Book of Abraham/Book of Joseph
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FAQ: Joseph Smith Papyri: Book of Abraham content: Production: |
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Question
There's a web site claiming to have the text of something called the "Book of Joseph":
It is supposed to be a translation that Joseph Smith made along with the Book of Abraham and the web site claims someone is studying this translation at BYU. Do you have any information about the "Book of Joseph"?
Answer
Joseph Smith mentioned a "book of Joseph" in connection with the Book of Abraham and the Egyptian antiquities he purchased in Kirtland, Ohio. (http://www.boap.org/LDS/History/History_of_the_Church/Vol_II)
While the Book of Abraham was translated and published in the Times and Seasons in 1842, Joseph never got around to translating the Book of Joseph. No such authenticated manuscript exists.
The document on this web site makes some blatant errors of fact regarding Israel's Joseph and other historical figures. Joseph Smith's own works involving ancient persons like Enoch and Abraham never make such strange deviations.
The burden of proof lies with those who insist that the document was produced by Joseph Smith. They must establish this document's provenance and authenticity. Until someone can do so, we should consider the online text to be a forgery.
Further reading
FAIR wiki articles
Book of Abraham
The Book of Abraham. An inspired translation of the writings of Abraham. Joseph Smith began the translation in 1835 after obtaining some Egyptian papyri. The translation was published serially in the Times and Seasons beginning March 1, 1842, at Nauvoo, Illinois.
—Introduction, Pearl of Great Price (2013 edition). off-site
Production of the Book of Abraham
- Timeline—
A timeline of events related to the Book of Abraham and Kirtland Egyptian Papers (Link) - "By his own hand"—
Critics claim that the Book of Abraham's claim to have been written by Abraham's "own hand upon papyrus" is falsified since the papyrus dates to after the Abrahamic period. (Link) - Joseph Smith Papyri—
Joseph Smith had in his possession three or four long scrolls, plus a hypocephalus (Facsimile 2). Of these original materials, only a handful of fragments were recovered at the Metropolitan Museum. The majority of the papyri remains lost, and has likely been destroyed. (Link) - Book of Abraham plagiarism accusations—
Critics claim that contemporary sources were used by Joseph Smith as sources for the Book of Abraham. (Link)
Content of the Book of Abraham
- Astronomy and the Book of Abraham—
The Book of Abraham makes several references to astronomy which draw criticism. These articles address specific issues related to Book of Abraham astronomical concepts. (Link)
Evidences of the Book of Abraham
- Evidence for antiquity—
What did the Book of Abraham get right that Joseph couldn't have known? (Link)
