In his periodical,times and seasons, joseph smith identified the same illustration as a facsimile from the book of abraham, showing that he mistakenly thought this breathing permit was actually the work of the patriarch abraham some two thousand years earlier. The oldest and most valuable of these is the famous codex sylvester, 2 which now belongs to the library of the printingdepartment of the holy synod in moscow. Richards published a pamphlet in july 1851, entitled, the pearl of great price. The measurement according to celestial time, which celestial time signifies one day to a cubit. Gods instruction to abraham to introduce sarai as his sister is echoed in the genesis apocryphon column 19 as having come through a dream. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of mormonism. Approaching the facsimiles pearl of great price central. As noted above, most critics have assumed that the source of the text is the hieroglyphs adjacent to facsimile 1 on the papyri, but a closer look at the ancient sources themselves and contemporary accounts of joseph smiths translation process brings that assumption into question. Apologetics press facsimile 1 from the book of abraham. Abraham had the urim and thummim just like joseph smith.
Eyewitness accounts describe both the papyri collection and which. Also, notes about the book of moses from the pearl of great price. In this publication was printed the little book of abraham, together with the three facsimile. The following is a sidebyside comparison of what joseph smith translated in facsimile 2 versus what it actually says according to egyptologists and modern egyptology. One of the most disturbing facts the ces letter author discovered in his research of facsimile 2. Reconstruction designated as part of the book of abraham. The altar for sacrifice by the idolatrous priests, standing before the gods of elkenah, libnah, mahmackrah, korash, and. Did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 2 in the book. The type of drawing depicted in facsimile 2 is known among scholars as a hypocephalus, which means under or beneath the head. Translation of the book of abraham written by his own hand upon papyrus and found in the catacombs of egypt18 beginning with the first publication of the book of abraham in the march 1, 1842 edition of the. Prince of pharaoh, king of egypt, as written above the hand. Joseph copied three drawings from the egyptian scrolls while creating the book of abraham, and he labeled them facsimile no.
Abraham s teaching astronomy to egyptians book of abraham facsimile 3 is described in pseudoeupolemus 9. A facsimile from the book of abraham church of jesus christ. Sometime between 1818 and 1822, antonio lebolo, who was working as superintendent of the archaeological excavations for bernardino drovetti in upper egypt, discovered many mummies in a tomb in thebes. While the other two facsimiles printed with the book of abraham have connections, more or less, with the narrative events of the text facsimile no. Facsimile 1 was taken from part of the book of breathings. Besides the relationship of vignette and text, we also have to ask what portion of the papyri joseph smith translated from. The idolatrous priest of elkenah attempting to offer up abraham as a sacrifice. Is made to represent god, sitting upon his throne, clothed with power and. Teaching the book of abraham facsimiles religious studies center. Three images facsimiles of vignettes on the papyri and joseph smiths.
We should begin by asking what segment of the whole body of manuscripts was the source of the book of abraham. A journal of mormon thought, spring, 1995 by his own hand upon papyrus. Isis the great, the gods mother signifies abraham in egypt as given also in figure 10 of facsimile no. Abraham and osiris facsimile 3, figure 1 pearl of great. About five years after the three facsimiles were published in the pearl. The three facsimiles found in the book of abraham all derive from ancient egyptian papyri that joseph smith obtained in kirtland in 1835.
In the book of abraham also we are told that the plan of the cosmos, represented by facsimile no. Through the years, whenever the book of abraham was printed there were. Book of abraham and facsimiles, 1 march16 may 1842, page 703. Dec 16, 2008 joseph smith copied three drawings from the egyptian scrolls, labeled them facsimile no. Joseph smiths notes to facsimile 2 identify it as representing god sitting in the heavens among. Jan 24, 2020 3 rhodes, the hor book of breathings, 24. 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. 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. Joseph smiths notes to facsimile 2 identify it as representing god sitting in the. Illustration 2 incorrect reconstruction of the beginning illustration of the original papyrus prepared for horus. Kolob, signifying the first creation, nearest to the celestial, or the residence of god. Let us begin with facsimiles 1 and 3 of the book of abraham.
For annotation on the content of these explanations, see book of abraham manuscript and explanation of facsimile 1, ca. Evidence for the book of abraham facsimiles from egyptology. In looking at various websites concerning the book of abraham i am astounded at the blatant misrepresentations and incorrect information on the internet concerning the book of abraham, the joseph smith papyri, the facsimiles with the book of abraham. Unfortunately, most of what has been said about this facsimile is seriously wanting at best and highly erroneous at worst. Restoration of the upper right portion of facsimile 2 parent page. As we discuss all of the facsimiles, we must keep in mind what i wrote about challenge two.
The egyptian goddess isis, the wife of osiris the writing above isis. The slavonic version, or rather translation, of the apocalypse of abraham ap. An early rendering of it reveals damage, and egyptologists agree that facsimile 2 is a poor and inaccurate restoration. The version of the times and seasons used for the transcription was taken from a bound copy of volumes 1, 2, and 3 of the times and seasons. First in government, the last pertaining to the measurement of time. In summary, facsimile 1 formed the beginning, and facsimile 3 the end of a document known as the book of breathings, an egyptian religious text dated paleographically to the time of jesus. Sep 04, 2020 the book of abraham is unique in the scriptural canon of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, because it is the only book in that canon that has pictures. Isis the pharaoh facsimile 3, figure 2 pearl of great.
The source of facsimile 3 is unknown, though it could have been the book of breathings as well. The lds churchs 20 essay on the book of abraham, cites for evidence of historicity, a thirdcentury papyrus from an egyptian temple library connects abraham with an illustration similar to facsimile 1 in the book of abraham. This work was illustrated by scribes in the ancient world, and three such illustrations known as facsimiles 1, 2, and 3 were found among the papyrus documents smith purchased. The second, third, and fourth paradigms 2 4 are each compelling to. Book of abrahamfacsimilesfacsimile 2restoration of the. An examination and comparative study of facsimile no. The published text of the book of abraham is accompanied by three woodcut. The manuscript spells this and the same word in figure 7 mahmackrah. Facsimile 3 has always been the most neglected of the three facsimiles in the book of abraham. 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. Figure 3, the idolatrous priest of elkenah attempting to offer up abraham as a sacrifice. Signifies abraham in egypt as given also in figure 10 of facsimile no.
The book of abraham in unique in the scriptural canon of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints because it is the only book in that canon that has p. Egyptologists have viewed the drawings and found joseph smiths interpretation of them to be wrong. 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. Baers translation of the breathing permit of hor has served as the basis of all further studies of the text, the most extensive of which was the 1975 publication by hugh nibley. The illustration represented by facsimile 2 is a hypocephalus, a disc made of linen, papyrus, or. On each page of the narrative text of the book of abraham, the type is set in two columns. The top 2 3 of this hypocephalus represents the eternal or heavenly. Book of abraham facsimile 2 regarding facsimile 2, it should be noted that portions of the original facsimile 2 appear to have been missing, and that the missing portions were filled in with characters or images taken from other sources before the image was published in the times and seasons. One potential way to identity this figure by egyptological methods would be to read the characters hieroglyphs above his head. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 2.
Mormon handbook the book of abraham facsimile 2 facsimile 2 is a common egyptian hypocephalus. Why didnt joseph correctly identify the names isis and maat for figures 2 and 4 in facsimile 3. In this publication was printed the little book of abraham, together with the three facsimile illustrations. A trace of the original hieroglyphic writing from this hypocephalus is visible on the left edge of figs. Unfortunately, the original illustration or vignette from. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham ces letter.
The book of abraham is unique in the scriptural canon of the church of jesus christ. However, facsimile 3 also shows anubis, yet smith made him out to be a tinyheaded, racist caricature of an african slave. There is another facsimile in the book of abraham revealing additional areas of mistranslation. 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. The 1835 book of abraham manuscript ms 2 begins with a onesentence introduction. Teaching the book of abraham facsimiles religious studies. The printing plate for facsimile 1 of the book of abraham, prepared. Book of abraham facsimile number 2 wikimedia commons. The damaged papyrus written in greek is a love spell designed to create feelings of passion in a woman. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 2 fair. The book of abraham issues translation problems mormonthink.
The text of abraham 3 and facsimile 2 has some remarkable resemblances to the astronomical concepts, phrases, and other motifs found in thomas dicks, philosophy of a future state. Feb 15, 2019 this facsimile edition is a tool for scholars and others interested in the book of abraham to do things like theological work or ferreting out textual influences or constructing arguments over and about the text and early mormonism. Fairs apologetics regarding the book of abraham offends intellect. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 3. Source hypocephalus as published in the book of abraham.
Now, abraham, these two facts exist, behold thine eyes see it. The article book of abraham facsimile number 2 on wikipedia projects. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of. Facsimile 2, the hypocephalus, is also a late egyptian religious text. Illustration 3 ending of papyrus scroll prepared for horus. The remainder of these lines are filled with hieratic writing. The altar for sacrifice by the idolatrous priests, standing before the gods of elkenah, libnah, mahmackrah, korash, and pharaoh. In facsimile 2, they appear to be represent the delivering of the power, authority, and governance of god to the four quarters, lands, and peoplessymbolized by the four heads of the river eden that the book of abraham talks about. Joseph only interpreted one figure of anubis as a priest, in facsimile 1. Facsimile 1 supposedly depicts the scene of abraham nearly being sacrificed by the egyptian priest elkenah. Facsimile 3 and book of the dead 125 book of mormon central. Since 1842 when it was first published, the book of abraham has been accompanied by three facsimiles of egyptian characters and figures that illustrate the text. Facsimile 2 represents process of life from highest to lowest realms.
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