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The New Testament and the Book of Mormon
Question: How can text from the New Testament appear in the Book of Mormon?
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The Book of Mormon claims to be a "translation," and the language used is that of Joseph Smith
It is claimed that the Book of Mormon cannot be an ancient work because it contains material that is also found in the New Testament. In fact, in the Book of Mormon, Jesus quotes a paraphrase of Moses' words found in Acts 3:22-26. However, all these parallels demonstrate is that:
- the Book of Mormon translation language is closely based in KJV English; and
- King James phrases were exceedingly common in the speech and writing of Joseph's day.
Neither of these is news, and neither can tell us much but that the Book of Mormon was translated in the nineteenth century.
The Book of Mormon claims to be a "translation." Therefore, the language used is that of Joseph Smith. Joseph could choose to render similar (or identical) material using King James Bible language if that adequately represented the text's intent.
Only if we presume that the Book of Mormon is a fraud at the outset is this proof of anything. If we assume that it is a translation, then the use of Bible language tells us merely that Joseph used biblical language.
If Joseph was a fraud, why would he plagiarize the one text—the King James Bible—which his readers would be sure to know, and sure to react negatively if they noticed it? The Book of Mormon contains much original material—Joseph didn't "need" to use the KJV; he is obviously capable of producing original material.
Furthermore, many of the critics examples consist of a phrase or a concept that Joseph has supposedly lifted from the New Testament. This complaint, however ignores several factors.
Chief among the difficulty is that the critics seem ignorant or unconcerned about the extent to which the language of the King James Bible dominated preaching, common speech, and discussion of religious and non-religious topics in Joseph Smith's day.
In a Bible-based culture like Joseph Smith's, Biblical phrases are simply "in the air," and are often used without an awareness of where they come from (this is especially true for those whose literary exposure did not extend much beyond the Bible—like Joseph). By analogy, many modern authors or speakers will use phrases like the following, completely unaware that they are quoting Shakespeare!
Common phrases originally from Shakespeare
| List | Phrase | Shakespeare | Reference |
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"All's well that ends well" |
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"As good luck would have it" |
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"Bated breath" |
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"Be-all and the end-all" |
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"Beggar all description" |
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"Brave new world" |
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"Break the ice" |
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"not budge an inch" |
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"Dead as a doornail" |
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"Devil incarnate" |
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"Fool's paradise" |
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"For goodness' sake" |
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"Full circle" |
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"Good riddance" |
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"Household words" |
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"Heart of gold" |
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"In...a pickle" |
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"Lie low" |
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"Love is blind" |
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"Melted into thin air" |
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"Naked truth" |
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"I have not slept one wink" |
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"One fell swoop" |
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"Play fast and loose with" |
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"We have seen better days" |
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"The short and the long of it" |
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"Too much of a good thing" |
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"Wear my heart upon my sleeve" |
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"What the dickens" |
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"The world's my [mine] oyster" |
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Would we accuse someone who used these phrases of "plagiarizing" Shakespeare? Hardly, for they are common expressions in our language—most people are probably unaware that they even come from Shakespeare, and most have probably not read the plays at all. In a similar way, some biblical phrases and vocabulary were likely part of Joseph Smith's subconscious verbal world. It would be strange if it were otherwise.
- often the relation between the texts is not that close; only a few words are used that are the same. It is sometimes hard to see how there would be a different way of discussing the same sort of issue. Even if one believes Joseph forged the Book of Mormon, it seems more plausible that these cases are just a coincidence, or a case where one is almost "forced" to use the same type of language (e.g., 1 Nephi 1:18, Alma 19:10, Mosiah 16:7).
- some phrases which approximate the New Testament are quite famous, classic renderings in the King James. Such phrases might be used almost instinctively or subconsciously when translating (e.g., 1 Nephi 12:11, 2 Nephi 4:17). Even academic translators sometimes struggle to avoid using the type of scriptural language with which they are very familiar—it can take a real effort to give a different rendering than one that is well known.
- the Book of Mormon never hides its intent to use King James style English. It is not surprising, then, that there are parallels in language and vocabulary. The translation may even intend to call to mind these biblical verses or phrases, since the Book of Mormon is intended to complement the Bible
- Joseph is clearly able to produce huge amounts of text that do not rely on the KJV at all. Why, if he wants to produce a believable forgery, does he adapt the occasional well-known phrase that could be noticed by even a relatively casual Bible reader? The critics require Joseph to be clever enough to produce independent text, and yet foolish enough to betray his dependence on the Bible.
- Often, although the wording may be similar, the concept being explored is expanded, or the context is substantially altered in the Book of Mormon. The critics seem to think that Joseph flips through the Bible to find something, but the Book of Mormon certainly extends and adapts this material dramatically. The "copying" model seems more complex than needed, as it has Joseph taking small snippets of text from the Bible and other sources and somehow weaving it into the Book of Mormon text. Yet, eyewitnesses do not describe anything like this process; it is not even clear that Joseph owned a Bible during the Book of Mormon translation.
Oddly enough, the high quantity of New Testament/Book of Mormon intertextuality should not lead one to believe that Joseph Smith simply plagiarized from the King James Bible. Using the Original and Printer's Manuscripts of the Book of Mormon, Latter-day Saint scholar Royal Skousen has definitively shown that none of the King James language contained in the Book of Mormon could have been copied directly from the Bible. He deduces this from the fact that when quoting, echoing, or alluding to the passages, Oliver (Joseph's amanuensis for the dictation of the Book of Mormon) consistently misspells certain words from the text that he wouldn't have misspelled if he was looking at the then-current edition of the KJB.[1]
A Proposed Scenario
When considering the the data, Skousen proposes that, instead of.Joseph or Oliver looking at a Bible (which is now confirmed by the manuscript evidence and the statements of the 6 witnesses to the translation to the Book of Mormon), that God was simply able to provide the page of text from the King James Bible to Joseph's mind and then Joseph was free to alter the text as he pleased. In those cases where the Book of Mormon might simply be alluding to or echoing the text, the Lord may have simply given the translation as would be more comprehensible/comfortable to his 19th century, Northeastern, frontier audience. This theology of translation may feel foreign and a bit strange to some Latter-day Saints, but it seems to fit well with the Lord's own words about the nature of revelation to Joseph Smith. The Lord speaks to his servants "after the manner of their language, that they may come to understanding" (Doctrine and Covenants 1:24). Latter-day Saints should take comfort in fact that the Lord accommodates his perfection to our own weakness and uses our imperfect language and nature for the building up of Zion on the earth.
Book of Mormon Central's 9 Part Series on New Testament Language in the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon Central has produced a 9 part series exploring this criticism in depth. This is the latest take on New Testament - Book of Mormon Intertextuality and will prove the most beneficial.
- Why Do New Testament Words and Phrases Show Up in the Book of Mormon?
- Why do New Testament Words and Phrases Show Up in the Book of Mormon? Part 2: The Resurrected Jesus as the Source
- Why Do New Testament Words and Phrases Show up in the Book of Mormon? Part 3: Revelations to Nephite Prophets as a Source (Part A)
- Why Do New Testament Words and Phrases Show Up in the Book of Mormon? Part 4: Revelations to Nephite Prophets as the Source (Part B)
- Why New Testament Words and Phrases Are in the Book of Mormon Part 5: How Often Were Scriptures on the Plates of Brass the Common Source?
- Why New Testament Words and Phrases Are in the Book of Mormon? Part 6: Why Do Similar Clusters of Old Testament Texts Appear in Both?
- Why New Testament Words and Phrases Are in the Book of Mormon Part 7: How Often Did These Commonalities Come through the Hand of Mormon or Moroni?
- Why New Testament Words and Phrases Are in the Book of Mormon Part 8: Were These Expressions Parts of Joseph Smith's Linguistic Toolbox?
- Why New Testament Words and Phrases Are in the Book of Mormon Part 9: Above All, Were These Words Given by the Gift and Power of God?
One option that the series from Book of Mormon Central does not explore is whether the phrase in the New Testament and the phrase in the Book of Mormon have an origin antedating Lehi's departure from Jerusalem and not on the brass plates. That should also be considered.
Appendix: New Testament Phrases in the Book of Mormon
For those looking to further understand the interaction of the New Testament and the Book of Mormon, BYU Professor Nicholas Frederick has provided an exhaustive listing of New Testament/Book of Mormon interactions at the phrasal level.[2] Overall, Frederick finds approximately 600 interactions. Frederick follows a rigorous methodology laid out in detail in the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies that improves substantially on the methods of other scholars and critics in identifying phrases that depend in some measure on the New Testament text contained in the King James Bible.[3] He divides the types of interactions into 7 different groups:
- Simple: A verse in the Book of Mormon uses a phrase from the New Testament with no significant change in language.[4]
- Simple—Expanded: A verse in the Book of Mormon uses a phrase from the New Testament, but the Book of Mormon usage is a redactional expansion of the New Testament phrase.
- Simple—Condensed: A verse in the Book of Mormon uses a phrase from the New Testament, but the Book of Mormon usage is a redactional condensing of the New Testament usage.
- Compound: A Book of Mormon verse redacts a series of phrases from multiple verses within the same New Testament document.
- Complex: A series of verses from the Book of Mormon redact a series of phrases from one lengthy New Testament pericope.
- Hybrid: A verse from the Book of Mormon redacts phrases from multiple New Testament documents.
- Paraphrase: A verse from the Book of Mormon incorporates the New Testament version of an Old Testament passage, rather than directly incorporating the Old Testament verse itself.
The table below first gives the location of the phrase in the Book of Mormon, then the New Testament passage that the Book of Mormon is interacting with, and finally what type of interaction the Book of Mormon makes with the New Testament according to the typology Frederick has given us above. It is organized by the order the phrases appear in the Book of Mormon. This table is still being constructed by FAIR Wiki editors slowly.
| Book of Mormon Location | New Testament Location | Type of Interaction |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Nephi 1:1 (1 Nephi 2:16) | 1 Corinthians 4:1 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 1:9 | Revelation 21:10 | Simple—Expanded |
| 1 Nephi 1:14 | Revelation 4:8; 15:3; 16:7; 21:22 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 2:10 (3 Nephi 6:14) | 1 Corinthians 15:58 | Simple—Expanded |
| 1 Nephi 2:11 | Romans 1:21 | Simple—Expanded |
| 1 Nephi 2:18 (twenty-five times total) | Mark 3:5 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 2:24 (2 Nephi 5:25; Mosiah 1:17; 6:3; Alma 4:19; 25:6; Helaman 11:4, 34) | 2 Peter 3:1 (2 Peter 1:13) | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 3:20 | Acts 3:21 | Simple—Expanded |
| 1 Nephi 4:13 | John 11:50 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 5:8 | Acts 12:11 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 5:18 (1 Nephi 11:36; 13:40; 14:11; 19:17; 22:28; 2 Nephi 26:13; 30:8; Mosiah 3:20; 15:28; 16:1; Alma 37:4; 45:16; 3 Nephi 26:4; 28:29) | Revelation 14:6 (Revelation 5:9; 7:9) | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 6:5 | John 15:19 (John 17:14) | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 7:16 (Alma 44:16; 46:2; 49:27; 51:14; Helaman 1:7) | Matthew 2:16 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 8:23 (1 Nephi 8:24; 12:4, 17; 3 Nephi 8:22) | 2 Peter 2:17 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 10:4 | Acts 3:22 (Acts 7:37) | Paraphrase [Deuteronomy 18:15] |
| 1 Nephi 10:4 (1 Nephi 13:40) | John 4:42 (1 John 4:14) | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 10:8 | John 1:23, 26–27 | Paraphrase [Isaiah 40:3] |
| 1 Nephi 10:9 | John 1:26, 28, 31, 33 | Complex |
| 1 Nephi 10:10 | John 1:29, 32 | Complex |
| 1 Nephi 10:12 | Romans 11:17 | Simple—Condensed |
| 1 Nephi 10:18 (twenty-two times total) | Matthew 13:35 (Matthew 25:34; Luke 11:50; Hebrews 4:3; Revelation 13:8; 17:8) | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 10:18 (2 Nephi 2:4; 27:23; 29:9; Alma 31:17; Mormon 9:9; Moroni 10:19) | Hebrews 13:8 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 11:1 | Revelation 21:10 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 11:7 (1 Nephi 1:9; 12:6; 3 Nephi 11:8; 17:24) | Revelation 21:10 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 11:13 (1 Nephi 13:15; 2 Nephi 5:21; 3 Nephi 2:15–16; 4 Nephi 1:10; Ether 7:4; 8:9) | Acts 7:20 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 11:19 (1 Nephi 11:29; 14:30; 15:1) | Revelation 17:3 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 11:21 (thirty-five times total) | John 1:29 (John 1:36) | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 11:22 | Romans 5:5 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 11:27 | John 1:32 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 11:32 | John 1:34 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 11:34 | Revelation 19:19 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 11:35 (1 Nephi 11:36; 12:9; 13:26; 13:39; 13:40–41; 14:20) | Revelation 21:14 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 12:2 (1 Nephi 12:21; 14:15–16; 2 Ne. 25:12; Mormon 8:30) | Matthew 24:6 (Mark 13:7) | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 12:4 (2 Nephi 26:6) | Revelation 8:5 (Revelation 11:19; 16:18) | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 13:7 | Revelation 18:12 | Simple—Condensed |
| 1 Nephi 13:27 | Acts 13:10 and John 12:40 | Hybrid |
| 1 Nephi 13:42 (Jacob 5:63; Ether 13:12) | Matthew 19:30 (Matthew 20:16; Luke 13:30) | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 14:9 (1 Nephi 14:10, 13, 16) | Revelation 17:5 | Simple—Condensed |
| 1 Nephi 14:11 | Revelation 17:1 and 17:15 | Compound |
| 1 Nephi 14:12 | Revelation 17:1 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 15:11 (Enos 1:15; Mosiah 4:21) | Matthew 21:22 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 15:13 (3 Nephi 16:4) | Romans 11:25 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 15:15 (Alma 16:17) | John 15:1 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 15:16 | Romans 11:24 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 15:18 (1 Nephi 22:9; 3 Nephi 20:25, 27) | Acts 3:25 | Paraphrase [Genesis 22:18; 26:4] |
| 1 Nephi 15:24 | Ephesians 6:16 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 15:30 (2 Nephi 9:16; Jacob 6:10; Mosiah 2:38; 3:27; Alma 12:17) | Revelation 14:11 | Simple—Expanded |
| 1 Nephi 17:5 (Alma 18:13; 31:21; 37:38) | Matthew 1:23 (Mark 5:41; 15:22; 34; John 1:38, 41; Acts 4:36) | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 17:46 | Luke 3:5 | Simple—Expanded |
| 1 Nephi 17:48 (fourteen times total) | Matthew 18:6 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 18:21 | Mark 4:39 (Luke 8:24) | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 22:14 (2 Nephi 28:15; Mosiah 12:26) | Acts 13:10 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 22:17 | 1 Corinthians 3:15 | Simple |
| 1 Nephi 22:18 (Mormon 8:29) | Acts 2:19 | Paraphrase [Joel 2:30] |
| 1 Nephi 22:20 | Acts 3:22–23 | Paraphrase [Deuteronomy 18:15, 19] |
| 1 Nephi 22:25 | John 10:27, 16, 9 | Compound |
| 2 Nephi 1:1 (1 Nephi 7:11; Alma 62:50; Ether 6:30) | Mark 5:19 | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 1:10 (2 Nephi 6:3) | Romans 1:20 | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 1:23 | 2 Corinthians 6:7 | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 2:5 | Romans 3:20 (Galatians 2:16) | Simple—Condensed |
| 2 Nephi 2:6 | John 1:14 | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 2:8 (3 Nephi 9:22) | John 10:17 | Simple—Expanded |
| 2 Nephi 2:9 | Revelation 14:4 | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 2:18 | Revelation 20:2 (Revelation 12:9) | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 2:29 | John 1:13 | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 2:30 | Luke 10:42 | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 3:15 (Mosiah 24:3; Alma 63:11) | Luke 1:59 | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 4:17 (1 Nephi 1:14; 14:7; 2 Nephi 1:10; Jacob 4:8; Alma 26:15; Helaman 16:16; 3 Nephi 21:9; 28:31, 32; 4 Nephi 1:5) | Revelation 15:3 | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 4:17 | Romans 7:24 | Simple—Condensed |
| 2 Nephi 4:18 | Hebrews 12:1 | Simple—Condensed |
| 2 Nephi 4:35 | James 1:5 and 4:3 | Compound |
| 2 Nephi 9:5 | Luke 24:46 | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 9:6 | Romans 5:12 | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 9:7 (Mosiah 16:10; Alma 5:15; 40:2; 41:4) | 1 Corinthians 15:53 | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 9:9 | 2 Corinthians 11:14 | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 9:12 | Revelation 20:13 | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 9:15 | 2 Corinthians 5:10 | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 9:16 | Revelation 22:11 and Revelation 14:10–11 | Compound |
| 2 Nephi 9:18 | Hebrews 12:2 and Matthew 25:34 | Hybrid |
| 2 Nephi 9:19 (2 Nephi 9:26; 28:23; Alma 14:14) | Revelation 20:10 | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 9:34 (2 Nephi 9:36; 2 Nephi 28:15) | Luke 10:15 | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 9:39 | Romans 8:6 | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 10:16 | Galatians 3:28 and Matthew 12:30 (Luke 11:23) | Hybrid |
| 2 Nephi 25:12 (Alma 5:48; 9:26; 13:9) | Matthew 24:6 and John 1:14 (John 1:18) | Hybrid |
| 2 Nephi 25:20 (2 Nephi 31:21; Mosiah 3:17; 5:8) | Acts 4:12 | Simple—Expanded |
| 2 Nephi 25:29 (Mormon 9:29) | John 6:37 | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 26:3 (2 Nephi 28:10; 3 Nephi 10:12; Mormon 8:27, 41; Ether 8:22) | Revelation 17:6 | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 26:24 | John 3:16 and 10:17 and 12:32 | Compound |
| 2 Nephi 26:30 | 1 Corinthians 13:2 | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 26:33 (Alma 1:30) | Galatians 3:28 | Simple—Expanded |
| 2 Nephi 28:7 | Luke 12:19 and 1 Corinthians 15:32 | Hybrid/Paraphrase [Isaiah 22:13] |
| 2 Nephi 28:8 | Luke 12:48 | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 28:11 | Romans 3:12 | Paraphrase [Psalms 14:3] |
| 2 Nephi 28:28 | Mark 4:16 and Matthew 7:24–27 (Luke 6:47–49) | Hybrid |
| 2 Nephi 28:30 | Matthew 25:29 (Mark 4:25; Luke 8:18) | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 29:11 | Revelation 20:12 | Simple—Expanded |
| 2 Nephi 30:1 | Luke 13:3 (Luke 13:5) | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 30:6 | Acts 9:18 | Simple—Expanded |
| 2 Nephi 31:4 | John 1:29 | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 31:5 | Matthew 3:14–15 | Simple—Condensed |
| 2 Nephi 31:8 | Luke 3:22 | Simple—Condensed |
| 2 Nephi 31:9 | Matthew 7:14 | Simple |
| 2 Nephi 31:10 | John 21:22 | Simple—Condensed |
| 2 Nephi 31:15 (Alma 32:13; 38:2) | Matthew 10:22 and Matthew 24:13 | Compound |
| 2 Nephi 31:21 (Mormon 7:7) | 1 John 5:7 | Simple—Expanded |
| 2 Nephi 32:4 | Matthew 7:7 | Simple—Condensed |
| 2 Nephi 32:9 | Luke 18:1 | Simple |
| Jacob 1:19 (Jacob 2:2) | Romans 11:13 | Simple |
| Jacob 3:11 | Revelation 20:14 (Revelation 21:8) | Simple |
| Jacob 4:8 | Romans 11:33 | Simple—Expanded |
| Jacob 5:7 | John 15:6 | Simple |
| Jacob 5:9 | Romans 11:17 | Simple |
| Jacob 5:42 (Jacob 5:46, 49, 66; 6:7; Helaman 14:18; 3 Nephi 27:11; Mormon 8:21) | Matthew 3:10 (Matthew 7:19; Luke 3:9) | Simple |
| Jacob 5:47 (Jacob 5:64, 76) | Luke 13:8 | Simple—Expanded |
| Jacob 6:4 | Romans 10:21 | Paraphrase [Isaiah 65:2] |
| Jacob 6:5 | Acts 11:23 | Simple |
| Jacob 6:6 | Hebrews 3:7–8 | Paraphrase [Psalms 95:7–8] |
| Jacob 6:10 | Revelation 21:8 and Revelation 14:11 | Compound |
| Jacob 7:14 | Luke 22:42 | Simple—Condensed |
| Enos 1:1 | Ephesians 6:4 | Simple |
| Enos 1:8 | Mark 10:52 (Matthew 9:22; Mark 5:34; Luke 8:48; 17:19) | Simple |
| Enos 1:15 | Matthew 21:22 | Simple—Expanded |
| Enos 1:27 | 1 Corinthians 15:53 and Matthew 25:34 and John 14:2 | Hybrid |
| Omni 1:26 | Matthew 10:22 | Simple—Expanded |
| Mosiah 3:3 (Alma 13:22; Helaman 16:14) | Luke 2:10 | Simple |
| Mosiah 3:5 | Matthew 11:5 | Simple |
| Mosiah 3:9 (3 Nephi 1:14) | John 1:11 | Simple |
| Mosiah 3:21 (Mosiah 5:15) | Revelation 19:6 | Simple |
| Mosiah 3:24 | Revelation 20:13 | Simple |
| Mosiah 3:26 | Revelation 14:10 (Revelation 16:19) | Simple |
| Mosiah 3:27 | Revelation 20:10 and 14:10–11 | Compound |
| Mosiah 4:11 | Acts 22:16 | Simple |
| Mosiah 5:13 (Alma 12:7; 18:32; 21:6) | Hebrews 4:12 | Simple |
| Mosiah 5:15 (Alma 1:25) | 1 Corinthians 15:58 | Simple |
| Mosiah 10:8 | Matthew 3:4 | Simple |
| Mosiah 13:1 | Matthew 8:29 (Mark 1:24) | Simple |
| Mosiah 13:8 (Mosiah 25:7) | Acts 3:10 | Simple |
| Mosiah 13:34 | Philippians 2:6–7 | Simple |
| Mosiah 15:2 | Luke 1:35 | Simple |
| Mosiah 15:24 | Revelation 20:6 | Simple |
| Mosiah 16:3 (Alma 42:10) | James 3:15 | Simple |
| Mosiah 16:7 | 1 Corinthians 15:14, 55 | Paraphrase [Isaiah 25:8 and Hosea 13:14] |
| Mosiah 16:8 | 1 Corinthians 15:54 | Complex |
| Mosiah 16:9 | John 1:4–5 | Simple—Expanded |
| Mosiah 16:10 | 1 Corinthians 15:53 | Complex |
| Mosiah 16:11 | John 5:29 | Simple—Expanded |
| Mosiah 16:14 (Mosiah 13:10) | Colossians 2:17 | Simple |
| Mosiah 18:18 | Acts 1:3 | Simple |
| Mosiah 18:21 | Ephesians 4:5 and Colossians 2:2 and 1 Thessalonians 3:12 | Hybrid |
| Mosiah 23:13 (Alma 58:40; 61:9, 21) | Galatians 5:1 | Simple |
| Mosiah 26:27 | Matthew 7:23 and Matthew 25:41 | Compound |
| Mosiah 26:39 | 1 Thessalonians 5:12, 17–18 | Compound |
| Mosiah 27:24 | John 3:5–8 | Simple—Condensed |
| Mosiah 27:25/John 3:7—Simple—Expanded
Mosiah 27:29 (Alma 41:11; Mormon 8:31; Moroni 8:14)/Acts 8:23—Simple Mosiah 27:31 (Mormon 9:27)/Philippians 2:10—Paraphrase [Isaiah 45:23] Alma 1:1/1 Timothy 1:18—Simple Alma 1:25/1 Corinthians 16:13 and 1 Corinthians 15:58—Compound Alma 5:14 (Mosiah 27:25, 28; Alma 22:15; 36:5, 23, 24, 26; 38:6)/1 John 3:9 (1 John 4:7; 5:1, 4, 18)—Simple Alma 5:15/1 Corinthians 15:53 and 15:42—Compound Alma 5:24 (Alma 7:25; Helaman 3:30)/Matthew 8:11—Simple Alma 5:28/Matthew 3:2—Complex Alma 5:35–36/Matthew 3:8, 10—Complex Alma 5:37/Matthew 9:36—Simple Alma 5:38 (Alma 5:39, 41, 57, 60; Helaman 7:18)/John 10:11, 14—Simple Alma 5:42/Romans 6:23—Simple Alma 5:44/Romans 8:39—Simple Alma 5:48/John 1:14 and 1:29 and 1:12—Compound Alma 5:50/Matthew 3:2—Complex Alma 5:52/Matthew 3:10—Complex Alma 5:52/Matthew 3:12—Complex Alma 5:54/Matthew 3:8—Complex Alma 5:57/2 Corinthians 6:17—Paraphrase [Isaiah 52:11] Alma 5:58/Revelation 13:8 (Revelation 17:8; 20:15)—Simple Alma 7:9/Matthew 3:2 and 3:3—Simple—Condensed Alma 7:10/Luke 1:35—Simple—Condensed Alma 7:14/John 3:5 and John 1:29 and 1 John 1:9—Hybrid Alma 7:15/Hebrews 12:1—Simple—Condensed Alma 7:20 (Mormon 9:9)/James 1:17—Simple—Expanded Alma 7:21/Revelation 22:11—Simple Alma 7:24/1 Corinthians 13:13 and 2 Corinthians 9:8—Hybrid Alma 9:15/Matthew 10:15 (Matthew 11:22, 24; Mark 6:11; Luke 10:14)—Simple Alma 9:20/Revelation 14:6 and Revelation 1:4—Compound Alma 9:22/Matthew 4:23 (Matthew 10:1)—Simple Alma 9:25 (Alma 10:20; Helaman 5:32)/Matthew 3:2—Simple—Expanded Alma 9:26/John 1:14—Simple—Expanded Alma 9:30 (Alma 12:15; 13:13)/Matthew 3:8—Simple Alma 11:22/Matthew 4:9—Simple Alma 11:37/Ephesians 5:5—Simple—Condensed Alma 11:39/Revelation 22:13—Simple—Condensed Alma 12:8/Acts 24:15—Simple—Expanded Alma 12:14/Revelation 6:16—Simple Alma 12:17/Revelation 14:10–11—Simple—Condensed Alma 12:26/Romans 9:6 (Mark 7:13)—Simple—Expanded Alma 12:27/Hebrews 9:27—Simple—Expanded Alma 12:35/Hebrews 3:11—Paraphrase [Psalms 95:11] Alma 13:7/Hebrews 7:3—Complex Alma 13:9/Hebrews 7:17 (Hebrews 5:6; 7:21)—Complex Alma 13:9/Hebrews 7:3—Complex Alma 13:9/Hebrews 7:3 and John 1:14—Hybrid Alma 13:15/Hebrews 7:1–2—Complex Alma 13:17/Hebrews 7:1—Complex Alma 13:18/Hebrews 7:5—Complex Alma 13:18/Hebrews 7:2—Complex Alma 13:20/2 Peter 3:16—Simple—Expanded Alma 13:28/Matthew 26:41 and 1 Corinthians 10:13—Hybrid Alma 14:3/Matthew 1:19—Simple Alma 14:18/Luke 23:9—Simple Alma 14:27/Matthew 27:51—Simple Alma 18:13/John 1:38—Simple Alma 18:14/Mark 10:51—Simple Alma 18:22/Matthew 10:16—Simple—Condensed Alma 22:14/1 Corinthians 15:55–56—Simple—Condensed Alma 25:12/Matthew 9:36—Simple—Condensed Alma 26:22/Mark 4:11—Simple—Condensed Alma 27:28/1 Corinthians 15:54—Simple—Expanded Alma 31:37/Matthew 6:25, 31 (Luke 12:22)—Simple—Condensed Alma 32:21/Hebrews 11:1—Simple—Expanded Alma 32:38/Matthew 13:6 (Mark 4:6)—Simple—Expanded Alma 32:41 (Alma 33:23)/John 4:14—Simple Alma 34:13/Matthew 5:18—Simple—Expanded Alma 34:23 (Mosiah 2:37; 4:14; Moroni 9:6)/Acts 13:10—Simple Alma 34:29/Matthew 5:13—Simple Alma 34:37/Philippians 2:12—Simple—Condensed Alma 34:38/John 4:24—Simple—Condensed Alma 36:18/Mark 10:47 and Acts 8:23—Hybrid Alma 37:15/Luke 22:31—Simple—Condensed Alma 37:34 (Alma 37:33; Moro. 7:43, 33)/Matthew 11:29—Simple Alma 38:9/John 1:4 and John 1:1—Compound Alma 39:9/1 John 2:16—Simple Alma 40:13/Matthew 8:12 (Matthew 22:13; 25:30)—Simple—Expanded Alma 40:14/Hebrews 10:27—Simple—Condensed Alma 40:25/Matthew 13:43—Simple—Condensed Alma 41:11/Acts 8:23 and Ephesians 2:12—Hybrid Alma 42:27/Revelation 22:17—Simple—Condensed Alma 43:10/John 4:23 (John 4:24) and 1 Thessalonians 1:9—Hybrid Alma 48:17 (twenty times)/John 1:51 (nineteen times)—Simple Alma 60:23/Matthew 23:26—Simple—Condensed Helaman 3:29/Hebrews 4:12—Simple—Condensed Helaman 5:8/Matthew 6:20—Simple Helaman 5:44/1 Peter 1:8—Simple Helaman 8:14/John 3:14—Simple Helaman 8:25 (3 Nephi 27:32)/Matthew 6:20 and Romans 2:5—Hybrid Helaman 9:21/Acts 7:51—Simple—Expanded Helaman 10:7/Matthew 16:19 (Matthew 18:18)—Simple Helaman 10:8 (Helaman 14:22; 3 Nephi 8:18; 28:19; 4 Nephi 1:30)/Matthew 27:51—Simple Helaman 12:24/John 1:16—Simple—Expanded Helaman 12:26 (3 Nephi 26:5)/John 5:29—Simple Helaman 13:33 (3 Nephi 8:25)/Matthew 23:37—Simple—Expanded Helaman 14:25/Matthew 27:52–53—Simple—Condensed Helaman 15:1/Matthew 23:38 (Luke 13:35)—Paraphrase [Isaiah 5:9] Helaman 15:2/Matthew 24:19–20—Simple—Expanded 3 Nephi 1:25/Matthew 5:18—Simple 3 Nephi 7:8/2 Peter 2:22—Simple—Condensed 3 Nephi 8:17–18/Matthew 27:51—Simple 3 Nephi 9:5 (3 Nephi 9:7, 8, 9, 11)/Revelation 18:24 (Revelation 16:6)—Simple 3 Nephi 9:15/John 1:3; 1:2; 14:11; 12:28—Complex/ Compound 3 Nephi 9:16/John 1:11—Complex 3 Nephi 9:17/John 1:12—Complex 3 Nephi 9:18/John 8:12 and Revelation 22:13—Hybrid 3 Nephi 10:4 (3 Nephi 10:5, 6)/Matthew 23:37—Simple—Condensed 3 Nephi 11:7/Matthew 17:5—Simple—Expanded 3 Nephi 11:11/John 8:12 and John 18:11—Compound 3 Nephi 11:14/John 20:27—Simple—Expanded 3 Nephi 11:25/Matthew 28:19—Simple 3 Nephi 11:27/1 John 5:7 and John 14:11 and John 10:30—Hybrid 3 Nephi 11:32/Acts 17:30—Simple 3 Nephi 11:33–34/Mark 16:16—Simple—Expanded 3 Nephi 11:39/Matthew 16:18—Simple—Condensed 3 Nephi 12:1/Matthew 3:11 and John 8:28—Hybrid 3 Nephi 12:47 (3 Nephi 15:2)/2 Corinthians 5:17—Simple 3 Nephi 15:17 (3 Nephi 15:21)/John 10:16—Simple 3 Nephi 16:15/Matthew 5:13—Simple—Condensed 3 Nephi 18:13/Matthew 7:26–27—Simple 3 Nephi 18:18/Matthew 26:41 and Luke 22:31—Hybrid 3 Nephi 18:29/1 Corinthians 11:29—Simple—Expanded 3 Nephi 19:20/John 17:6—Complex 3 Nephi 19:23/John 17:20–22—Complex 3 Nephi 19:29/John 17:9–10 and John 17:21–23—Complex 3 Nephi 20:23/Acts 3:22–23—Paraphrase [Deuteronomy 18:15, 18–19/1 Nephi 22:20] 3 Nephi 20:24/Acts 3:24—Complex 3 Nephi 20:25/Acts 3:25—Complex 3 Nephi 20:26/Acts 3:26—Complex 3 Nephi 20:35 (3 Nephi 28:10)/John 10:30—Simple 3 Nephi 21:9/Acts 13:41—Paraphrase [Habakkuk 1:5] 3 Nephi 26:3/2 Peter 3:10 and Revelation 6:14 and Revelation 21:1—Hybrid 3 Nephi 26:4/Revelation 7:9 and Revelation 20:12 and 2 Corinthians 5:10—Hybrid 3 Nephi 26:18/2 Corinthians 12:4—Simple 3 Nephi 26:19/Acts 2:44—Simple 3 Nephi 27:14/John 12:32—Simple—Expanded 3 Nephi 27:17/Matthew 24:13 and Matthew 3:10—Compound 3 Nephi 27:29/Matthew 7:7–8—Simple—Condensed 3 Nephi 27:30 (3 Nephi 27:31)/John 17:12—Simple 3 Nephi 27:32/Matthew 6:19—Simple—Condensed 3 Nephi 27:33/Matthew 7:13–14 and John 9:4—Hybrid 3 Nephi 28:8/1 Corinthians 15:51–53—Simple—Condensed 3 Nephi 28:13/2 Corinthians 12:2 and 12:4—Complex 3 Nephi 28:14/2 Corinthians 12:4—Complex 3 Nephi 28:15/2 Corinthians 12:2—Complex 3 Nephi 28:31/2 Corinthians 5:10—Complex 4 Nephi 1:3/Acts 2:44 and Hebrews 6:4 and Revelation 13:16—Hybrid Mormon 3:15 (Mormon 8:20)/Romans 12:19—Paraphrase [Deuteronomy 32:35] Mormon 5:14/Matthew 16:16—Simple Mormon 6:21/1 Corinthians 15:52—Simple—Expanded Mormon 7:5/1 Corinthians 15:55—Paraphrase [Isaiah 25:8 and Hosea 13:14] Mormon 7:8/Hebrews 6:18—Simple—Expanded Mormon 8:17/Matthew 5:22—Simple Mormon 8:30/Matthew 24:6–7—Simple—Condensed Mormon 9:2/2 Peter 3:10 and Revelation 6:14—Hybrid Mormon 9:14/Revelation 22:11—Simple Mormon 9:22/Mark 16:15—Complex Mormon 9:23/Mark 16:16—Complex Mormon 9:24/Mark 16:17–18—Complex Mormon 9:27/Philippians 2:12—Simple Mormon 9:28/James 4:3—Simple Mormon 9:29/Matthew 24:13 and John 6:37—Hybrid Ether 4:12/John 8:12 and John 14:6—Compound Ether 4:18/Mark 16:16–17—Simple Ether 4:19/Matthew 25:34—Simple Ether 12:4/Hebrews 6:19—Simple—Expanded Ether 12:6/Hebrews 11:1—Simple—Condensed Ether 12:8/Hebrews 3:1 and Hebrews 6:4—Compound Ether 12:11/1 Corinthians 12:31—Simple—Expanded Ether 12:26–27 (Moroni 10:32)/2 Corinthians 12:9–10—Simple—Expanded Ether 12:32/John 14:2—Simple Ether 12:33/John 10:17—Simple—Expanded Ether 12:35/Matthew 25:28–29—Simple Ether 13:9/Revelation 21:1 and 2 Corinthians 5:17—Hybrid Ether 13:10/Revelation 21:2 and Revelation 7:14—Compound Moroni 6:4/Hebrews 12:2—Simple Moroni 7:1/1 Corinthians 13:13—Complex Moroni 7:6/1 Corinthians 13:3—Complex Moroni 7:7/Romans 4:3—Paraphrase [Genesis 15:6] Moroni 7:16/1 Corinthians 12:7—Simple—Expanded Moroni 7:18/Matthew 7:2—Simple Moroni 7:26/John 14:13—Simple—Expanded Moroni 7:44/1 Corinthians 13:2—Complex Moroni 7:45/1 Corinthians 13:4–7—Complex Moroni 7:46/1 Corinthians 13:2, 13:8, 13:13—Complex Moroni 7:48/1 John 3:1–3—Simple—Condensed Moroni 8:3/Acts 4:30—Simple Moroni 8:8/Matthew 9:12–13—Simple—Condensed Moroni 8:12/Acts 10:34—Simple Moroni 8:16/1 John 4:18—Simple Moroni 10:8/1 Corinthians 12:4–7—Complex Moroni 10:9/1 Corinthians 12:8—Complex Moroni 10:10/1 Corinthians 12:8—Complex Moroni 10:11/1 Corinthians 12:9—Complex Moroni 10:12/1 Corinthians 12:10—Complex Moroni 10:13/1 Corinthians 12:10—Complex Moroni 10:14/1 Corinthians 12:10—Complex Moroni 10:15/1 Corinthians 12:10—Complex Moroni 10:16/1 Corinthians 12:10—Complex Moroni 10:17/1 Corinthians 12:11—Complex Moroni 10:21/1 Corinthians 13:13—Simple—Expanded Moroni 10:34/Acts 10:42 (2 Timothy 4:1; 1 Peter 4:5)—Simple—Expanded |
Other interactions between the New Testament and the Book of Mormon have been noted by Royal Skousen.[5] These are organized in the order they appear in the Book of Mormon and not the New Testament.
| New Testament Location | Book of Mormon Location |
|---|---|
| Acts 3:22–23 | 1 Nephi 22:20 |
| Acts 3:22–26 | 3 Nephi 20:23–26 |
| Mark 16:16 | Mormon 9:22–24; Ether 4:18 |
| 1 John 3:2 | Moroni 7:48 |
Frederick has observed the potential presence of the Johannine Comma in 2 Nephi 31:21. Though he considers this a stretch. The passages from 1 John 5:7 and 2 Nephi 31:21 just don't line up like we might want them to.
Frederick wrote an insightful book about the interactions of John 1:1–18 with the Book of Mormon entitled The Bible, Mormon Scripture, and the Rhetoric of Allusivity (2016) that may be of additional use in understanding the interaction between the New Testament and the Book of Mormon.
Notes
- ↑ Interpreter Foundation, "The History of the Text of the Book of Mormon," <https://interpreterfoundation.org/the-history-of-the-text-of-the-book-of-mormon/> (25 January 2020).
- ↑ Nicholas J. Frederick, "The Book of Mormon and Its Redaction of the King James New Testament: A Further Evaluation of the Interaction between the New Testament and the Book of Mormon," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 27 (2018): 44–87; "The Language of Paul in the Book of Mormon," in They Shall Grow Together: The Bible in the Book of Mormon, ed. Charles Swift and Nicholas J. Frederick (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 2022), 227–28.
- ↑ Nicholas J. Frederick, "Evaluating the Interaction between the New Testament and the Book of Mormon: A Proposed Methodology," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 24, no. 1 (2015): 1–30. This methodology is certainly better than Jerald Tanner and Sandra Tanner, Joseph Smith’s Plagiarism of the Bible in the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City: Utah Lighthouse Ministry, 2010), 47–148 and similar projects taken up by critics.
- ↑ Frederick says that "I recognize that the modern versification of the Book of Mormon wasn’t done until Orson Pratt completed his edition of the Book of Mormon in 1879. However, I believe it is useful to examine the multiple forms of redaction using modern versification, even if those divisions did not exist in 1830."
- ↑ Royal Skousen, The History of the Text of the Book of Mormon, Part Five: King James Quotations in the Book of Mormon (Provo, UT: FARMS, 2019), 301, 412–13, 430–31.