FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Bible/Scripture interpretation
Biblical interpretation
Topics
Biblical interpretation
- Being "born again"—what does the Bible mean?—
Brief Summary: When the Bible talks about being "born again," what does this mean? How did the first Christians understand this concept? (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Christianity is a mystery—
Brief Summary: Members of the Church believe that the gospel of Christ has been known since the days of Adam. It is claimed that the New Testament teaches that the Gospel of Christ was a mystery unknown until the advent of Christ. (In defense of this claim, they often cite such scriptures as Rom. 16:25; 1 Cor. 2:7, 1 Cor. 4:1; Eph. 3:1-10; Col. 1:25-27). (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Cosmology of the Bible—
Brief Summary: What do we know about how Bible authors viewed the earth and the universe? (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Genealogy, condemnation of—
Brief Summary: Some Christians that the Bible condemns genealogy, and therefore the Latter-day Saint practice of compiling family histories is anti-Biblical, often citing 1 Timothy 1:4 or Titus 3:9. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - "Eternal" commands in the Bible that were changed by later revelation.—
Brief Summary: Critics of Mormonism attack Joseph Smith for altering things that were "eternal," while ignoring other matters labeled "eternal" that were later changed by biblical prophets. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Hebrews 7 and the Aaronic Priesthood—
Brief Summary: Hebrews 7 states that the Aaronic/Levitical Priesthood was "changed" to the unique priesthood "after the order of Melchizedek" held by Jesus Christ. Why then do Latter-day Saints still use the Aaronic Priesthood? (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - On-going divine revelation not necessary—
Brief Summary: Some Christians claim that there is no need for on-going divine revelation today; some even charge that claims of visions from God or revelations to a modern prophet is a blasphemous idea. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Three degrees of glory not biblical—
Brief Summary: Some Christians claim that the doctrine of three heavens has no basis in the Bible. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Peleg and the "division of the earth"—
Brief Summary: Is the reference in Genesis to Peleg and the earth being "divided" a reference to an abrupt separation of the continents? (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Textual criticism—
Brief Summary: What can textual criticism tell us about the Bible? Does it have anything to say about the Bible being without error, as some Christians claim? (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Translations—
Brief Summary: What are the merits of various biblical translations? (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Transmission versus translation—
Brief Summary: LDS doctrine expresses belief in the Bible "as far as it is translated correctly." Does translated have a broader sense than the modern one? (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Trustworthy?—
Brief Summary: Do LDS regard the Bible as "untrustworthy"? (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗
- Being "born again"—what does the Bible mean?—