Topical Guide/Scripture and Influential Writings/Bible
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Topical Guide
- Archaeology and the Bible (Link)
- Bible Complete - No Additional Scripture (Link)
- History and Manuscripts (Link)
- Inerrant (Link)
- Joseph Smith Translation (Link)
- LDS View (Link)
- Sola scriptura (Link)
FAIR Wiki Articles
The Bible as part of Latter-day Saint canon
Bible overview
Biblical accuracy
- Inerrancy and the Bible—
Critics claim the Bible texts, at least in their pristine form, were inerrant. Therefore, it is incorrect for Joseph Smith to teach that the Bible contains errors, mistakes, or omissions. (Link) - Textual criticism—
What can textual criticism tell us about the Bible? Does it have anything to say about the Bible being without error, as some Christians claim? (Link) - Translations—
The Church insists on using the Authorized ("King James") Version as its official Bible, even though more modern translations are easier to read, are more accurate, and include more recent manuscript discoveries. Critics sometimes complain that the eight Article of Faith about believing the Bible "as far as it is translated correctly," implies that Bible translators are trying to hide God's truth. (Link) - Transmission versus translation—
Critics try to show that by the term translation in the eighth Article of Faith, we really mean transmission. (Link) - Trustworthy?—
Critics claim that Latter-day Saint leaders diminish the Bible as untrustworthy. (Link)
Biblical completeness
- Completeness and sufficiency—
Critics claim the Bible contains all necessary or essential knowledge to assure salvation. Therefore, things like modern prophets or additional scripture (such as the Book of Mormon) are unnecessary or even blasphemous. (Link) - "Adding to" or "taking away" from the Bible—
Critics claim that the Book of Mormon cannot be true because nothing should be "added to" or "taken away from" the Holy Bible. (Link) - Biblical inerrancy—
Does the Bible teach that it is "inerrant"? Is this an idea with any meaning? (Link) - Insufficient?—
Critics interpret a statement by Orson Pratt to mean that Latter-day Saints believe that the Bible is "insufficient." (Link) - Lost scripture—
I've heard about "lost scripture" mentioned in the Bible. What does the Book of Mormon mean when it says that "plain and precious" things have been taken out of the bible? What is this about, and what implications does it have for the doctrine of Biblical inerrancy and sufficiency? (Link) - Open canon vs. closed canon—
Critics claim that the Church is in error because Christianity requires a "closed canon" (no more authoritative revelation) instead of the Church's "open canon" (potential for more binding revelation). (Link)
Biblical interpretation by Latter-day Saints and critics
- Being "born again"—what does the Bible mean?—
When the Bible talks about being "born again," what does this mean? How did the first Christians understand this concept? (Link) - Christianity is a mystery—
Members of the Church believe that the gospel of Christ has been known since the days of Adam. Critics claim that the New Testament teaches that the Gospel of Christ was a mystery unknown until the advent of Christ. (In defense of this claim, they often cite such scriptures as Rom. 16:25; 1 Cor. 2:7, 1 Cor. 4:1; Eph. 3:1-10; Col. 1:25-27). (Link) - Cosmology of the Bible—
What do we know about how Bible authors viewed the earth and the universe? (Link) - Genealogy, condemnation of—
Critics of Mormonism charge that the Bible condemns genealogy, and therefore the Latter-day Saint practice of compiling family histories is anti-Biblical, often citing 1 Timothy 1:4 or Titus 3:9. (Link) - "Eternal" commands in the Bible that were changed by later revelation.—
Critics of Mormonism attack Joseph Smith for altering things that were "eternal," while ignoring other matters labeled "eternal" that were later changed by biblical prophets. (Link) - Hebrews 7 and the Aaronic Priesthood—
Hebrews 7 states that the Aaronic/Levitical Priesthood was "changed" to the unique priesthood "after the order of Melchizedek" held by Jesus Christ. Why then do Latter-day Saints still use the Aaronic Priesthood? (Link) - On-going divine revelation not necessary—
Critics of Mormonism claim that there is no need for on-going divine revelation today; some even charge that claims of visions from God or revelations to a modern prophet is a blasphemous idea. (Link) - Three degrees of glory not biblical—
Critics of Mormonism claim that the doctrine of three heavens has no basis in the Bible. (Link) - Textual criticism—
What can textual criticism tell us about the Bible? Does it have anything to say about the Bible being without error, as some Christians claim? (Link) - Translations—
What are the merits of various biblical translations? (Link) - Transmission versus translation—
LDS doctrine expresses belief in the Bible "as far as it is translated correctly." Does translated have a broader sense than the modern one? (Link) - Trustworthy?—
Do LDS regard the Bible as "untrustworthy"? (Link) - Old Testament practices (Link)
Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible
- Joseph Smith Translation—
A collection of articles responding to criticisms related to the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible. (Link)
Relationship of the Bible to the Book of Mormon
- Isaiah, multiple authors of—
The "Deutero-Isaiah" theory is the claim that parts of Isaiah were written later than others. The critical issue raised is that the Brass Plates of Laban quote from sections of Isaiah that this theory ascribes to Deutero-Isaiah, so how could the Nephites have these writings if they weren't written until after they left Jerusalem? (Link)
Science and the Bible
- Archaeology and the Bible—
Sectarian critics who accept the Bible, but not the Book of Mormon, sometimes claim that the Bible has been "proven" or "confirmed" by archaeology, and insist that the same cannot be said for the Book of Mormon. (Link) - Flood, global or local—
Modern scientific knowledge regarding the diversity of species, language and evidence of continuous human habitation does not support the Biblical story that a global flood wiped out most life as recently as 4,400 years ago (Link)
FAIR Articles
- FAIR Topical Guide: Bible FAIR link
