“The representation of the Godhead–three–yet in one, is curiously drawn to give simply, though impressively, the writer's views of that exalted personage. Also note the connection between the papyri and Josephus as well as extra-biblical, apocryphal knowledge related by Oliver Cowdery in a letter to William Frye describing the papyri:
Seixas had to have been versed in the oral and apocryphal traditions surrounding Abraham. The combination of a study of Josephus with a “learned Jew” on the payroll accounts for much, if not all, of the “various ancient traditions” that are encountered. “the numerous parallels to specific elements in the Book of Abraham that can be found in various ancient traditions and texts, most of which could not have been accessed by Joseph (though Josephus mentions Abraham's fascination with astronomy, for example). There are links below the video on the PGP Central page that can take you into the supporting details for the evidences presented. It’s an easily digested video just under 10 minutes, but hopefully it will lead some to further study on these topics. Smoot, “ Council, Chaos, and Creation in the Book of Abraham,” Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture 22/2 (2013): 28–39. But its origin for Joseph may have started with what he learned in his translation of the Book of Abraham, however that was done.įor more insight on just how interesting, ancient, and appropriate that concept is, be sure to see Stephen O. Bingo - that explains it! Or maybe Hebrew study helped lead to that concept.
One of the presented evidences given can be challenged by noting that Joseph learned about the plural nature of “Elohim” in his Hebrew studies and so could have revised his translation of Abraham 5 to refer to “the Gods.” But the bull’s eye for the ancient concept of the council of the gods still strikes me as impressive and not something Joseph would have picked up from his local library or itinerant preachers, but in Joseph’s secret study of world literature, when he turned to the Iliad, he might have noticed the ancient Greek concept of “the council of the gods” among pagan gods. 1 matches the hieroglyph for prayer or supplication (rotated 90 degrees), or the numerous parallels to specific elements in the Book of Abraham that can be found in various ancient traditions and texts, most of which could not have been accessed by Joseph (though Josephus mentions Abraham’s fascination with astronomy, for example).
2 such as the four sons of Horus representing the four quarters of the earth, the simple observation that the posture of Osiris/Abraham in Facs. It doesn’t include some that we have discussed here before, such as the apparent Egyptian wordplay behind Abraham’s discourse on stars and souls in Abraham 3, the accuracy of some of the comments for Facs. A few evidences for the ancient roots of the Book of Abraham are provided in an interesting new video from the Pearl of Great Price Central.
0 kommentar(er)
