This is the figure that you identify as a man that is sitted in the middle. Not much is known about facsimile 2 or 3, but connections are made between them and ancient egypt regarding astronomy and abraham. All three facsimiles are said to be from the book of abraham, but facsimile 2 apparently was not a part of a scroll but was a separate document on its own. Common egyptian hypocephalus comparing the source hypocephalus to the published facsimile while we dont have the original hypocephalus, an early rendering of it reveals damage, and egyptologists agree that facsimile 2 is a poor and inaccurate. The text of the book of abraham does not narrate this story. In 1912, a letter about the book of abraham was published by arthur cruttenden mace, assistant curator in the department of egyptian art in new yorks metropolitan museum of art. The book of abraham includes facsimile 2 as shown here, complete with the description and explanation that smith gave to its contents. The three facsimiles found in the book of abraham all derive from ancient egyptian.
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. 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 book of abraham is a work produced between 1835 and 1842 by joseph smith based. The different books of the dead have pictures very similar to this one. His inclusion of it clearly refutes any notion that everything must have come from one scroll. Joseph only interpreted one figure of anubis as a priest, in facsimile 1. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Joseph interpreted facsimile 2 as a representation of abrahams astronomy and facsimile 3 as a depiction of abraham sitting on pharaohs throne while he explains the principles of astronomy to pharaoh.
We have a few things to look at here so lets start at the beginning. Abraham, impressed by the amount of research and worldbuilding franck had done, asked to write a novel set in the games universe. The jewish apocalypse of abraham is discussed the most. Critical appraisal of the book of abraham wikipedia.
In this article, egyptologist robert ritner responds to. An online handbook to the lds church mormon comparing the source hypocephalus to the published facsimile while we dont have the original hypocephalus, an early rendering of it reveals damage, and egyptologists agree that facsimile 2 is a poor and inaccurate restoration. 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. The type of drawing depicted in facsimile 2 is known among scholars as a. Facsimile 2, the hypocephalus, is also a late egyptian religious text. The book of abraham issues translation problems mormonthink. He first looks at how the book of abraham came to exist and how the papyri ended up with joseph smith. Facsimile 3 published in the book of abraham is a scene from the ancient egyptian book of the dead. Nearly half of the book of abraham shows a dependence on the king james version of the book of genesis. The measurement according to celestial time, which celestial time signifies one day to a cubit.
Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 2. Abraham, the papyri, and the book of abraham and the ancient world. If you follow carefully through the printed explanation of facsimile no. Notice the missing portions of the actual papyri are filled in when. The lds church issued a new article on the book of abraham on its official website in 2014, arguing that it does not matter that the text of the book of abraham does not match the text of the papyri joseph smith said he had translated. The facsimiles are not said to be authored by abraham, but have been attached as illustrations relevant to the text. So the reason for the focus on all the various parts of the book of abraham, all of the books that might possibly be related. Two views of the mormon book of abraham bible query. Nibley discovered eighteen parallels of phrasing, there is no mention of how different the point of both the books were. In mormon doctrine blacks are considered to suffer from the curse of cain. The six books of proclus on theology of plato by thomas taylor. To me, this shows that joseph smith clearly altered the reproduction of the facsimile.
The lord god caused the famine to wax sore in the land of ur. This assumption is obviously false, however, for joseph also included facsimile 2 from yet another document in the book of abraham. As for the scrolls and mummies, after joseph smith was murdered in illinois in 1844. Finally, he examines each of the facsimiles and discusses what egyptology says about the kinds of things found in the joseph. The next chapter discusses stories about abraham from the ancient world that have details found in the book of abraham but not the bible. Book of abraham written by his own hand upon papyrus and found in the catacombs of egypt. 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. Source hypocephalus as published in the book of abraham. Facsimile 2 in the book of abraham is a common egyptian hypocephalus. Like facsimile 3, facsimile 2 is not found among the surviving fragments, but the writing on it indicates it belonged to a man named sheshonq, and the hieroglyphic writing on it deals with sheshonqs happiness and wellbeing in the egyptian afterlife. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham.
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. After reading abraham s first chapters, franck decided to become more involved with the writing. Section 2 section 5 section section 20 section 27 section 48 section 101 pearl of great price book of abraham facsimile 1 facsimile 2 facsimile 3 translation manuscripts king james bible the inspired version journal of discourses other scriptures. An introduction to the book of abraham deseret book. In the last chapter, we saw some of the problems mormonism faces with the book of mormon and archaeology. Thomas taylor s 1816 book, the six books of proclus on the theology of plato, especially volume 2, contains most of the motifs in abraham 3 and facsimile 2. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham the university. A facsimile from the book of abraham church of jesus christ. As translated by the prophet joseph smith, they bear witness of the gospel as had by adam, noah, and other ancient patriarchs. So the reason for the focus on all the various parts of the book of abraham, all of the books that might possibly be related to the book of mormon.
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. 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. Dick and taylor both contain a number of exact phrases found in abraham 3 and facsimile 2. The book of abraham includes facsimile 2 as shown here, complete with the. 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.
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. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 3. Explores the joseph smith papyrus and demonstrates that joseph smiths claim that he had translated the book of abraham from it was a fabrication. Nibley is trying to make his words mean that they could not even put the right picture in the right book. Ashment, egyptian, egyptian alphabet and grammar, facsimile no. Book of abraham facsimile number 2 wikimedia commons.
Book of abraham facsimile 2 that one mission thing. However, facsimile 3 also shows anubis, yet smith made him out to be a tinyheaded, racist caricature of an african slave. The chaldeans first appeared in the 9th century bce, years before abraham supposedly lived. The following is his translation, interpretation, and commentary on facsimile 2 as found in our present book of abraham. Feb 16, 2012 most latter day saints dont realize that in at least one case, that prophecy has come true. Facsimile 2 is the hypocephalus of sheshonq and was not part of the book of breathings.
The mormon god and a phallic god could be considered one and the same. Joseph smiths notes to facsimile 2 identify it as representing god sitting in the heavens among the stars and others of his creations. Joseph smith either translated the book of abraham by the gift and power of god, or he made it all up. Resolution of the problems the statement in the introduction to the book of abraham, that it. It usually represents the embalming of the deceased individual in preparation for burial. Smith, inventor of mormonism found in his translation of the book of abraham the rationale for withholding mormon priesthood from black males. Nibleys book abraham in egypt are parallels he found between the book of abraham and various apocryphal books. I return herewith, under separate cover, the pearl of great price. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham a. Book of abraham manuscript, circa julycirca november 1835b abraham 1.
In this article, egyptologist robert ritner responds to that article. 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. This vignette is called a lion couch scene by egyptologists. The illustration represented by facsimile 2 is a hypocephalus, a disc made of linen, papyrus, or bronze, covered with inscriptions and images which relate to one of the last spells in the book of the dead. Ten questions and answers on the book of abraham mormons. Scenes from the egyptian book of the dead comparing the source papyrus to the published facsimile. In my recent study of the facsimiles i began with facsimile 2 and will be posting further articles soon. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license.
Mormon handbook the book of abraham facsimile 2 facsimile 2 is a common egyptian hypocephalus. First in government, the last pertaining to the measurement of time. He is best known as the author of the long price quartet and the dagger and the coin fantasy series, and with ty franck, as the coauthor of the expanse series of science fiction novels, written under the joint. An early rendering of it reveals damage, and egyptologists agree that facsimile 2 is a poor and inaccurate restoration.
Translation and historicity of the book of abraham response. Corey, is an american novelist, comic book writer, screenwriter, and television producer. According to joseph smiths introductory comments in the translation, abraham wrote the book himself, by his own hand, upon papyrus smith, 1842, 93. A study guide to the facsimiles of the book of abraham. Two thousand years and a hundred generations later, another abraham perishes, immolated in the fires of the warsaw ghetto. Though neither joseph smith nor the church had much in the way of material means, they somehow scraped together the money to purchase the sarcophagi, and joseph smith. 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. A response december 2, 1983 by ben crowder abraham, anubis, apocalypse of abraham, bonwetsch, book of abraham, edward h. Reproduction abraham lincoln facsimile originally published by chicago ill. Michael marquardt, it seems clear that smith had the bible open to genesis as he dictated this section i. The color images provided below, while not always accurate, may help in visualizing each figure complete color facsimile 2 available here. Ten questions and answers on the book of abraham mormons in. 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. Facsimile 2 the church of jesus christ of latterday saints.
In this chapter we will examine another book of the mormon scriptures called the book of abraham. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 1. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of abraham. Kolob, signifying the first creation, nearest to the celestial, or the residence of god. Today it is presumed that the papyri that formed the basis for facsimiles 2 and 3 were. Joseph smith provided this explanation in book of abraham, facsimile 2, figure 5. The book of abraham is a book of lds scripture that joseph smith translated from a collection of ancient egyptian papyri the church purchased. Stands next to kolob, called by the egyptians oliblish, which is the next grand governing creation near to the celestial or the place where god resides. Thus the moses scenario repeats the enoch story and the abraham story, and facsimile no. Contemporary egyptologists translations of figures 811 in the book of abraham bare an eerie resemblance to a phrase used in the temple.
The truth of the book of abraham is ultimately found through careful study of its teachings, sincere prayer, and the confirmation of the spirit. Joseph did complete the translation of the book of abraham, but the manuscripts have been lost. Fairs apologetics regarding the book of abraham offends intellect. Apologetics press facsimile 1 from the book of abraham. Facsimile 1 was taken from part of the book of breathings. Pettit foundation, 2011, released in paperback by signature books in 20. Teaching the book of abraham facsimiles religious studies center. Franck agreed, deciding to split the proceeds of the book, with abraham writing from francks outline and notes. Luckily, about a quarter of his translation had already been printed, and it can now be found in the pearl of great price. There are also hierogylphics shown in the original but are missing in the facsimile. Let us remember, incidentally, that this book of moses was written in 1830, long before anyone heard of the joseph smith papyri or the book of abraham, to say nothing of the apocalypse and testament of. Daniel james abraham born november 14, 1969, pen names m. His inclusion of it clearly refutes any notion that. He is best known as the author of the long price quartet and the dagger and the coin fantasy series, and with ty franck, as the coauthor of the expanse series of science fiction novels, written under the joint pseudonym james s.
Compared with the book of moses, the book of abraham seems to more forcefully. Next, he discusses what we know about the translation process and the publication of this ancient book of scripture. Book of abraham and other egyptian material the joseph smith. Joseph smith owned a copy of this book and is the astronomy source for chapter 3 of the book of abraham.
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