The three facsimiles from the book of abraham hugh w. The book of abraham by common consent, a mormon blog. The book of mormon and other mormon scriptures have not fared well at all. Just this last week, the church reemphasized the importance of its new essays in addressing thorny doctrinal topics. For instance, on a webpage previously housed at byu, a farms author avoids the most obvious question that any lds person would have regarding facsimile 2. Later that same year, a pamphlet containing the book of abraham s facsimiles was sent to the louvre. To find these four old friends at home in the apocalypse of abraham is an undeniable link between the book of abraham and the book of the dead. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page.
The angel of the lord figure 1 angels or heavenly messengers were frequently represented by birds in egyptian literature. Refuting charles larsos contentions that joseph smith incorrectly restored the facsimiles in the book of abraham. According to 34 year veteran ces teacher and author of an insiders view of mormon origins, grant palmer, 100% of the book of abraham motifs come directly from four sources. Jun 27, 20 the book of abraham comprises five chapters of text and three facsimiles of vignettes from the papyri collection, together with josephs proffered explanations.
An approach to the book of abraham byu scholarsarchive. The book originated with egyptian papyri that joseph smith translated beginning in 1835. Ashment, egyptian, egyptian alphabet and grammar, facsimile no. Abraham with an illustration similar to facsimile 1 in the book of abraham. None of the characters on the papyrus fragments mentioned abrahams name or any of the events recorded in the book of abraham. Indeed, the transliterated text from the recovered papyri and facsimiles published in the book of abraham contain no direct references, either historical or textual, to abraham, and abrahams name does not appear anywhere in the papyri or the facsimiles. I have shown that the extant papyrus was deemed by joseph smith to be, in the very least, the beginning of the book of abraham. Joseph smiths notes to facsimile 2 identify it as representing god sitting in the heavens. The book of abraham is a work produced between 1835 and 1842 by joseph smith based.
Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 2. The book contains three facsimiles from the original papyri and joseph smiths translations of their images and characters. The book of abraham translated from the papyrus, by joseph smith a translation of some ancient records, that have fallen into our hands from the catacombs of egypt. Angels in the bible are heavenly beings the hebrew term malach means. Book of abraham and facsimiles, 1 march16 may 1842, page 703. On january 31, 2020, pearl of great price central published its fortieth insight related to the book of abraham. Time in the garden of eden was according to the time of kolob. Facsimile 3 published in the book of abraham is a scene from the ancient egyptian book of the dead. The gospel topics essay on abraham why is the book of abraham not on the joseph smith papryi. The above donut chart shows percentages of the book of abraham section of letter to a ces director that fairmormon is in agreement, disagreement, and neutral on if one assumes that fairmormons undisputed silence is acceptance of the facts, fairmormon agrees with 90.
Explanations of the facsimiles other than those provided by the prophet joseph smith, which are printed with the facsimiles in the pearl of great price, are tentative and subject to revision by additional revelation and insight from modern prophets. Facsimiles from the book of abraham introduces the ancient egyptian illustrations that are currently published with the work and assesses their relationship to the text. Facsimile 1 from the book of abraham apologetics press. An appearance of the lord while abraham prayed in the land of haran see abraham 2. The truth about the book of abraham mormonism disproved. The book of abraham was first published in 1842 and was canonized as part of the pearl of great price in 1880. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 1. The book of mormon was said to have been translated from golden plates, which angels later took away, so the translation can no longer be checked against the originals. A study guide to the facsimiles of the book of abraham by. Jan 24, 2017 so i posited as a possibility that, as the vignette for chapter 125 of the book of the dead is to the testament of abraham, so are the facsimiles to the book of abraham. Feb 16, 2012 awesome, ive been waiting for years for someone with more artistic ability than i to tint these facsimiles with color. There are numerous examples of egyptian papyri that have more than one text on them, and thus there could have been a copy of the book of abraham on the same papyrus as the hor book of breathings. Ancient records offer new support for the book of abraham a brief survey of the vast body of ancient documents that confirm numerous details in the book of abraham that are not found in the bible, and could not have been known to joseph smith.
I think it will be relatively easy to convince you that the facsimiles are not good reproductions of the original papyri and hypocephalus. I was aware of the great number of hypocephali in existence, but hadnt come across the argument that there were similar vignettes used by pseudepigraphal authors in their abrahamic writings, or that there were similarities to josephs creation of the book of abraham and use of papyri facsimiles. Angels or heavenly messengers were frequently represented by birds in egyptian literature. A vision of god, an angel, and the voice of the lord while abraham lay on the altar see abraham 1. Pt 2 proving book of abraham facsimiles refuting larson youtube.
Critical appraisal of the book of abraham wikipedia. Pt 2 proving book of abraham facsimiles refuting larson. Indeed, the transliterated text from the recovered papyri and facsimiles published in the book of abraham contain no direct references, either historical or textual, to abraham, and abraham s name does not appear anywhere in the papyri or the facsimiles. Book of abraham facsimile 2 that one mission thing. The papyri were believed to have been destroyed until they were rediscovered in 1966. The book of abraham was canonized in 1880 and is part of the pearl of great price. This is the figure that you identify as a man that is sitted in the middle. A study guide to the facsimiles of the book of abraham. The book of abraham gospel topics essays lds scripture. Appealing to translation, inspiration, and likening.
Facsimiles from the book of abraham introduces the ancient egyptian. The scriptures reveal numerous occasions when the lord spoke or appeared to abraham. Full references will be provided and some additional notes when time allows. It is claimed that facsimile 1 is simply a typical funerary scene and there are many other papyri showing the same basic scene, and that the missing portions of the drawing were incorrectly restored. The book of abraham largely follows the biblical narrative but adds important information regarding abrahams life and teachings.
Abraham s name does not appear anywhere in the papyri or the facsimiles. If you follow carefully through the printed explanation of facsimile no. The altar for sacrifice by the idolatrous priests, standing before the gods of elkenah, libnah, mahmackrah, korash, and pharaoh. Abraham and the angels by aert the gelder via wikimedia commons. Book of abraham and facsimiles, nauvoo principal gathering place for saints following expulsion from missouri. The book of abraham what do we mean by translation. In the twentieth century there were two events that put the authenticity of the book of abraham as an ancient text and not a modern pseudepigraphon in doubt. Latterday saint descriptions of the historical background to the joseph smith papyri sometimes set the stage with an account of napoleons invasion of egypt in 1798. Death blow to mormonism the book of abraham is a fake. This post will discuss the alteration of the book of abraham facsimiles no. Joseph smiths family owned an 1830 edition and this is the source of chapter 1 of the book of abraham. The chaldeans first appeared in the 9th century bce, years before abraham supposedly lived. Apologetics press facsimile 1 from the book of abraham. Book of abraham facsimiles the three facsimiles by hugh nibley research and perspectives.
As translated by the prophet joseph smith, they bear witness of the gospel as had by adam, noah, and other ancient patriarchs. Nibley 1980 typos and typographical nonsequiturs are not nibleys. However, in 1966 several fragments of the papyri were found in the archives of the metropolitan museum of art in new york and in the lds church archives. However, facsimile 3 also shows anubis, yet smith made him out to be a tinyheaded, racist caricature of an african slave. Awesome, ive been waiting for years for someone with more artistic ability than i to tint these facsimiles with color. Examining facsimile one from the book of abraham youtube. So i posited as a possibility that, as the vignette for chapter 125 of the book of the dead is to the testament of abraham, so are the facsimiles to the book of abraham. The pearl of great price is one of the canonized scriptures of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Do any of josephs explanations of book of abraham facsimile 1 agree with what egyptologists say about the figures. The idolatrous priest of elkenah attempting to offer up abraham as a sacrifice. A response december 2, 1983 by ben crowder abraham, anubis, apocalypse of abraham, bonwetsch, book of abraham, edward h.
Translation and historicity of the book of abraham university of. The churchs essay on this topic attempts to reconcile the problematic nature of the book of abrahams origin with the doctrinal importance of its contents. Osiris sitting on the throne of judgment becomes abel. The book of abraham skinny frequently, when reading a discussion on the lds problem of the book of abraham, the apologists and critics beat around the bushconfusing the reader. Mar 19, 2011 unfortunately for joseph smith both the recovered papyri and the facsimiles published with the book of abraham bear no direct connection, either historical or textual, to abraham. So i posited as a possibility that, as the vignette for chapter 125 of the book of the dead is to the testament of abraham. The book of abraham is a book of lds scripture that joseph smith translated from a collection of ancient egyptian papyri the church purchased. I am aware that many members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints mormon doubt the veracity of joseph smith juniors translation from egyptian hieroglyphs, including the facsimiles found in the book of abraham. Beginning in 1839, church of jesus christ of latterday saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of commerce and planned settlement of commerce city, as well as surrounding areas. Jun 22, 2008 refuting charles larsos contentions that joseph smith incorrectly restored the facsimiles in the book of abraham. But this was once antimormon lies that people were excommunicated for stating. Joseph smith and the lds church for over 170 years have claimed that the book of abraham is a translation of a portion of the papyri scrolls purchased by the church in 1835 kirtland, ohio, and that this portion contains the writings of abraham written by abrahams own hand. Mormon and nonmormon egyptologists agree that the characters on the fragments do not match the translation given in the book of abraham.
The truth about the book of abraham perhaps the most concrete evidence against the mormon faith, the joseph smith papyrus, the source document for joseph smiths translation of the alleged book of abraham, was rediscovered in 1966 in the metropolitan museum of. And when they cast abraham into the fire, and the angel of the lord came. In the book of abraham also we are told that the plan of the cosmos, represented by facsimile no. First off, some information, what is the book of abraham. Kerry muhlestein on the book of abraham video teaching the book of abraham facsimiles by michael dennis rhodes genesis 1112continue reading.
Mormon handbook the book of abraham since abraham lived before moses, who authored the torah the first five books of the old testament, it would make the papyrus older than the book of genesis. Well the book was derived from a set of egyptian papyri purchased by the joseph smith in 1835 from a traveling mummy show. What about the association of facsimiles 1 and 3 with the hor book of breathings. A study guide to the facsimiles of the book of abraham shows the meaning of every character in the facsimiles and helps readers comprehend their great value. Here, theodule deveria, an egyptologist at the museum, had the opportunity to examine the facsimiles, which he recognized as common egyptian funerary documents, of which he had examined hundreds. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of mormonism. The writings of abraham while he was in egypt, called the book of abraham, written by his own hand, upon papyrus.
They are now referred to as the joseph smith papyri. Teaching the book of abraham facsimiles byu scholarsarchive. Of all the sacred texts of the mormon church, one of the most fascinating is the book of abraham, a fivechapter book that purportedly records the travels of abraham in egypt. Kerry muhlestein on the book of abraham video teaching the book of abraham facsimiles by michael dennis rhodes genesis 1112 continue reading. Apr 17, 2010 what is the message and point of the facsimiles. Comparison of the facsimiles as interpreted by joseph and what egyptologists say they mean. The facsimiles and semitic adaptation of existing sources. Later that same year, a pamphlet containing the book of abrahams facsimiles was sent to the louvre. This is an element more contemporary to a later redactor andor copyist of the book of abraham. I knew that the current canonized book of abraham is only about 25% of what joseph translated the rest being lost.
A facsimile from the book of abraham church of jesus christ. The facsimiles of the book of abraham are a part of the pearl of great price. Facsimiles 2 and 3, which have not survived, clearly demonstrate that other parts of the alleged book of abraham were actually from the book of breathings, the book of the dead, or just part of egyptian burial practices. Fairs apologetics regarding the book of abraham offends intellect. The book of abraham comprises five chapters of text and three facsimiles of vignettes from the papyri collection, together with josephs proffered explanations. The book of abraham papyri were thought to have been lost in the 1871 great chicago fire. It is evident that the writings of abraham while he was in egypt, of which our printed book of abraham is a copy, must of necessity be older than. For many, the book of abraham is problematic, a real shelfbreaker. Book of abraham facsimile number 2 wikimedia commons. Book of abraham, which included letters from eight egyptologists and semitists who had responded to his inquiry concerning the interpretations of the three facsimiles published with the book of abraham text. According to joseph smiths introductory comments in the translation, abraham wrote the book himself, by his own hand, upon papyrus smith, 1842, 93. Although no formal training in egyptology, joseph smith created a translation of part of the papyri, and the work was published called the the book of abraham.
The book of abraham issues translation problems mormonthink. The illustration represented by facsimile 2 is a hypocephalus, a disc made of linen, papyrus, or bronze, covered with inscriptions and images which relate to one of the last spells in the book of the dead. Teaching the book of abraham facsimiles 117 questions raised by the papyri these egyptian documents can be reliably dated to somewhere between 220 and 150 b. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of abraham.
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