The 10th article of faith relates to the mormons distinct perspective on history and on the. The theory the joseph smith plagiarized view of the hebrews was never advanced during his lifetime. The book of mormon, published in 1830, and ethan smiths 1823 book view of the hebrews parallel each other in some two dozen general themes. This was a relatively common view during the early nineteenth century, as most europeans and americans had a view of history as biblical. These american hebrews had divided, after long internecine warfare, into two groups, the lamanites. Hebrews chapter 11 appeared to inspire other parts of the book of mormon as well. Christians also believe jesus is our apostle and priest hebrews 3. View of the hebrews was published in 1823 and a second edition was published in 1825. These folks knew about angels, the old testament heroes, the devil, and moses tabernacle, but someone thought they needed to know a little more. In the book the view of the hebrews, what counterarguments. Did joseph smith plagiarize from view of the hebrews when writing the book of mormon by jeff lindsay.
View of the hebrews and the book of mormon book of. In an article published in the times and seasons on june 1, 1842, joseph quoted view of the hebrews in support of the book of mormon. The book of hebrews lays waste to such a view of god. At the same time this epistle is also one of the most difficult ones.
They ignore, however, that view of the hebrews also uses many other scriptural citations. The view of the hebrews theory was examined in detail by b. Hebrews uses old testament quotations interpreted in light of first century rabbinical judaism. For example, they misquote the book of mormon s account of samuel the lamanite to make it sound like the view of the hebrews account of jesus ben ananias. These are critical points for view of the hebrews, since amos 8. I suspect the reason the book of mormon has this view of faith and knowledge is. Interestingly, oliver cowdery, scribe, and later witness of the book of mormon, lived in poultney for 22 years until 1825. Lyman with a laundry list of concerns he had with the book of mormon stating his conviction the prophet had borrowed from ethan smith s work, view of the hebrews. Jesus christ is clearly greater than anything that the old covenant had produced. Jesus is the great high priest, the eternal mediator between god and man who never stops mediating, and is the perfect fulfillment of all prophecies and types and shadows.
Dec 14, 2009 the view of the hebrews is a book written in 1823 by ethan smith no relation to joseph. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole. The first chapter of hebrews begins by pointing out that god does, in fact, speak to his people. In the graecoroman and jewish world, letters like those in the new testament were read aloud in front of a group of people. The storyline outline for the book of mormon probably came from ethan smith s 1823 new york novel, view of the hebrews. Jan 01, 1977 mark twain once said after reading the book of mormon, it is chloroform in print. Aug 16, 2016 a look at the major differences between the view of the hebrews claims that the native americans are the lost ten tribes of israel, and the book of mormon claiming that the nephites are. The doctrinal center of the book of hebrews david j. The tabernacle in hebrews means either the tent of meeting in the wilderness hebrews 9. Why were afraid of mormons bu today boston university. View of the hebrews by ethan smith, photomechanical reprint of the 1825 edition.
View of the hebrews, or, the tribes of isreal in america and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. The epistle to the hebrews, or letter to the hebrews, or in the greek manuscripts, simply to the hebrews. Fairmormon answers wiki table of contents critics point to the fact that view of the hebrews cites the biblical book of isaiah, and claim that this represents an influence upon the book of mormon text. This video goes over the many similarities between the two books. The book of mormon is an ancient record of gods dealings with some of the people in the americas note that i said some of the people in the americasthe mormon church does not teach that the people in the book of mormon were the only. In the past, this was through various prophets hebrews 1. Hebrews was written for christians who had been in the church for a while. A comparison of passages from isaiah and other old testament. None of these are referenced in the book of mormon. Jul 14, 2015 this is why the book of hebrews makes a unique contribution to the canon of scripture. Book of hebrews overview insight for living ministries. It was ethan smiths book that would provide the young seer with the concepts that would get his active imagination to work on transforming the expectations of the treasure hunters. There was, however, a reference to view of the hebrews within joseph smiths lifetime, but it came from the prophet himself.
Lake city also known as the mormon church or the lds church. Lets face it, they say, joseph smith was an uneducated young man living in poverty with almost no access to books, and he dictated the entire text of the book of mormon in 63 days. Jesus is greater, so hold fast to him overviewbible. Facing today with the book of hebrews topical studies. On the other hand, jews are an extremely small minority, and every university worth. Ethan smiths book proposes that the american indians were the lost tribes of.
When hebrews talks about faith, therefore, it must help us to see the object of faith, because our faith will be strong if we believe and understand that the object of our faith is strong. Introduction to hebrews 10 isaiah gives some remarkable insights into the apocalyptic language used in the bible. Some critics believe joseph smith plagiarized the view of the hebrews when he wrote the book of mormon. Commentary on the book of hebrews by matthew henry new. New evidence furnished of the divinity of the bible 169 appendix. Joseph smith was born in vermont, but the book of mormon was first published in palmyra new york, a good distance away. Leaving the church, part 5 book of mormon by eric nelson. Aug 31, 2016 the book of hebrews is a long list of reasons to cling to jesus. Well, if joseph smith used ethan smiths view of the hebrews as the main source for the book of mormon, as many critics claim, it is a miracle for the same. Some critics claim that joseph smith copied much of the structure and content of the book of mormon from the 1823 book view of the hebrews by ethan smith no relation to joseph smith. Did joseph smith plagiarize from view of the hebrews when. In 1996, view of the hebrews was republished by the byu religious studies center, with charles d.
One of the conspiracy theories that gained traction after the solomon spalding theory fell short see our episode on this was the idea that joseph. Jun, 2017 read the book of hebrews aloud in one setting all chapters. View of the hebrews is an 1823 book written by ethan smith, a congregationalist minister in vermont, who argued that native americans were descended from the ten lost tribes of israel, a relatively common view during the early nineteenth century. Deals with the destruction of jerusalem and the scattering of israel. The book of hebrews and the joseph smith translation. Ethan smiths view of the hebrews, published seven years before the book of mormon is thought to be source material for joseph smiths book of mormon. The details of their religious views had nothing to do with the social role they played.
The translated bible text has been through advanced checking words in boxes are from the bible. The bible is an ancient record of gods dealings with some of the people in the middle east. When smith was 14, he said he received a vision from god and. Population migrations in the book of mormon, however, always move from the south to the north. People always offer you alcohol, which we dont drink, or coffe which most. Debunking the view of the hebrewsbook of mormon connection. Joseph smith made much use of the book of hebrews, particularly in developing his doctrine of the priesthood. A comparison of passages from isaiah and other old. The early church father clement quoted from the book of hebrews in a. View of the hebrews by ethan smith, photomechanical. The guys who did south park did book of mormon on broadway. Stuart robertson, for his assistance with biblical hebrew. May 02, 2020 regardless of the human hand that held the pen, the holy spirit of god is the divine author of all scripture 2 timothy 3.
Quotations from the book appear all over the book of mormon, and expansions of old testament texts as found in the book of. While the levitical system was a part of gods good purposes for his people, it was always meant to point beyond itself to the future, definitive sacrifice of christ. For almost a century critics of the authenticity of the book of mormon have claimed that view of the hebrews, first published by ethan smith in 1823 2d ed. Pleads for an israelitish origin of the american indian on every page. Now, however, that message is primarily through jesus christ hebrews 1. Is view of the hebrews a source for the book of mormon. Significantly, the book makes no reference to the destruction of the temple at jerusalem in ad 70, and the author wrote as if the sacrificial system were still in existence hebrews 10. View of the hebrews also makes reference to josephus wars of the jews in describing the destruction of jerusalem by the romans. What are the key differences between mormonism and christianity. The messiah did not visit the americas in view of the hebrews. The book and the man, joseph smith, kindled a religion that today numbers over nine million members. The book of mormon makes reference to this event in history, in the first and second books of nephi. View of the hebrews 1825 edition introduction mormons.
After the book of mormon was published, mormonism began to. View of the hebrews reports that the indians are israelites because they use the word hallelujah. It offers practical help for overcoming evil at work, developing a rhythm of work and rest, serving the people we work among, enduring hardship, bringing peace to our workplaces, persevering over long periods, offering hospitality, cultivating a lifegiving attitude toward money, and finding. The book of hebrews offers a deep foundation for understanding the value of work in the world. The prevailing theory of the day was the spalding theory, which quickly lost credibility upon the discovery of an actual spalding manuscript in 1884 which bore no resemblance to the book of mormon. In the book the view of the hebrews, what counterarguments h. The thing i dont get about mormonism is not drinking alcohol. If joseph smith composed this book, the act was a miracle. When we read the book of hebrews, we encounter a community of christians living in a time of trial, a community not so different from yours or mine. The only reason why this book continues to be in print is because its been cited as a possible source of influence on the writers of the book of mormon. View of the hebrews is an 1823 book written by ethan smith, a united states congregationalist minister, who argued that native americans were descended from the ten lost tribes of israel. Ethan smith was a minister of a congregational church in poultney, vermont from 1821 to 1826 when he wrote view of the hebrews. Similarities between the book of mormon and view of the. Joseph smiths probable source of the book of mormon.
Is the book of mormon plagiarized from view of the hebrews. The main theme of the book of hebrews can be found in the opening verses. What do americans views of mormonism say about our ideals and values. Mark twain once said after reading the book of mormon, it is chloroform in print. The book of mormon, also has references to the same subject in chapters 19, 20, and 21 of first nephi. Check out the bible verse art for other books of the bible. But persuittes parallels certainly fall short of proving his contention that the resultant preponderance of evidence demonstrates conclusively that the book of mormon had its conceptual origins in view of the hebrews. Macleod dean of the graduate program emmaus bible college, dubuque, iowa the question of emphasis or the doctrinal center of hebrews, is a vital one. Smith supposedly produced these revisions under divine inspiration.
The author ethan smith was the pastor of the religious congregation in which the oliver cowdrey family attended. Roberts took the position of examining the book of mormon from a critical perspective in order to alert the general authorities to possible future avenues of attack by critics. It was first published in 1823 the book of mormon was published 6 years later in 1829. Simply put, the book of hebrews helps us unlock the glorious tapestry of gods progressive revelation. These dissimilarities, which far outnumber any alleged similarities, are too many to list here. One such example is its use of the word fire which apocalyptically refers to gods judgment see hebrews 10. According to the book, some jews came to america to avoid. Aug 17, 2011 here are some examples of such changes in the jst version of the book of hebrews. The adoption of biblical archaisms in the book of mormon and other. View of the hebrews by ethan smith, photomechanical reprint. View of the hebrews ethan smiths view of the hebrews, published seven years before the book of mormon is thought to be source material for joseph smiths book of mormon.
This polemics is brought to you for free and open access by the all journals at byu scholarsarchive. One of the mormon evidences is to ask you to consider if joseph smith could have fabricated the book of mormon. At the same time, the book provides several stern warnings about the consequences of rejecting jesus. An unparallel, in welch, reexploring the book of mormon provo.
That is why this is the most christcentered book in the new testament. Commentary on the book of hebrews by matthew henry. The book of mormon states in a rather late passage that lehi was a descendant of manasseh, the son of joseph alma 10. Critics often ignore the many dissimilarities between the view of the hebrews and the book of mormon. Hebrews and work bible commentary theology of work. Gives an israelitish origin of the american indian. Book of mormon and view of the hebrews parallels life. Ethan smiths most popular book is view of the hebrews 1825. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesview of the hebrews. With its myriad references to hebrew customs and the old testament, the book was likely sent to a jewish christian community, possibly in rome. Likewise, hebrews, a sermon converted into a letter, would have been read aloud. Ethan smith, pastor of the congregational church in poultney, vermont, argued that the native americans were scattered israelites who would soon be restored into the gospel fold. Apart from romans, hebrews is the most doctrineheavy book of the new testament 1.
Lds revelations view of the hebrews book of mormon 1. Josephus antiquities of jews book 1, chapter 6, paragraph 4 sala was the son of arphaxad. Jesus ben anunus did not have stones thrown at him. A look at the major differences between the view of the hebrews claims that the native americans are the lost ten tribes of israel, and. As one example, nothing in the view of the hebrews explains the rich semitic complexity of the book of mormon. Books by ethan smith author of view of the hebrews 1825. This book compellingly preaches and repreaches christ to those who know him even today. View of the hebrews and the book of mormon book of mormon. They, like us, are struggling to understand god in the midst of suffering. Roberts concluded that this book, originally published in poultney, vermont in 1823 7 years prior to the book of mormon was available to joseph smith and contained enough parallel material to the book of mormon so as to furnish a virtual groundplan for it.
The book of mormon was a sacred object meant to be venerated the fact that it. The excommunication of the hebrews deeply affecting 154 2. Mormons follow a strict healthy lifestyle that doesnt allow them to consume alcohol, tobacco, coffee or tea. The epistle to the hebrews is one of the most beautiful ones of the nt. But the differences between these books are very significant. There are a couple reasons why this might be the case. Review of books on the book of mormon 19892011 volume 9number 1 article 1997 ethan smith. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power. Mormons should abstain from coffee and tea, alcohol, tobacco and. Would you respond to the theories that the book of mormon is based on the spaulding manuscript or on ethan smiths view of the hebrews. The joseph smith translation jst is the king james version of the bible with joseph smiths revisionsmostly in the form of additions, though with some other kinds of changes. View of the hebrews flooded the area in which joseph smith lived. Ethan smith, pastor of the congregational church in poultney, vermont, argued that the native americans were scattered israelites who would soon.
Walter martin, founder of the christian research institute and writer of the bestselling book kingdom of the cults, quipped in his usual tongueincheek manner that the book of hebrews was written by a hebrew to other hebrews telling the hebrews to stop acting like hebrews. Books on the book of mormon 19892011 by an authorized editor of byu scholarsarchive. It was not a magical favor dispensary but a canteen for the journey. Ces letter misportrays the content of the two books. In 1927 the well respected lds historian bh roberts wrote a letter to lds apostle richard r. The book of mormon might have remained no more than an intangible promise to a group of money diggers if joseph had not come across a copy of view of the hebrews. Hebrews is the original name of judeans or later called jews in english due to the fact that they are the descendants of heber. Roberts conducted an exhaustive comparison and analysis of these two books and concluded there is merit to this criticism.
Ethan smith has 61 books on goodreads with 332 ratings. To rightly understand this epistle one needs a thorough. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the. An easyenglish commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the letter to the hebrews. However, doubt on pauline authorship in the roman church is reported by eusebius. The book of mormon is an ancient record of gods dealings with some of the people in the americas note that i said some of the people in the americas the mormon church does not teach that the people in the book of mormon were the only people here in the americas. It was not long, however, before a number of people realised that the view of the hebrews and the book of mormon had some rather startling similarities. Soon after the book of mormon was published in 1830, the prophet and. Numerous commentators on mormon history, from lds church general authority b. New testament and second temple judaism scholar eric mason argues that the conceptual background of the priestly christology of the epistle to the hebrews closely parallels presentations of the messianic priest and melchizedek in the qumran scrolls. Did view of the hebrews influence themes in joseph smith. Although hebrews is not written in apocalyptic language, it does employ it. The view of the hebrews, has numerous references to the gathering and scattering of israel in the last days. Would you respond to the theories that the book of mormon is based.
Ces letter picks 34 parallels between view of the hebrews and the book of mormon. Joseph smith quoted view of the hebrews as supporting the book of mormon. Hebrews shows us that the bible is not a collection of unrelated stories, but is rather one unified storythe story of redemption through jesus christ. Despite the churchs claims, the roots of mormonism, rather than being ancient and old world, are often instead nineteenth century and very american.
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