Book of Abraham

[Landy77]

I read the book of Abraham. Iinteresting, but does it square with Abraham paying tithes to Melchizedek in Genesis 14: 20 which is, also, mentioned in Hebrews 7:6? Also, how about Deuteronomy 4: 19 which warns against worshiping the stars? Why if Abraham is a priest is he paying tithes to another priest and why would he be studying the stars which we are warned not to woship? Of course, you might argue he was using the stars to make a calendar. I don't claim to be a Bible scholar, but I do have some questions.

In addition I'm suspicious of any "new revelation" or expert opinion which seems to conflict with anything already revealed in the Bible as we have it. In addition to Christ's warning in the last verse of revelations there are verses like Romans 16: 17 which reads (King James) "Now I beseech you brethren, mark them which cause division and offense amoung you contrary to the doctrines which you have learned and avoid them."

[WillowTheWhisp]

Studying the stars is far removed from worshipping them. It's like comparing Patrick Moore to Russel Grant. Apologies to the non-Brits if you don't know who I'm referring to. Patrick Moore is an astronomer and Russel Grant is an astrologer.

[Hemidakota]

Genesis 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

Hebrew 7:6 6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

What does the payment of tithing to the local High Priest of [King or Prophet] Salem - have to do with the Book of Abraham?

I am guessing you never read the Book of Enoch; which immerse the study of the universe and the kingdom of GOD. I do know that Abraham sought after the works of this man and others before him. Before you jump of the soap box swinging about the Book of Enoch, I would caution you that Peter, Jude, and even the Savior mentioned this work in the New Testament. The point here, the current [bible] book is not complete.

Now, how did Enoch use the stars? According to the Book of Abraham, the prophet received such materials of the former prophets or the fathers of that day. What did Abraham learn from the work? Looking into our times, why did the Catholic clergy study the stars? Why did the Native Americans study the stars? In our own day, why do we study the stars?

A common mistake in using scriptures out of content here [Romans]. Do you even know why Paul wrote this epistle and who was he writing too? If you are saying the scripture [bible] is complete, is a statement one who is not harmony of teachings of GOD.

[a-train]

Is there a rubber stamp button somewhere on the site that creates a 'Questioning the Book of Abraham' thread?

-a-train

[rameumptom]

The Book of Abraham entails Abraham's time in Egypt. Melchizedek's city was in the Levant, far from where Abraham was. The practice, even today, is to pay tithes to the authorized priest in the geographical area.

Abraham was not worshiping the stars. Many ancients studied the cosmos, as a way to understand God's creations. The wise men that sought the Christ child were among those that studied stars, and even followed one to Jesus' location.

The Book of Abraham is correct in this, as Josephus also briefly mentions that Abraham taught astronomy to the Egyptians:

“Berosus mentions our father, Abram, without naming him, when he says thus: ‘In the tenth generation after the Flood, there was among the Chaldeans a man righteous and great, and skillful in the celestial science.” Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book I, 7.1.

“He [Abram] communicated to them arithmetic, and delivered to them the science of astronomy; for before Abram came into Egypt, they were unacquainted with those parts of learning ...” Josephus, Antiquities, Book I,7.2.

Rev 22:18-19 was a curse that John applied to his book, which was common in his day and into the early Christian centuries, because many books would be changed by those seeking to adapt them to their own religious sect's teachings. This referred solely to the Book of Revelation, not to the entire Bible, which would not be compiled for several more centuries. But you will note that John still left an opening: he stated that no MAN could add or take away from the writings. But John would have been the first to allow God to change what He would. After all, John's revelation speaks of other books from which all mankind would be judged, of a book that John himself swallowed, etc.

As for a different teaching - we must be careful to determine first what is the earliest teaching? Many of the creeds and teachings of the traditional Christian church came about long after the death of the apostles and the the Bible was put together by St Jerome. He was no apostle, but took upon himself to limit what found its way into the Bible. Several popular Christian books were rejected, including the Book of Enoch, the Odes of Solomon, and the Shepherd of Hermas.

Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon taught that many plain and precious truths had been lost, while others had been replaced with creeds. Seeing what holy books were found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, should begin to give us an idea of sacred writings that didn't make it down to us in our day as part of the Bible, but possibly should have. After all, the Book of Enoch is quoted 39 times in the New Testament - a clear sign that it was accepted by Jesus and his apostles.

Paul taught that the foundation of the Church was (and is) apostles and prophets, with Christ as the chief cornerstone (Eph 2:19). In chapter 4, he explained that the apostles and prophets are necessary until we "all come to the unity in Christ." In Revelation, John foresaw prophets in the last days, including two at Armageddon. Rev 19:10, John was taught by an angel that the "testimony of Jesus Christ is the spirit of prophecy." And in the Old Testament, Amos taught "surely the Lord God will do Nothing, save he reveal it through his servants, the prophets" (Amos 3:7).

The pattern we get from the Bible, the whole Bible, is that God works through living prophets and apostles. He reveals his will to them, and then they preach God's word to us. They control the direction of the Church of God, and how priesthood functions. I'm sure that many of the Jews in 30AD had the same concern about Jesus' prophesying and teachings, as you do now. He taught some things that were different, such as turning the other cheek, repentance and baptism in a different form than most Jews were used to, etc. But he was still God's chosen one to preach the revealed word.