2 Ne 11:1-8

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Summary

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Relationship to Second Nephi. The relationship of Chapter 11 to the rest of Second Nephi is discussed at Second Nephi.

Story. This central chapter explains why Nephi quotes Isaiah at such length in the rest of Second Nephi. Chapter 11 consists of a chiasm:

a. Nephi quotes Isaiah, Jacob, and himself as witnesses who have seen Christ (11:2-3)

b. Nephi delights in proving that Christ will come (11:4)

c. Nephi delights in the Lord's (i) covenants to the fathers and (ii) plan of deliverance from death (11:5)

b. Nephi delights in proving that all would perish if Christ did not come (11:6-7)

a. Nephi quotes Isaiah so that all who read can rejoice for all men (11:8)

Message. Themes, symbols, and doctrinal points emphasized in Chapter 11 include:

Discussion

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• 2 Ne 11:4. The usage "for for", while awkward in English, is repeated several times in the Book of Mormon text (2 Ne 25:25; 2 Ne 26:10; 2 Ne 31:17; Jacob 4:4; Hel 14:11; and Moroni 8:6) as well as in the King James Bible (Romans 13:6; 1 Peter 4:6). Royal Skousen also shows that it is used in a grammatically consistent way.

• 2 Ne 11:5. Compare with the title page of the Book of Mormon and with Moroni's statement of the reasons for writing the book. See Morm 8:5,23; 1 Ne 13:20-26, title page; D&C 3 - compare purposes of Isaiah w purposes of Book of Mormon

• 2 Ne 11:8. Nephi tells us that the reason he quotes Isaiah is so that we may lift up our hearts and rejoice for all men. Usually reading something would make us rejoice just for ourselves - our own circumstances and purposes. Here what we read is so wonderful that we will rejoice for the whole world!

• 2 Ne 11:8: That whoso of my people shall see. The original published version of the Book of Mormon read "that whoso of my people which shall see". Dr. Skousen recommends restoring the which for clarity. It does not seem to make much difference either way.

Unanswered questions

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Prompts for life application

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Prompts for further study

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• 2 Ne 11:6: Can we prove "that save Christ should come all men must perish" without preaching "fire and brimstone"?

• 2 Ne 11:8: The last sentence of the verse reads: "Now these are the words, and ye may liken them unto you and unto all men." Does this imply that the words of Isaiah can be applied to us personally as well as to the global winding up of this life?

Resources

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Notes

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