Tag: Alma 7
-
Gold and the Two Ways — part 4a
Gold and the Two Ways in the Book of Mormon Parts 1, 2, and 3 are found here: Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. We’re looking at references to gold and riches and the like in the scriptures in the context of the doctrine of the two ways. In this post, we’ll look at some of the references…
-
Scriptural repetition — An introduction
In this paper, Alan Goff makes a good case for intentional repetition in ancient Hebrew scripture (including the Book of Mormon whose writers have Hebrew heritage). The modern notion among historicist biblical scholars is that many repetitive elements in the Old Testament are clumsy, narrative failures and often evidence of various origins and textual development…
-
"Touch not that which is unclean"
Often we read about a physical, concrete concept in the Old Testament that has an abstract or spiritual counterpart. This counterpart is typically more prevalent in other scripture. The Law of Moses is one example. It is easy to get hung up on the rituals and rules that are found in Numbers and Leviticus and…
-
Faith, hope and charity leading to good works
My last post is more or less an introduction to this one. I have tried to figure out what to make of some connections between Moroni 7 and Moroni 10 and will try to organize my thoughts in this post. My thoughts build on several previous posts. For instance, a lot has been written already…
-
The order of the Son of God
Many biblical scholars claim that the priesthood with its formal duties started with Aaron and his sons. The term, priest, is used in passing on a few occasions before that time, but there is little information from reading the Bible alone. What was the nature of the authority and duties of a priesthood holder before…
-
The Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants in the Book of Mormon — Part 2
The first part was an introduction to the topic. In this part I will focus on the Abrahamic covenant and how it is used in the Book of Mormon. As explained in part 1, the term \”the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob\” is used to specifically refer to this covenant and the God who…
-
Paths of righteousness and wisdom
Having just finished Margaret Barker\’s \”Temple Theology\”, I am still in ancient temple mode. One of the characteristics of this older first temple tradition (pre-deuteronomic reform) was the belief in a female deity called \”wisdom\”. This seems to have been a tradition that Lehi and his family took with them to the promised land. We…
-
The recipe for eternal life
I was thinking I should identify scriptures in the Book of Mormon that go something like this: \”If ye [description of actions], ye shall have eternal life/be saved/lifted up\”. In Alma 41:8 we read that \”the way is prepared that whosoever will may walk therein and be saved\”. Jesus Christ has done the work. Without him it would all be…
-
"Good works" in association with "faith" and "repentance"
I noticed something interesting as I studied references to \”good works\” and connected the concept to covenants (part 1 and part 2). In many cases, the mention of \”good works\” happens in connection with faith and repentance. The table below demonstrates how these references relate to adjacent mentions of \”faith\” and \”repentance\” (or very similar…
-
"Good works" as a covenant symbol, part 1
If you read this blog regularly, you know I’m really interested in finding covenant symbols. After studying Alma 5 recently, and then studying some related verses, I became convinced that “good works” and “works of righteousness” mean more than just helping an old lady across the street. “Good works” is a covenant symbol. I base…
Book of Mormon Notes 