Why do the later versions of the Book of Mormon contain added phrases that seem to change the nature of Christ?
Upvote:13
Why did Joseph Smith change those verses? For clarity.
The December 1983 edition of the LDS-published Ensign magazine included the article Understanding Textual Changes in the Book of Mormon. The article addresses several types of changes including the specific ones asked about by the OP.
In a few places, however, Joseph Smith did intentionally add to the text to clarify a point. An illustration of this is the added words the son of in 1 Nephi 11:21, 32, and 13:40. The text would be correct with or without the additional words, but the addition helps the reader avoid misunderstanding.
Eternal Father is a term that can correctly refer to Jesus Christ in contexts such as father of the church (1 Corinthians 4:15, Mosiah 15:11) and father of the creation (Helaman 14:12).
Apparently Joseph Smith, as translator of the Book of Mormon, wanted to clarify that those verses were speaking of Jesus Christ and not Christ's Father. It wasn't a change of doctrine but a change to avert misinterpretation.
For further reading, see this article.
More post
- 📝 Is the root of salvation correctly summed up as "Be saved and repent!" or should it be "Repent and be saved!"?
- 📝 According to Catholic Church, how long should a person pray for the soul of his/her dear ones after the death of the latter?
- 📝 Why does no one know what Jesus looks like?
- 📝 Did the apostle James the Greater travel to Spain and was he martyred in Jerusalem?
- 📝 Do curses have any impact or effect on Christians?
- 📝 If we want to know what the Bible says about an issue, what methods can help us to find all the relevant scriptures?
- 📝 Were there implicit laws not referenced in the Acts 15 letter to gentile believers?
- 📝 At what point did Paul become a child of God, born of God?
- 📝 What were the editions to the KJV since 1611 and who did them and when?
- 📝 One Essence Three Persons of Trinity
- 📝 What are Christian theologeans referring to when they talk about "God's glory"?
- 📝 What is the true origin of the quotation, attributed to St Augustine, beginning, 'To fall in love with God is the greatest of romances'?
- 📝 Why Jews are the chosen people?
- 📝 Biblical basis for Heaven *not* being a physical place?
- 📝 What is meant by "love covers over a multitude of sins"?
- 📝 Why is the Gospel of John said to present Jesus distinctively as "the Son of God"?
- 📝 How do Christians justify worshiping someone who kills naive children/innocent beings?
- 📝 A promise in Acts 16:31?
- 📝 According to the Catholicism, what was the marital status of Gomer, the woman chosen to be Prophet Hosea's wife?
- 📝 Particular judgment, general judgment, God's foreknowledge and free will
- 📝 Where are the tombs of Jesus' original 12 Apostles
- 📝 What is the Justification of a priest acting in persona Christi?
- 📝 What is the significance of the four laws given to early Christians who were not ethnically Jews?
- 📝 Does the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) have a policy regarding admitting members who do not accept its doctrines?
- 📝 Why does Calvinism need the doctrine of Perseverance of the Saints if it believes in Unconditional Election?
- 📝 Did God inadvertantly create evil?
- 📝 What do Christian Scientists mean when they say death is an illusion?
- 📝 What is the nature of the "Communion of the Saints"?
- 📝 What are the earlier references to Mary?
- 📝 Interpreting Acts 2:38 together with John 1:12
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 Why do the later versions of the Book of Mormon contain added phrases that seem to change the nature of Christ?
- 📝 What important Mormon doctrines are taught in the book of Mormon that we couldn't find in the Bible already?
- 📝 Why did Joseph Smith translate the Book of Mormon into Jacobean English, not in use in 1830?
- 📝 Does The Book of Mormon contain Jewish literary techniques?
- 📝 How do Latter-day Saints respond to the claim that the Book of Mormon is based on "Manuscript Found" by Solomon Spaulding? (aka the Spaulding Theory)
- 📝 Do any of the Mormon doctrines that cannot be found in the Bible come from the Book of Mormon?
- 📝 Why were the golden plates necessary if Joseph Smith received his translation of the Book of Mormon by viewing a stone in his hat?
- 📝 How many different groups are there that base their teachings on the Book of Mormon and/or Joseph Smith?
- 📝 Why is the Book of Enoch not regarded as canonical?
- 📝 According to those holding that Lazarus was literally raised from the dead, why did Matthew, Mark, and Luke not mention it?
- 📝 How is one supposed to "know" whether or not the Book of Mormon is true?
- 📝 Why do OEC discount the literal interpretation of the book of Genesis?
- 📝 Historical figures mentioned in the Bible that sceptics doubted existed but were later confirmed by archaeology
- 📝 Why did so many early church fathers say that sex was a consequence of the Fall?
- 📝 What is the relationship between the Book of Mormon and the Bible?
- 📝 What is the Book of Mormon equivalent of John 3:16?
- 📝 Why does the LDS church believe that alcohol was forbidden, despite being common in the Bible?
- 📝 Are there any conflicts between how Jesus is described in the Book of Mormon vs how He is described in the Bible?
- 📝 Why are the books of the Protestant Bible in the order that they are in?
- 📝 Are translations of the book of Mormon into other languages made from English, or are the golden plates stashed in a temple somewhere?
- 📝 How many witnesses are there who physically saw and/or touched the golden plates from which the Book of Mormon was reportedly translated?
- 📝 Why did the people believe that no one would know where the Christ came from?
- 📝 Why are the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption of Mary such a big deal that all Catholics must believe in them?
- 📝 In light of the fact that Donatism is heresy, why do most churches require a priest to bless the elements?
- 📝 Why did Jesus say that "Mary has chosen the better part"?
- 📝 Why is the Son of God called the Eternal Father in the book of Alma?
- 📝 Why did the reformers include the book of Hebrews in the canon?
- 📝 Why does LDS teaching say that the Priesthood returned to earth if John never left?
- 📝 What is the history behind/Origin of the doxology that often gets added to the end of the Lord's prayer?
- 📝 Assuming the Book of Mormon is historically accurate, does this necessarily imply the Great Apostasy?