We'll occasionally post examples of intertextuality on this blog.
Annotation
of Alma 38
Alma 38
is a good example because it shows that a high percentage of Book of Mormon
language is also KJV language. Few of the KJV words/phrases are not also found
in Edwards, including the so-called "blended" passages.
The blue Book
of Mormon words/phrases in the annotation are nonbiblical and also not found in
Edwards. In some cases noted below, the nonbiblical language is close to
Edwards (e.g., plural instead of singular). There are several examples in the
Book of Mormon of paraphrased or misquoted passages from the KJV that are
identical to paraphrased or misquoted KJV passages in Edwards' works.
The red words/phrases
are nonbiblical Book of Mormon wording that are also found in Edwards' works.
Purple are
nonbiblical Book of Mormon words/phrases similar to Edwards.
Naturally,
Edwards is not the only person who ever used this nonbiblical Book of Mormon
terminology. English is a common language or we couldn't understand one
another. But the ready availability of Edwards' works in Palmyra during
Joseph's youth indicates that Edwards was a possible source for Joseph's
vocabulary that he used when translating the plates.
Bold = KJV
Blue = nonbiblical BofM/D&C w/o JE (If unique to
this instance, no footnote is given)
Red = nonbiblical BofM/D&C and JE
Purple = nonbiblical BofM/D&C similar to JE
Chapter 38
Shiblon was persecuted for
righteousness’ sake—Salvation is in Christ, who is the life and the light of
the world—Bridle all your passions. About 74 B.C.
1 My son, give ear to my words,
for I say unto you, even as I said unto Helaman, that inasmuch as ye shall keep
the commandments
of God ye shall prosper in the land;
and inasmuch as
ye will not keep the commandments of God
ye shall be cut off from
his presence.
2 And now, my son, I trust that
I shall have great joy
in you,
because of your steadiness and your faithfulness
unto God;
for as you have commenced
in your youth
to look to the Lord your God, even so I hope
that you
will continue in
keeping his commandments;
for blessed is he that
endureth to the end.
3 I say unto you, my son, that I have had great joy
in thee already, because of thy faithfulness and thy diligence,
and thy patience and thy long-suffering
among the people of the Zoramites.
4 For I know that thou wast in bonds;
yea, and I also know that thou wast stoned
for the word’s sake;
and thou didst bear all these things with
patience because the Lord was
with thee; and now thou knowest that the Lord did deliver thee.
5 And now my son, Shiblon, I would that
ye should remember,
that as much as ye shall put your
trust in God
even so much ye shall be delivered out of your
trials,
and your troubles,
and your afflictions,
and ye shall be lifted up at the last day.
6 Now, my son, I would not that ye should think that I know
these things
of myself,
but it is the Spirit of God
which is in me
which maketh these things known
unto me; for if I had not been born of God
I should not have known these things.
7 But behold, the Lord in his great mercy
sent his angel
to declare unto me that I must stop the work of
destruction
among his people; yea, and I have seen an angel
face to face,
and he spake with me, and his voice was as thunder,
and it shook the whole earth.
8 And it came to pass that I was three days and three
nights in the most bitter pain and anguish of soul;
and never, until I did cry out unto the Lord Jesus Christ for mercy, did I receive a remission
of
my sins. But behold, I did cry unto him and I did find
peace to my soul.
9 And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom,
that ye may learn of me
that there is no other way
or means
whereby man can be saved,
only in and through
Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light
of the world.
Behold, he is the word of truth
and righteousness.
10 And now, as ye have begun to teach
the word
even so I would that ye should continue to teach;
and I would that ye would be diligent
and temperate
in all things.
11 See that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea, see that
ye do not boast
in your own wisdom,
nor of your much strength.
12 Use boldness, but not overbearance;
and also see that ye bridle
all your passions,
that ye may be filled with love;
see that ye refrain from
idleness.
13 Do not pray as the Zoramites do, for ye have seen that
they pray to be heard of men, and to
be praised for their wisdom.
14 Do not say: O God, I thank thee that we are better
than our brethren; but rather say:
O Lord, forgive my unworthiness,
and remember my brethren in mercy—yea, acknowledge your unworthiness before
God at all times.
15 And may the Lord bless your soul, and receive you
at the last day
into his kingdom,
to sit down in peace. Now go, my son,
and teach the word
unto this people. Be sober.
My son, farewell.
(Alma 38–Alma)
NT (8) BM (2) DC (4) JE (30)
