. 2 Nephi 25:16 They Shall Believe in Christ, and Worship the Father in His Name, with Pure Hearts and Clean Hands: In regards to ancient temple prayer rituals, John Tvedtnes writes that there is symbolism in raising the hands in prayer. We find verification for Nephi's statement. (2 Corinthians 3:14) [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes] [See the commentary on the name Abraham -- 1 Nephi 22:9; see also the commentary on the name Israel -- 1 Nephi 15:18]. In the recently discovered Gospel of Philip, is this statement: "The name Jesus does not exist in any other tongue (than Hebrew), but he is always called Jesus. In later times Jehoshua was called Joshua or Jeshua, whence came the Greek form Iesous (Jesus in English) which is always used in the Greek version of the Old Testament current in the time of Christ. Have students read 2 Nephi 25:1–8 looking for Nephi’s insights on how to understand Isaiah. or who shall stand in his holy place? . 2 Nephi 25:10 Immediately After My Father Lehi Left Jerusalem: Nephi commented that the destruction of Jerusalem "should come upon [the Jews], immediately after my father left Jerusalem" (2 Nephi 25:10). After quoting Isaiah extensively, Nephi records his own prophecies in 2 Nephi 25:9 through 30:18. The poetry of Isaiah is like a musical fugue that intertwines several different themes. It's here that Nephi starts referring the Christ. Others have been a little more kind and scholarly in their judgments, but nonetheless dubious. G. 2 Nephi 13:14-15 Taking advantage of the poor. Moreover, King Benjamin revealed that according to the angel, "he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary" (Mosiah 3:8). 2 Nephi 25:19 His Name Shall Be Jesus Christ, the Son of God: According to Joy Osborn, in the Book of Mormon we read of angels revealing the name of Israel's Messiah as "Jesus Christ" to Nephi, to his brother Jacob, and later to King Benjamin (see Mosiah 3:5-13) hundreds of years before the birth of Christ. . In this earth we must pass through the serpent; we go to the lowest stage. 3 I do so, how - ever, by offering a theological interpretation of 2 Nephi 25:23 that is distinct from any other in the relevant literature. Nevertheless, God sendeth more witnesses, and he proveth all his words. These thirteen chapters of Isaiah are quoted to supply Isaiah as a third witness to the things that Nephi and Jacob have said (see 2 Nephi 11:3). Here in chapter 25, Nephi talks about the Messiah. Why would the blood of the Lamb wash you white? And what do they mean by "washed white in the blood of the Lamb"? 2 Nephi 12:8 Idolatry K. 2 Nephi 13:1-3 Relying on man instead of God D. 2 Nephi 13:5 Persecution and Disrespect E. 2 Nephi 13:9 Open and proud of their sins. 2 Nephi 15. That the mother of Jesus would be called by the name of Mary would also be declared by Alma (see Alma 7:7-14), some eighty-three years before the actual event. There is a phrase in 2 Nephi 25:23 that Latter-day Saints are likely very familiar with, “For we know that it is by grace that we are saved after all we can do.” But what does that mean? (See Skousen, The Fourth Thousand Years, pp. Note also Lamentations 3:41, "Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens." 1 It is an ancient record whose stated purpose is to convince all people “that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations” ( Title Page ). His Name Shall Be Jesus Christ, the Son of God: According to Hugh Nibley, there were many false Messiahs, and the Jews got all excited about them because they had missed the real one. The change had the effect of converting the meaning of the name from saving to Jehovah is Salvation. His Name Shall Be Jesus Christ, the Son of God: According to Hugh Nibley, there were many false Messiahs, and the Jews got all excited about them because they had missed the real one. Moses raised a brazen serpent on a staff, and whoever looked at the serpent would be healed. A careful analysis of the above texts will disclose at least twenty separate conditions which had to be met in order to make these prophecies come true. For example, on one occasion, Joseph Smith explained: Salvation cannot come without revelation; it is in vain for anyone to minister without it. Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea, c. 313-339, is recognized as one of the greatest of the early Church Fathers and Historians. 2 Nephi 4. . Nephi was frustrated, not only with them but also with his own response to them (2 Nephi 4:27, 29). Reflections on 2 Nephi 25:23 27 determine the meaning of this passage to clarify what the Book of Mormon teaches about the Atonement. 1, p. 142] 2 Nephi 17:20 The Beard: In the writings of Isaiah, reference is made to a beard (2 Nephi 17:20), which was part of the Semitic culture. Nephi's Commentary on Isaiah, Chapter 29): According to Cleon Skousen, one of the greatest treasures in the Book of Mormon is Nephi's inspired commentary on Isaiah, chapter 29, which is contained in 2 Nephi, chapters 25-27. . To this day in the Greek Orthodox Church, the Russian Orthodox Church, and the Serbian Church, the staff of the archbishop, head of the church, always consists of a cross with two serpents entwined on it. I imagine that Nephi wrote these words midway through his reign as king in the city of Nephi. Remember what Nephi wrote in the Book of Mormon about 600 B.C. . The key is ambivalent meaning. Following the publication of the Book of Mormon, in 1830, many ancient manuscripts and writings have been discovered which prove the accounts given in the Book of Mormon to be a true record, and also prove that this remnant of Joseph did, indeed, have the records, plates, and writings of the ancient prophets of Israel, including the writings of Joseph. . 2 Nephi 18. You know the caduceus is the two serpents intertwined, which is the sign of the healer. . 2 Nephi 29:3 A Bible! (2 Nephi 25:20). But the two serpents are the serpents that oppose each other and they represent both parts of life. All the episcopal staves and patriarchal staves of the Orient and the old eastern churches have the two serpents. The key is ambivalent meaning. The sin of pride is identified by both Isaiah and Nephi as the common denominator in the fall, destruction, and scattering of all the nations and peoples discussed in Isaiah's prophecies. In later times Jehoshua was called Joshua or Jeshua, whence came the Greek form, (Jesus in English) which is always used in the Greek version of the Old Testament current in the time of Christ. Here in these interpretive chapters, Nephi draws individual words and phrases from Isaiah (2 Nephi 12-24) to corroborate and substantiate his now familiar four-phased prophetic view: 2. his rejection and the scattering of the Jews; 4. the restoration of Israel and the ultimate victory of good over evil. 2 Nephi 25-30 (Isaiah's and Nephi's Theme of Pride): According to David Seely, one key to understanding Isaiah is to become familiar with the common themes he addresses. It's one of the most striking symbols of rebirth. 2 Nephi 16. For Eusebius also states that the prophet Jeremiah and the psalmist David also knew and quoted the name of Christ. In the Testament of Adam, Adam tells his son, Seth - "You have heard, my son, that God is going to come into the world after a long time, (he will be) conceived of a virgin and put on a body, be born like a human being, and grow up as a child." And the a prophecies which he wrote, there are not many greater. The most important recorded evidence comes from the great Christian historian Eusebius. 1:23). We were meant to be happy. 2 Nephi 25:19 The Messiah Cometh in Six Hundred Years from the Time My Father Left Jerusalem: According to Ariel Crowley, one of the primary, startling, and distinguishing characteristics of the Book of Mormon, often assailed by its critics, is its use of the proper name "Jesus" (2 Nephi 25:19; Mosiah 3:8; Alma 7:10) as applied to the expected Messiah, many years before his birth. No man can be a minister of Jesus christ except he has the testimony of Jesus; and this is the spirit of prophecy. These thirteen chapters of Isaiah are quoted to supply Isaiah as a third witness to the things that Nephi and Jacob have said (see 2 Nephi 11:3). 2 Nephi 14. Moses raised a brazen serpent on a staff, and whoever looked at the serpent would be healed. The one stands for life and the other for death. 2 Nephi 3. But a thing like that seems so contradictory to us; it's not so, though. [John W. Welch and J. Gregory Welch, Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching, F.A.R.M.S., Chart 84], 2 Nephi 25:1 Now I, Nephi, do speak somewhat concerning the words which I have written (Illustration): "Outlines of Passages Quoting Isaiah," [John Gee, "Choose the Things That Please Me": On the Selection of the Isaiah Sections in the Book of Mormon," in Isaiah in the Book of Mormon, p. 76]. . Happiness is found at home (“Hallmarks of a Happy Home,” General Conference, October 1988). “And though the journey of mortality can sometimes be very hard, grace shall be as your day—meaning, in Nephi’s words, ‘it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do’ (2 Nephi 25:23). The serpent, of course, is the most ambivalent of emblems. Salvation cannot come without revelation; it is in vain for anyone to minister without it. We have the statements of Isaiah, in the Vision of Isaiah, that he was shown the coming of the Lord Christ, who is to be called Jesus, and whose mother would be named Mary. Two theological interpretations, one traditional and one revisionist, are widespread. 1. TO RANSOM or PURCHASE In the New Testament the Greek words that are translated "redeem" mean to purchase, buy up, or to ransom (Strong # 1805, exagorazo, and 3084, lytroo). (2 Nephi 25:20). It is clear then that he understood the divine import of the name of Christ. These Isaiah chapters are then interpreted by Nephi in 2 Nephi 25-30. 2 Nephi 25-30 [Nephi's Interpretation of Isaiah (2 Nephi 12-24)]: According to John Welch, Nephi's extensive quotation of the prophecies of Isaiah (Isaiah 2-14) is found in 2 Nephi 12-24. . In General Conference yesterday, Elder David A. Bednar highlighted the sabbath and the temple as tools to help us clear the distractions and focus on the things that bring us joy. This fact was lost on the Jews of Lehi's day as well as the Jews at the time of Christ: "But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament: which veil is done away in Christ." Ultimately, however, through the revelation of the Book of Mormon to the gentiles, each group will repent of its pride, be brought back to a knowledge of the Messiah, and enter into a covenant with the Lord. 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