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[[Abr 3:1-21 | Previous page: Verses 3:1-21]] &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [[Abr 4:1-5:3 | Next Page: Verses 4:1-5:3]]
 
[[Abr 3:1-21 | Previous page: Verses 3:1-21]] &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [[Abr 4:1-5:3 | Next Page: Verses 4:1-5:3]]

Revision as of 21:49, 24 November 2013

The Pearl of Great Price > Abraham > Chapter 3-5 > Verses 3:22-28
Previous page: Verses 3:1-21                              Next Page: Verses 4:1-5:3

This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.


Summary

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Discussion

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Verse 21

This verse read differently until the 1981 edition of the scriptures. Of the several manuscripts of the Book of Abraham (none of which were written in Joseph's hand), one has an alternate reading that was (in 1981) replaced with the more common reading. The text used to read "deliver" instead of "declare" in the first part of this verse: "I now, therefore, have come down unto thee to deliver unto thee the works which my hands have made...." While "declare" certainly seems to make more sense, if "deliver" is the correct reading, there may be an entirely different way of understanding this verse (and its implications for the whole of Abraham 3). (It might well be noted that "deliver" appears in verse 20. This may be a reason on the one hand to reject the alternate reading, and on the other hand to accept it. It may be that, on the one hand, some scribe copying accidently glanced at verse 20 rather than at verse 21 while copying, thus producing the alternate text. It may be that, on the other hand, the Lord used deliver in two very different senses to tie them together, and this may suggest a powerful literary tie in these two verses. If this were the case, the more common rendering might be explained as a later "cleaning up" that became quickly adopted by other scribes who worked on the Book of Abraham.)

If, then, "deliver" is the correct reading, Abraham's experience here might be similar to Enoch's experience as described in Moses 7, one in which he is exalted and receives the right to sit on the very throne of God.

Verse 22

  • "intelligences." If these are not "created or made" (D&C 93:29), then what exactly happened when they were "organized"?
  • "organized." Why does this word not appear in the Bible or Book or Mormon? What did community organizing look like in the premortal existence?

Verse 23

  • "these souls." Is God drawing a distinction between the "noble and great ones" and "those that were spirits"? Are they synonymous groups or is the latter all-inclusive? How do we reconcile this verse with the statement in Moses 2:21 wherein God "saw that all things which [he] had created were good"?
  • "stood in the midst." Is this a scriptural way of saying the Lord already considered these individuals his disciples?
  • "rulers." Should we find any discomfort in being told that we should be rulers, given that Nephi and the sons of Mosiah struggled with the expectation they should be kings?
  • "chosen before thou wast born." How do square this statement with the concept that many were called in the premortal existence (see Alma 13:3) but relatively few are chosen in this life to minister in the Lord's kingdom (see D&C 121:34-40)? Or is this verse more compatible with scriptures such as Alma 7:10?

Verse 24

  • "these may dwell." Why didn't the Lord say instead "whereon we may dwell" or "whereon all of us may dwell"? Are the future earth dwellers, who are labeled "these," a group that is separate from "those who were with" the Lord at this planning meeting?
  • "one among them that was like unto God." Does this just mean Jesus was the firstborn? If so, how did that make him like God? Is this saying nobody else was like God in the premortal existence? Should we read Moro 7:48 as saying that Jesus Christ was the only person capable of becoming like God prior to our mortal probation?
  • "space there." Weren't they presumably already surrounded by empty space in the universe? Or was there something particularly fitting about the galaxy our planet ended up in?
  • "take of these materials." Is this saying spirit beings transported physical matter to our galaxy to fashion a planet whereon God's children could dwell?
  • "an earth." If this is the only verse in scripture that talks of "an earth," as opposed to hundreds of scriptures that make reference to "the earth," then should we assume that the Lord and those who helped him followed a pattern or template in putting together a planet for us?

Verse 24: Michael is the One Like Unto God?

I know that we traditionally identify the "one among [those that were spirits cf vs. 23] that was like unto God as Jehovah or Jesus, or perhaps even Elohim, but might it not make more sense to identify that person as Michael (Heb. "who is like God"). Is it possible that the one "like unto God" here is not the same as the one "like unto the Son of Man" we read about in vs. 27? At minimum we seem to be dealing with four individuals here:

  • God (Elohim?) who looks over the good souls and declares Abraham to be among them.
  • Abraham as one of the noble and great ones.
  • One "like unto God" (Michael/Adam) who declares the intention to create and people the earth.
  • The "Lord their God" mentioned in vs. 25 who will be in charge--perhaps this is the call that is extended to Jehovah/Jesus in vs. 27?
  • The Lord (Elohim again?) who asks "whom shall I send" in vs. 27.
  • One "like unto the Son of Man (Jehovah/Jesus) who is sent down, though it isn't really explicitly declared for what purpose.
  • A challenger (Satan) who kept not his first estate.

--Rob Fergus 15:27, 1 Dec 2006 (UTC)

I like this a lot Rob, especially in light of a discourse by Brigham long about, say, 1852. I'd like to look at this more closely. --Joe Spencer 17:01, 1 Dec 2006 (UTC)


Points to ponder

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I have a question

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Verse 27

  • Like. Why does this passage say "like unto the Son of Man" instead of just the Son of Man?


Resources

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Verse 23

  • "[T]hou wast chosen before thou wast born...": Compare Gen 11:26 where Abraham was the tenth generation patriarch from Noah, the prior major patriarch mentioned in the old testament, just as Noah was the tenth generation patriarch from Adam (cf. Gen 5:29). This similarity suggests both Abraham and Noah were foreordained to become great patriarchs.
  • For a poetic attempt to think the possibility of reading "deliver" in verse 21, see User: Joe Spencer/who is like God.

Verse 27

  • Like. In "Abraham's Creation Drama", Hugh Nibley suggests this is evidence that these passages are describing a reenactment of these events (as in modern temple endowments).


Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves, such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word. In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources are preferable to footnotes.




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