Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Latter-day Saint
Lucky Joseph!

Lucky Joseph!

Last updated on: January 20, 2018 at 11:55 am by Dan Peterson

Lucky Joseph! 2018-01-20T11:55:52-07:00 Dan Peterson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple (LDS.org)

Further notes from John W . Welch, et al., eds., Knowing Why: 137 Evidences That the Book of Mormon Is True (American Fork: Covenant Communications, 2017), 47-50:

“What Are the ‘Fiery Darts of the Adversary’?” (47-48)

Some critics of the Book of Mormon have argued that Nephi’s reference to “the fiery darts of the adversary” in 1 Nephi 15:24 is simply copied — anachronistically — from Paul’s language at Ephesians 6:16.

But flaming projectiles and fiery arrows were used by ancient warriors both before and after the time of Lehi and Nephi, and they are referred to in the Hebrew text of Psalm 7:13 (which, in the Hebrew version, is Psalm 7:14):

The King James Bible familiar to Joseph Smith mistranslates the Hebrew, as follows:

“He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.”

As a convenience to you, I offer the rendition given by the Common English Bible:

“God has deadly weapons in store for those who won’t change; he gets his flaming arrows ready!”

Compare, too, the way the New English Translation and the Orthodox Jewish Bible put the Hebrew into English:

“He prepares to use deadly weapons against him; he gets ready to shoot flaming arrows.”

“He hath also prepared for Him the instruments of mavet; He ordaineth His flaming khitzim (arrows).”

Interestingly, the Greek term (τὰ βέλη) rendered as “fiery darts” in the King James version of Ephesians 6:16 is the same word that’s used in the Greek Septuagint version of Psalm 7:13.

In other words, Nephi would have been familiar with “fiery arrows” or “fiery darts,” whether from his reading or from personal experience. And the English Book of Mormon’s use of the phrase is entirely appropriate.

***

“Who Called Ishmael’s Burial Place ‘Nahom’?” (49-50)

Very often, Lehi and his party gave names to the places through or by which they passed. In the case of Nahom, though, 1 Nephi 16:34 uses the passive voice: “the place which was called Nahom.” This seems to suggest that the name had already been given to the place, by others. Which seems to suggest that it might be possible for it to be found.

And, in fact, it does indeed seem to have been found. In the right place and dating to the right time. And it seems to be associated with a major burial ground, which fits the Book of Mormon perfectly.

***

Don’t miss the Interpreter Radio Show, which will broadcast its second program between 7 PM and 8 PM on Sunday night via K-Talk (1640 AM) and the internet:

http://interpreterfoundation.org/the-interpreter-radio-show/

I’m pleased to say that I listened in via my laptop computer from Phoenix, Arizona, last Sunday evening — and that the program came through loud and clear.

***

John Gee and Taylor Halverson have begun a new weekly series in Meridian Magazine. Unless I’m mistaken, this is the first installment:

“The Creation and Its Relation to God’s Covenants”

***

An excellent 3.5-minute video from President Dallin H. Oaks:

“Love and Law”

***

It seems that the Mormons’ weird, uptight, repressive, and puritanical teachings about sexual morality and standards of chastity may not be the worst behavioral model on offer, after all:

“The Claims Against Aziz Ansari Reveal the Defects of Modern Sexual Morality: No jury would convict a man for assault under these circumstances, but that doesn’t mean Grace is wrong to feel upset.”

“Real Message of #Metoo: The Sexual Revolution Has Not Been Kind to Women: They feel pressured, they feel disrespected, and they are fighting back.”

***

Many of you, I think, will find this new article, by Wade Miller and Matthew Roper, both helpful and of interest:

“Animals in the Book of Mormon: Challenges and Perspectives”

***

It appears that a television series may be beating up on the Latter-day Saints:

“Netflix’s ‘Godless’ replays old battle between Mormons and Americans”

Quelle surprise!

Previous Post

January 19, 2018

Asteroids and Meteorites, Construction and Destruction

Next Post

January 20, 2018 Scientific discovery as an encounter with the divine

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 March 2014 August 2013 February 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What city's name means "house of God" and was the place of Jacob's dream?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Bethel Bethlehem Shiloh Nazareth