New Testament Thoughts and LDS Apologetics

[LeSellers]

29 minutes ago, Just_A_Guy said:

I think it's a fair point to ask whether the purpose of the JST is primarily to restore the original text, or to restore a more perfect account of the events covered within the text (is the JST a textual restoration, or a midrash/mishnah, or a combination of the two)?

I've heard the same things about the JST. There is no definitive answer. In fact, I believe there is no one answer.

If we want to know why God commanded Joseph to "translate" the Bible anew, I suggest it was not to restore the text, to comment on it, or improve clarity. We have the Doctrine and Covenants for that. I'm certain that Joseph, who lacked a mentor (think Elisha with Elijah), needed to learn the job of a prophet. There is no larger body of prophets than the one in the Bible. So he, Joseph, had to immerse himself in this "School of the Prophets" to learn how to magnify his calling.

We profit from the output, but that's a collateral benefit.

Lehi

Edited May 12, 2016 by LeSellers

[tesuji]

1 hour ago, Just_A_Guy said:

That's a good source. 

Even then, though; I think it's a fair point to ask whether the purpose of the JST is primarily to restore the original text, or to restore a more perfect account of the events covered within the text (is the JST a textual restoration, or a midrash/mishnah, or a combination of the two)?

FWIW, I'm not the only one asking these questions. 

I've always thought that the JST was more like inspired commentary, to clarify and expand on the meaning.

Rather than claiming to restore lost text in the original Bible. However, it would be cool if it were this. A lot of those JST verses are very specific, and could be that...

[tesuji]

[dup]

Edited May 12, 2016 by tesuji

[LeSellers]

2 hours ago, tesuji said:

I've always thought that the JST was more like inspired commentary, to clarify and expand on the meaning.

Rather than claiming to restore lost text in the original Bible. However, it would be cool if it were this. A lot of those JST verses are very specific, and could be that...

Joseph told us that his translation of the Bible was a restoration of the scriptures. One thing that points to this is his removal of many of the italicized words the AV translators inserted to make the meaning plainer. (I find the reading the passages without those words often makes the meaning clearer, or easier to read.)

He said in some of his later sermons that "[he] could have given a plainer translation", but the one from the AV was good enough for his purpose.

Lehi