament, except Hebrews, James, and 1 and 2 Peter. It also includes two
other books not currently in the New Testament—the Apocalypse of Peter and the
Wisdom of Solomon.
Writing about AD 300, Eusebius, “Father of Church History,”
considered Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, Jude, and Revelation to be of
questionable status. Agreement on the contents of the NT canon, insofar as the
Eastern church was concerned, was solidified when Athanasius, then bishop of
Alexandria, recommended a canonical list in AD 367 to church members in North
Africa containing all of the books of the current New Testament. A papal decree
of AD 403 confirmed the canon of Athanasius for use in the Western church, but
it took until the Council of Trent in the 16th century for Roman Catholics to
decide formally on their canon of scripture.
There is no universally agreed upon canon of New Testament
scripture, nor has there ever been one. Some churches, notably the Syrian
Orthodox and Chaldean Syrian, continue to reject 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, Jude,
and the Revelation of John. The Greek Orthodox Church has always excluded the
Revelation of John, and, at the other extreme, the Ethiopian church includes
more than 30 books on its official list of NT scriptures. I
The Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century brought new
challenges to the matter of what should be considered in the “orthodox” canon.
Martin Luther believed Hebrews, James, Jude, & Revelation could not be
counted among the “true and noblest” books of the New Testament. Some
Protestants had considered these books to be apocryphal for nearly a century. I
Copies of Copies of Copies - The
problems of deciding who wrote the various books of the New Testament, when
they wrote them, and what should be included in the “orthodox” canon of
scripture are made much more difficult because we do not have the original
manuscripts. They have been lost, without exception, and all we have are
“copies of copies of copies”. For example, the earliest reasonable, though
fragmentary, copy we have of Paul’s letter to the Galatians dates to about AD
200—nearly fifteen decades after Paul wrote it. Most of the changes, as one
might expect, are the result of human error, carelessness, or fatigue on the
part of the scribe or copyist. Misspellings and the inadvertent omission or
duplication of a word or a line clearly fall into that category. Origen, a third-century
Christian Father, complained about the copies of the Gospels to which he had
access: “The differences among the manuscripts have become great, either
through the negligence of some copyists or through the perverse audacity of
others; they either neglect to check over what they have transcribed, or, in
the process of checking, they make additions or deletions as they please.”
The Great and Abominable Church - Nephi
wrote that someone, or more likely a group of people, “have taken away from the
gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious” that “they
might pervert the right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and
harden the hearts of the children of men” It seems certain that most of the
changes that have significantly corrupted the scriptures came before the end of
the first century, when many variations on the Christian message were
widespread. Without going into more detail, it is clear that allegations of
scriptural tampering and downright forgery were common in the second century of
the Christian era. No individual or group was immune. Stephen Robinson said: “Membership [in the
great and abominable church] is based
more on who has your heart than on who has your records.”It is most probable, I
believe, that the great and abominable church, which maliciously corrupted the
scriptures early in the Christian era, was actually not a single entity but a
coalition or at least a conglomerate of people who rebelled against God.
Conclusion - Study
of the creation of the NT is seriously hampered by the passage of nearly two
millennia of time, the lack of original manuscripts, our inadequate
understandings of the realities of life in the ancient world (including that of
early Christians) uncertainties inherent in textual criticism, and considerable
evidence that the scriptures have undergone significant changes over the years.
Serious doubts exist as to the age and authenticity of many New Testament
books. Few scholars believe that the Bible as available to us today is
inerrant.
I believe that for too
long Latter-day Saint scholars have not, perhaps, paid as much attention to
examining the NT as they have to the BOM & other aspects of this latter-day
work. We have been too
content to leave biblical exegesis largely to others, who however academically
brilliant, have not, brought the full light of the Spirit to their labors. This
must be remedied by LDS scholars who combine intellectual rigor and spiritual
strength. Truth need never be
feared: it is our friend and ally, not our enemy.
I cannot leave this topic without expressing my own deep love
for the NT. My soul is stirred by the soaring majesty of its prose & the
glory of its portrayals of the Good Shepherd and those who follow Him. Above
all else, from the NT I learn of the wondrous Son of God, who died that I might
live and who rose triumphant from the tomb to bring resurrection to all &
celestial joy to those who keep His commandments. He will return again, in
power and glory, with healing in His wings, to set His people free. Of that I
testify.
Harmony vs. Sequential
1.
One plus of teaching the Gospels sequentially is that it allows students to see
the individual themes, purposes, & points of emphasis of each writer. It
provides the basis for understanding the full scope the inspired writer
intended to convey. As we benefit from hearing many individual testimonies in sacrament meetings, we benefit
from studying Gospel accounts in ways that allow us to appreciate the
individual testimonies of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. Another advantage of
treating each book of the NT separately is we can more easily find commentary &
insights in the student manual as we study the scriptures on our own. Each lesson will focus on a passage of scripture rather
than on a particular concept, doctrine, or principle. Read assigned sections of
the NT & student manual before each lesson.
2. One challenge of teaching the Gospels sequentially is dealing
with shared accounts—teachings and events in the Savior’s life that are
recorded in more than one of the Gospels. This may be partially avoided by
being aware of the distinctive contributions and themes of each Gospel writer
and deciding where a shared account should be emphasized and where it may be
summarized.
A Bible,
A Bible, We Have A Bible - As
of November 2014 the full Bible has been translated into 531 languages, and
2,883 languages have at least some portion of the Bible.
1. Vulgate- Jerome's Latin 383 AD. The OT was translated from
the Septuagint and the NT from previous copies in Greek. Problem so many copies, how could he know which was right? Became
Bible of western world for 1000 years.
2. Luther's German Bible was a product of his disagreement with
the Catholic Church. 1517 -Thesis; 1522 completed New Testament; 1532 published
entire Bible. Joseph Smith said his NT translation was "very good."
3. John Wycliffe's English translation. NT completed in 1380.
Portions of OT in 1382. 30 years after his death he was denounced as a heretic.
In 1432 death his bones were dug up and burned & the ashes scattered by
order of Pope Martin V.
4. William Tyndale's English translation. "If God spare my
life, ere many years I will causes a boy that driveth the plough, shall know
more of the Scripture than thou doest!" Permission to translate denied. He
traveled in disguise to Germany in 1524 where he published and then smuggled
Bibles into England. 1535 strangled and body burned at the stake after 1 1/2
year imprisonment. His work became the foundation for the KJV.
(DTChristofferson, Ensign May 2010)
5. King James Version-A team of 50 translators commissioned by
King James I from 1604-1611 translated from Tyndale's and many other works.
Sometimes called the Authorized Version. It was used by Joseph Smith.
Vocabulary & style are seen in the Book of Mormon & D&C. Our
Church's official Bible.
6. Joseph Smith Translation- See Bible Dictionary
Matthew 1-Remember that Matt. is out to show the Jews that Jesus
is the fulfillment of OT Prophecy!
Vs.
1-17- 3 sets of 14- The gematria of
David significance of 7 and 14. See also Gen. 22:18 & Gal. 3:16.
Vs.
18-
|
Isaiah 7:14-
Therefore the Lord himself shall give
you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call
his name Immanuel. |
Matthew 1:18–25 |
|
Micah 5:2- But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though
thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet
out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is
to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been
from of old, from everlasting. |
Matthew 2:1, 5 |
|
Hosea 11:1-
When Israel was
a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. |
Matthew 2:13–15 |
|
Jeremiah 31:15-
Thus saith the Lord;
A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and
bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for
her children, because they were not |
Matthew 2:16–18 |
The fulfillment of OT passages would only be significant to
those who were acquainted with the OT. Relevance today as we consider the Signs
of the Times?
1:18-23-2:23- The Birth of Jesus
Vs. 18- Espousal-Note student manual
Vs. 18-25- Joseph was (like Lehi) a visionary man.
Vs. 20- Alma 7:10; Luke 1:35- There is little more important to know
about Jesus than who is Father is.
2:1-12- Note the student manual on the wise men. They had to have been
looking. How about the rest of the Bible believing world?
Herod
the Great (73 BC - 4 BC) When Pompey
invaded Jerusalem (63 BC) he set the ruler Hyrcanus on the throne as a puppet
ruler under Roman rule. Antipater was
doing all he could to impress the Romans by throwing them troops and money.
Antipater died, Herod continued in the steps of his father.
In 40 BC the Parthians (Persians)
battled with Rome for control of the Near East. The Jews looked upon the
Parthians as deliverers. The Jews in Babylon were faring better than the Jews
in Jerusalem and had good relations with the Persians. he conquering Parthians removed Hyrcanus from
the throne and replaced him with Antigonus. Herod fled to Rome & convinced
the Senate to place him on the throne.
It
took Herod 3 years (with the support of Rome) to re-conquer Judea. He was
established by the Romans as the king of Idumea, Judea, Samaria and Galilee. He married a Hasmonean named Mariamne, the
granddaughter of Hyrcanus hoping to convince the Jews of his Jewishness. What
it did was put his sons in a more acceptable position than Herod to the Jewish
people. Herod executed several of his sons and his favorite (of 10) wife (by
strangulation) who he seemed to genuinely love. In many ways Herod was an
admirable ruler. He built public edifices on a magnificent scale, not only in
Palestine but also throughout the eastern Mediterranean. He turned the rather
modest temple in Jerusalem into one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. He was strong and athletic
and an extraordinary warrior. He was disciplined, patient and intelligent. He
was also a monster. Nothing, no person, no matter how beloved or how innocent, no
principle, could stand in the way of his ambition.
Josephus tells us as Herod lay dying, in 4 BC he ordered the eldest sons
from 600 leading Jewish families to be arrested and held at the racetrack in
Jericho. He wanted them all put to death when he died to ensure that the Jews
would mourn the day of his passing. His own son Antipater was executed just 5
days before his death. (Also killed by Herod: priests &nobles, many of
Sanhedrin, brother in Law the High Priest, 3 sons, Uncle & father of wife,
mother in law, friends) ("Better to be Herod's pig than his son"
Augustus Caesar.
Considering that Bethlehem had a
population of 1-2000 as well as a high infant mortality rate, with an annual
birthrate of about 30, then the number of boys killed probably did not exceed
20. (Millet, Studies in Scripture 5:150-51)
Successors -His 3 surviving sons 1. Archelaus - Judea, Idumea & Samaria,
after 9 years deposed by Rome - kingship demolished & Judea ruled by Roman
administration. 26 AD Pontius Pilate (vindictive, cruel, greedy and stubborn
until 36 AD. 2. Antipas (Herod the
Tetrarch- Matt. 14; Mark 6; Luke 9, 13, 23) Galilee and Perea - arrested John
the Baptist - in 39 AD deposed and sent into exile into Gaul. 3. Philip - Ruled Northeast districts of
Palestine until his death in 33 AD. 1st husband of Herodias 4. Agrippa !- son of Aristobulus and nephew
of the 3 above came to rule all of the area of his grandpa Herod. Wanted to be known
as a devoted Jew. Was a persecutor of Christians. His son Agrippa II ruled a part of his
father's kingdom. Last of the Herodian rulers. (See BD-"Herod")
3:13-17
- Baptism of Jesus- Why? 0 sins- See 2 Nephi 31:5-12
What
important doctrines do we learn from the baptism of Jesus? Matthew 26:39; John 17:3; Acts 7:55–56; Hebrews 1:1–2; Doctrine and Covenants 130:22;
Joseph Smith—History 1:17.
4:1-11 - Wilderness Temptations
Vs. 1, 5, 8 - Important JST corrections.
Vs. 2 - What are the results on a fast besides hunger?
The temptations He suffered at the outset of His
ministry typify those that beset us. Speaking of these temptations—to turn
stones into bread, to cast Himself from the temple’s pinnacle, and to sell His
soul for earth’s treasures (see Matt. 4:2–10)—President
David O. McKay said, ‘Classify them, and you will find that under one of
those three nearly every given temptation that makes you and me spotted … comes
to us as (1) a temptation of appetite; (2) a yielding to the pride
and fashion and vanity of those alienated from the things of God; or (3) a
gratifying of the … desire for the riches of the world, or power among men’ (in
Conference Report, Apr. 1911, 59)” (Bishop
Keith B. McMullin“Welcome Home,”
Ensign, May 1999, 80).
Elder Neal A.
Maxwell said of the Savior’s example in resisting temptation:
“By emulating the Master, who endured temptations but ‘gave no heed unto them’
[D&C 20:22], we, too, can live in
a world filled with temptations ‘such as [are] common to man’ (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Of course Jesus noticed the tremendous temptations that came to Him, but He did
not process and reprocess them. Instead, he rejected them promptly. If we
entertain temptations, soon they begin entertaining us!” (“Overcome … Even as I Also Overcame,” Ensign, May 1987, 71).
Hebrews 2: 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved
him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and
faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation
for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath
suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Hebrews 4: 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the
feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we
may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need
Isaiah 28
Vs. 1- The crown of pride is
the northern tribes w/ Ephraim astheir head.
Vs. 2- The
mighty and strong nation is Assyria
Vs. 3-4 -
It looks bad for Israel!
Vs. 5-6 - Note the footnote
Vs. 7-8 -
Another good footnote
Vs. 9-13- I
think this is about the restoration of the gospel in our day.
Vs. 14-15 -
Now back to Judean leaders: You made an alliance with Egypt contrary to the
advice of the prophets. Another reminder to look to God for protection not the
people or things of this world.
Vs. 16-17 -
The restoration prophesied with a foundation of apostles and Jesus as a chief
cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19-20) Just as a builder uses a line and a
plummet to make sure things are straight, so Jesus will use judgment and
righteousness to evaluate his people.
Vs. 18-
Your arrangement with Egypt will not protect you when the enemies attack.
Vs. 19-20
-The enemies of their day (Assyria) and of our day will conquer unless we look
to God as our cover. When the vexation comes, the unprepared people will be
afraid. Our best efforts to cover ourselves will not be sufficient in any day.
Vs. 21 -
The Lord will continue his work of helping his children destroy their
oppressors. (footnotes) His strange acts (footnotes) will be plenty suficient.
Vs. 23-29
Isaiah used the symbol of a farmer and how he deals
with his fields and crops to show the purposes of God. Israel is the field of
Jehovah. Because of her wickedness and apostasy she has become hardened and
incapable of producing much fruit. As the husbandman plows the soil, breaking
up the hardness with the blade and turning over the soil in preparation for
planting, so the judgments and punishments sent upon the covenant people are
the plow and the harrow of God (cf. Mormon's commentary in Helaman 12:1-6 on
the nature of God's children). Isaiah's question, "Does the plowman plow
all day to sow?" the answer is no. The plowman does not plow the field
over and over and over. He plows just enough to prepare the soil for planting
the fitches, the cummin (two kinds of herbs) and the wheat.
Likewise, in the image of the farmer threshing his
crops is illustrated the divine discretion of God. Different crops are threshed
in different ways. Wheat is threshed with a threshing sled, a heavy instrument
dragged behind an ox or a donkey. But other means are used to thresh the more
tender fitches and cummin, which would be destroyed by that much weight. So it
is with God. His punishments are not sent just to grind the people to
destruction. If the wickedness of the people requires only the beating
"with the staff," then that is all the Lord sends. If a heavier form
of threshing is required, then it is sent. In some extreme cases, such as those
of the Flood or of Sodom and Gomorrah, the fields may have to be burned and
completely so that a new crop can be started.
The Lord could have explained in a more straightforward
manner the way he deals with his rebellious children, listing point by point
what he wanted all his children to know. but there is more power in imagery
than there is in a list. And the power of that imagery caries through numerous
translations and cultures. As Elder Bruce R. McConkie stated:
"To crystallize in our minds the eternal verities
which we must accept and believe to be saved, to dramatize their true meaning
and import with an impact never to be forgotten, to center our attention on
these saving truths, again and again and again, the Lord uses similitudes.
Abstract principles may easily be forgotten or their deep meaning overlooked,
but visual performances and actual experiences are registered on the mind in
such a way as never to be lost." (The Promised Messiah, p.377)
(OTSM p. 111-112)
ISAIAH 29 (2 NEPHI 26
AND 27)
2 Nephi 26-27 makes the Book of
Mormon rendition of Isaiah 29 longer than the biblical text. Isaiah 29 contains
24 verses, Nephi’s version 54 (2 Nephi 26:15-27:35). 2 possibilities; 1)
Original Isaiah may have been longer and some lost passages and 2) Nephi may
have elaborated upon Isaiah’s words.
Phrases
from 2 Nephi 27 are some of our favorites; “A Marvelous Work and a Wonder”?
(vs. 26) or a book that is sealed? (vs. 7), or 3 witnesses shall behold it?
(vs. 12). We are more likely to quote this chapter of Isaiah than any other.
Nephi uses Isaiah 29 to show that Isaiah knew of the coming forth of the Book
of Mormon.
Look at 2 Nephi 25:9-20. In these verses Nephi
give his own prophecies concerning the future of Jerusalem. In 2 Nephi 26 and
27 he uses Isaiah to substantiate his prophecies.
26:15 – Nephi applies words of Isaiah 29:3 foretelling the
destruction of Jerusalem to apply to the destruction of his own people.
26:16 – Imagery indicating that the written record of the
Nephites will speak to later generations as one speaking from the grave.
26:18 – Chaff left after winnowing of a harvest passes away
quickly and completely, either by burning in a fire or by a gust of wind.
27:1 – The day of the Gentiles refers to the day of the
Gentile nations. This would be the European nations and their offspring, like
the USA. Drunkenness refers to excessiveness.
27:3 – The last days will produce a people who eat and
drink-educationally and spiritually- but not be filled. Mount Zion refers to
the gathering places of saints.
27:4 – refers to lost spiritual senses.
27:5 – A prophet needs a congregation to listen.
27:6 – slumbered is used as a metaphor indicating the
writers of the record have died.
27:7 – see Ether 3:21-27
27:9 – a man=Joseph Smith. Another=Martin Harris
27:10 – The sealed portion contains the history of the world
parts 1-7.
27:11 – See D&C 101:32-34
27:12-13 – The 11 witnesses and Mary Musselman Whitmer. What
is the difference between these different witnesses?
27:15 - The learned consists of Charles Anthon – Professor of classics, Greek and Latin at Columbia University in NYC and Samuel Mitchill a noted historian, linguist, ichthyologist (fish), botanist, geologist, editor, chemist, physician, and legislator from NYC and Luther Brandish, a diplomat, world traveler, and student of languages from Albany, New York.
27:15 - The learned consists of Charles Anthon – Professor of classics, Greek and Latin at Columbia University in NYC and Samuel Mitchill a noted historian, linguist, ichthyologist (fish), botanist, geologist, editor, chemist, physician, and legislator from NYC and Luther Brandish, a diplomat, world traveler, and student of languages from Albany, New York.
27:20 – Why did the Lord not use a learned person from verse
15?
27:21 – Student at BYU
27:26 – A Marvelous Work and a Wonder is translated from the
Hebrew word “Pela” . This word is used 3 times in the verse and could be
translated, “A miraculous miracle and a miracle”. The NIV says “Astound people
with wonder upon wonder”. The NEB says, “I will yet again shock this people,
adding shock to shock”.
27:27 – The word “counsel” is translated from the Hebrew
“sod” and can also be translated, “secrets”. Those who attempt to hide the
their counsel from the Lord are compared to clay and the Lord to a potter. The
metaphor shows the foolishness of mortals who pretend to be mightier than their
Creator. (See D&C 105-34) Turning things upside down is a reference to
those who think that we ought to teach what everybody else teaches.
27:28 – The forests of Lebanon (a type for the pride and
worldliness of people will be replaced by fruitful fields (a type for
productive covenant people)
27:30 – Describes who missionaries are looking for.
27:31 – Satan is the terrible one. The scorner is one who
makes light of the sacred. All that watch for iniquity = those looking for a
chance to sin.
27:32 – Lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate
refers to those who seek to undermine those who carry out justice. The area
near the gate of a city was used anciently to conduct judgment and other types
of business. (See Deut. 21:19; Ruth 4)
27:33 – Israel will be glad, not embarrassed.
27:34 – This can only happen when we know who and how He is.
27:35 – If we understand we won’t murmur. (See 1 Nephi 2:12)
