For example, the explanation to figure 6 in facsimile 2 says that figure represents this earth in its four quarters. The book of breathings was not the source joseph smith used for the book of abraham text. A study guide to the facsimiles of the book of abraham by. It came forth at a time when the study of the ancient egyptian language and culture was just beginning. The association of these facsimiles with the book of abraham might be explained as joseph smiths attempt to find illustrations from the papyri he owned that most closely matched what he had received in revelation when translating 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. Facsimile 1 depicted the egyptian sed fevistalwhich. This view assumes a broader definition of the words translator and translation. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham. The papyrus with the illustration represented in facsimile 1 is the only recovered item that has any connection to the text of the book of abraham. Book of abraham and related manuscripts the joseph smith papers.
Jeremy runnells and the book of abraham rational faiths. I recall hugh nibley telling a sunday school class about the egyptian nature of section 88 of that book, a section he cites time and again in his elucidation of abrahams cosmos, one eternal round. Maps, for instance, were the focus of early explorations in making facsimiles, although these examples often lack the rigidity to the original source that is now expected. Feb 16, 2012 awesome, ive been waiting for years for someone with more artistic ability than i to tint these facsimiles with color. But that is just because they assume that the recovered papyri fragments are the source for the book of abraham. Dec 29, 2017 narrative most antimormons agree that the book of abraham is the smoking gun that disproves mormonism. 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. In the book of abraham, joseph included three facsimiles of illustrations from the papyri, along with commentary about what the images and their individual parts represented. The eight egyptologists and semitists who responded were unanimous in their scathing verdict. In my recent study of the facsimiles i began with facsimile 2 and will be posting further articles soon. Facsimile 2, the hypocephalus, is also a late egyptian religious text. The truth of the book of abraham is ultimately found through careful study of its teachings, sincere prayer, and the confirmation of the spirit. Book of abraham translation church of jesus christ. Home the pearl of great price abraham abraham facsimiles facsimile 3 previous page.
However, she still has some issues, the book of abraham being one of them. Some of josephs interpretations are similar to those of trained egyptologists, but most are not. Pt 1 proving book of abraham facsimiles by thebackyardprofessor. The book is based on a funerary papyrus depicting several scenes from the egyptian book of the dead.
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. The relationship between the book of abraham and the. There are some key differences between the facsimiles and what abraham describes. In hebrew, for example, beyad means literally by the hand of, but simply. This is the figure that you identify as a man that is sitted in the middle. The facsimiles illustrate both documents at once abrahams life and the book of breathings, abraham and osiris in one unified whole. What about the association of facsimiles 1 and 3 with the hor book of breathings. Disproves lds claims that joseph smith received the book of abraham through revelation and proves that joseph smiths source for his translation was a pagan egyptian text, the book of breathings. Speaking of the translation of the book of mormon, the lord said, you cannot. A facsimile from latin fac simile make alike, a spelling that remained in currency until the late 19th century is a copy or reproduction of an old book, manuscript, map, art print, or other.
Teaching the book of abraham facsimiles religious studies center. I am working on a project on the book of abraham and am curious what the general apologistcritic think the books greatest strengths and weaknesses are. The damning evidence is there for anyone to evaluate. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 3. The facsimiles and their respective explanations were later included with the text of the pearl of great price in a reengraved format. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham university of. A similar argument proposed by michael rhodes is that the facsimiles that are found in the book of abraham represent a corrupted version of a document originally written by abraham, and smith gave the interpretation of the original document. The problems are by no means limited to the facsimiles, since the text itself includes anachronistic and impossible expressions including a potiphars hill. The book of abraham comprises five chapters of text and three facsimiles of vignettes from the papyri collection, together with josephs proffered explanations. Thats why the book of breathings must be found with the other abraham documents. Raukeeyang, signifying expanse, or the firmament over our heads. The facsimiles and semitic adaption of existing sources.
Here, theodule deveria, an egyptologist at the museum, had the opportunity to examine the facsimiles published as part of the book of abraham. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The book of abraham was the last of joseph smiths translation efforts. Designed to represent the pillars of heaven, as understood by the egyptians. I will include an open response to his explanation. Contrary to what some mormon apologists claim or imply, a person does not have to be an egyptologist or a scholar with a phd to clearly understand the book of abraham problems and challenges to joseph smiths claims of being a translator. There is much about the book of abraham and the facsimiles that is unconventional and not readily explained. This vignette is called a lion couch scene by egyptologists. Later that same year, a pamphlet containing the book of abraham s facsimiles was sent to the louvre. Egyptologists study the three facsimiles included in the book of abraham as well. Edward ashments excellent 1979 study of the book of abraham facsimiles demonstrated clearly that egyptian book of the dead vignettes were imaginatively and, from a strict point of view of papyrology and egyptology, erroneously restored and interpreted by joseph.
Book of abraham facts and challenging the facsimiles. A study guide to the facsimiles of the book of abraham. The hypocephalus and the book of breathings are intimately linked. Critical appraisal of the book of abraham wikipedia. Perhaps seeing the book of abraham as an aesthetic object or work of art is a new approach.
The book of abraham is a book of lds scripture that joseph smith translated from a collection of ancient egyptian papyri the church purchased. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 2. Reference to kolob is found in the book of abraham, a work published by joseph smith, jr. This post will discuss the alteration of the book of abraham facsimiles no.
Kolob is a star or planet described in mormon scripture. According to smith, kolob is the heavenly body nearest to the throne or residence of god. A facsimile from the book of abraham church of jesus christ. Two thousand years and a hundred generations later, another abraham perishes, immolated in the fires of the warsaw ghetto. Book of abraham joseph smith papyri facsimiles fairmormon. He recognized them as common egyptian funerary documents, of which he had examined hundreds. The professor holds a phd in the field of ancient scripture and provided the following response.
However, less clear is the precise relationship shared between the book of abraham text and the papyri. Do you find problems with the translation process, text, or doctrine. The writings of abraham while he was in egypt, called the book of abraham, written by his own hand, upon papyrus. While the other two facsimiles printed with the book of abraham have connections, more or less, with the narrative events of the text facsimile no. The book of abraham issues translation problems mormonthink.
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. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham response. The alternative is to reframe the definition of the word. Recently, i was forwarded a response received by a concerned member who wrote his byu professor of ancient scripture regarding the book of abraham problem. The book of abraham gospel topics essays lds scripture. It was to be secret, and held close to the heart in wrapped arms. Two things joseph smith got right about the book of abraham facsimiles ive been studying up on the book of abraham a bit lately, and as fascinating as all the scholarly, arcane parallels are, its even more exciting to see that some of joseph smiths explanations of these symbols are easy to confirm in accessible pop culture. What is the churchs position on the book of abraham. An open response to an apologists explanation of the book. Learn how the name abraham is written in chinese and japanese. Ces letter again repeats their claim that the facsimiles are 1st century ce pagan egyptian funerary documents.
The facsimiles and semitic adaptation of existing sources. 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. 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. Direct egyptological meaning the book of abraham facsimiles series kindle edition by travis goodsell. Seen that way, it is a person giving signs and tokens and a temple context. According to this view, josephs translation was not a literal rendering of the papyri as a conventional translation. It is a big narrative that compounds with further narratives of the book of abraham, such as alleged anachronisms. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 1. A most remarkable book evidence for the book of abraham fulllength video. 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. Explores the joseph smith papyrus and demonstrates that joseph smiths claim that he had translated the book of abraham from it was a fabrication.
All five chapters of the book of abraham, along with three illustrations now known as facsimiles 1, 2, and 3, were published in the times and seasons, the churchs newspaper in nauvoo, between march and may 1842. Facsimile in tagalog, translation, englishtagalog dictionary. Apr 15, 1985 the book of abraham opens on the backdrop of a burning jerusalem in 70 ad as abraham the temple scribe flees the destruction of his home. 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. Joseph smiths interpretation of these cuts is a farrago of. Two things joseph smith got right about the book of. Essay on the translation and historicity of the book of abraham from the church. This book, a record of the prophet and patriarch abraham, largely follows the biblical narrative but adds important information regarding abraham s life and teachings. Rhodes, teaching the book of abraham facsimiles, religious educator 4, no. The book of abraham largely follows the biblical narrative but adds important information regarding abrahams life and teachings.
For details and some intriguing answers, see some puzzles from the joseph smith papyri by dr. In the book of abraham also we are told that the plan of the cosmos, represented by facsimile no. Book of abraham facsimile 2 that one mission thing. The book of abraham book of abraham mormon dialogue. There is some evidence that josephs explanations should be taken seriously. Far from being inspired scripture, the book of abraham was shown to be a fraud years later when the papyrus was rediscovered. However, it was actually the book of abraham published in 1878 that omitted the words. To almost everyone else, the book of mormon and the book of abraham are preposterous frauds. Papyrus fragment, once in the possession of joseph smith, which includes what is now book of abraham, facsimile 1. 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.
The term by the hand of can simply mean that abraham is the author of the book. This was the second edition of the pearl of great price published before canonization by the lds church in 1880. As for the original discussion about mormon sacred texts, our religion is one in which our spiritual and other experiences make these texts sacred. That cosmos indeed courses one eternal round, as depicted also in the round figure of the hypocephalus book of abraham facsimile 2. There is a reason why there is not one single respectable nonmormon egyptologist past or present who confirms joseph smiths translations of the papyri and facsimiles. A careful study of the book of abraham provides a better measure of the books merits than any hypothesis that treats the text as a conventional translation. 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. Joseph smith had published the facsimiles as freestanding drawings, cut off from. Facsimiles 2 is a hypocephalus and that would never be in a book of breathings scroll, which is where facsimile 1 can be found. Facsimile 3 published in the book of abraham is a scene from the ancient egyptian book of the dead. Death blow to mormonism the book of abraham is a fake. Advances in the art of facsimile are closely related to advances in printmaking.
As translated by the prophet joseph smith, they bear witness of the gospel as had by adam, noah, and other ancient patriarchs. Thats because it is not the original illustration that abraham makes reference to in the book of abraham. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of abraham. 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. I wanted to know how things came about and how we got to the time and place of joseph smiths translation of egyptian for the book of abraham, so heres the timeline. The book of breathings had the same general purpose as the hypocephalus the facs. It usually represents the embalming of the deceased individual in preparation for burial. The book of abraham, and other mormon scripture wheat. Hugh nibley and michael rhodes, one eternal round salt lake city, ut. Later that same year, a pamphlet containing the book of abrahams facsimiles made its way to the louvre. Personalize a wall scroll with abraham in chinese or japanese.
The book of abraham is an evidence of the inspired calling of the prophet joseph smith. Having articulated this view of the relationship of the facsimiles to the book of abraham, we are now in a position to compare and contrast the views set forth by stephen thompson in his article entitled egyptology and the book of abraham. The book of abraham is a work produced between 1835 and 1842 by joseph smith based, he said, on egyptian papyri purchased from a traveling mummy exhibition. Abrahams name does not appear anywhere in the papyri or the facsimiles. A careful study of the book of abraham provides a better measure of the book s merits than any hypothesis that treats the text as a conventional translation. May 24, 2015 my explanation of the facsimiles in lds scripture. 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. 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.
Finding the truth about the book of abraham is not mysterious, complicated or impossible. She has run across some material discussing how modern analysis disagrees with what joseph translated from the scrolls. History of the book of abraham in 1835, joseph smith, founder of the original mormon church the church of christ purchased several egyptian papyrus scrolls and fragments from the owner of a traveling road show which exhibited egyptian mummies and documents. Is there enough evidence in behalf of it to make it plausibly true. The lord prepared the way for the church to acquire a small collection of ancient egyptian records written on papyrus see 1 nephi. The statement in the introduction to the book of abraham, that it was written by his own hand upon papyrus, does not necessarily mean that the papyrus joseph smith was translating was the original written by abraham. If you look at facsimile 2 image 7 i think josephs own interpretation as given in his descriptions is quite explicit as a naive understanding of what is represented.
This has once again brought doubt as to the authenticity of joseph as a true prophet. Abraham chapter 1 speaks of this occasion directly. According to joseph smiths introductory comments in the translation, abraham wrote the book himself, by his own hand, upon papyrus smith, 1842, 93. If you follow carefully through the printed explanation of facsimile no. 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. Apologetics press facsimile 1 from the book of abraham. Book of abraham and facsimiles, nauvoo principal gathering place for saints following expulsion from missouri. This page would ideally always be under construction. And from london, the attempts to guess a meaning are too absurd to be. Book of abraham and facsimiles, 1 march16 may 1842, page 784. In 1912 copies of the book of abraham facsimiles were sent to eight of the worlds leading egyptologists asking each for their assessment of joseph smiths interpretation of the papyrus. Contrary to the bible and the book of mormon, the book of abraham advocates an ex materia creation out of already exiting materials. Buy a wall scroll with abraham in chinese or japanese. The phrase can be understood to mean that abraham is the author and not the literal copyist.
Joseph smiths explanations of the facsimiles of the book of abraham contain additional earmarks of the ancient world. No, the portrayals in the facsimiles existed long before the 1st century ad, and do show the rituals that abraham was describing. Egyptian facsimiles in the book of abraham by thebackyardprofessor. Decorate your home with a cool wall scroll that says abraham. Of all the issues, the book of abraham is the issue that has both fascinated and disturbed me the most. The book was published with three facsimiles taken from an ancient papyrus, which was lost. We have a few things to look at here so lets start at the beginning. He used a fourth scroll that perished in the chicago fire. At the moment, im not convinced that the effort to become a real translator by someone elses definition would make me a better translator or justify itself in higher income.
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. It is claimed that facsimile 1 is simply a typical. These accounts may preserve ancient memories of the book of abraham. I think it will be relatively easy to convince you that the facsimiles are not good reproductions of the original papyri and hypocephalus. The book of abraham was first published in 1842 and was canonized as part of the pearl of great price in 1880. 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. And there is no question the book of abraham and book of mormon are fully authorized canon of the lds church now. 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.
1132 1105 215 857 293 613 1410 298 1338 11 454 348 1359 1495 211 1294 850 65 1170 197 86 519 810 930 384 1074 48 1057 18 13 1087 87 562 428