I’ve been reading Echoes and Evidences of the Book of Mormon most recently. Today I read in the “Hebraisms and other Peculiarities” chapter a section on a poetic form called “climax” (which means “ladder” in Greek), which was discovered in 1898 by a biblical scholar. The definition of this poetic form is described as follows: “Climax occurs when the same word or words found at the end of one clause are repeated at or near the beginning of the next clause.” (Echoes, pg 166)
The book then shares some examples of climaxes found in the Bible as well as the Book of Mormon. I thought the one found in Moroni 8:25-26 was beautiful and wanted to share it. I will break it down as it is broken down in the book to emphasize the use of climax:
And the first fruits of repentance is
baptism; and
baptism cometh by faith unto
the fulfilling the commandments; and
the fulfilling the commandments bringeth
remission of sins; And the
remission of sins bringeth
meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of
meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the
Holy Ghost, which
Comforter filleth with hope and perfect
love, which
love endureth by diligence unto prayer,
until the end shall come, when all Saints shall well with God.
If I hadn’t read about this poetic form, I would have read right over it and missed great symbolic purpose. I think it’s awesome to see how this is like a ladder, or climax in that each step builds on the other and at the top of the ladder is love, which is the greatest commandment. Even better, it doesn’t just stop there. The verses tell us how we can maintain our love and the result (dwelling with God) if we are diligent in keeping love in our hearts.
What are your thoughts as you read this? Also, do you know of any other examples in the scriptures where this poetic form is used?
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March 20, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Jay
Very interesting. I’m going to have to read that book. How many examples of this are there in the Book of Mormon and where are they found? I can see someone not of the LDS faith saying that Joseph Smith was extremely familiar with biblical language and just happened to pick up on some of the nuances presented there.
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March 20, 2008 at 7:45 pm
runtu
I’m not sure I’d call this a Hebraism (as it’s not specific to Hebrew), but that is a good example of a climax. The trick is to recognize literary structure in the Book of Mormon while resisting the urge to give that structure too much weight.
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March 21, 2008 at 5:02 pm
ama49
#1 Jay,
You should read that book. It provides great insight as to the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and how Joseph Smith could never have made such a complex book up in the 19th century.
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March 23, 2008 at 7:02 am
runtu
I’ve read the book, hence my statement above. But I’m not here to argue. As I said, poetic climax is not necessarily a Hebraic structure and thus doesn’t tell us much about the book’s antiquity. You might be interested in my review of Grant Palmer’s book on my blog.
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March 23, 2008 at 7:54 pm
The work and the glory
Is the Book of Mormon what it claims to be? The LDS faith rests on two things; the first, is that the Book of Mormon is a true testament to Jesus’ visit to the Americas, and the second is that Joseph Smith was a prophet. Here we’ ll deal with the first question. See the PDF and decide.
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March 23, 2008 at 9:23 pm
ama49
Here’s a comment by Blur72:
I don’t think that one can say that “climax” or perhaps more specifically “anadiplosis” was discovered by a Biblical scholar in 1898. It was a common rhetorical device in classical texts as well as the Bible and noted by English authors such as Puttenham as early as 1589, perhaps thus explaining why this device was used by Shakespeare. From the OED:
Anadiplosis
Reduplication; the beginning of a sentence, line, or clause with the concluding, or any prominent, word of the one preceding.
1589 PUTTENHAM Eng. Poesie (Arb.) 210 As thus: Comforte it is for man to haue a wife, Wife chast, and wise..The Greeks call this figure Anadiplosis, I call him the Redouble.
1681 HOBBES Rhet. IV. iv. 148 A Redoubling called Anadyplosis as, ‘The Lord also will be a refuge to the poor, a refuge, I say in due time.’
a1791 WESLEY in Wks. 1872 XIII. 524 In an anadiplosis the word repeated is pronounced the second time louder and stronger than the first.
Here’s the OED on “climax,” whose usage also dates back to at least 1589.
Climax
1. Rhet. A figure in which a number of propositions or ideas are set forth so as to form a series in which each rises above the preceding in force or effectiveness of expression; gradation.
1589 PUTTENHAM Eng. Poesie III. xix. (Arb.) 217 A figure which..by his Greeke and Latine originals..may be called the marching figure..it may aswell be called the clyming figure, for Clymax is as much to say as a ladder.
1657 J. SMITH Myst. Rhet. 94. 1681 R. BURTHOGGE Argument (1684) 10 This is the Clymax; if Believers, then Christ’s; if Christ’s, then Abraham’s Seed; if Abraham’s Seed, then Heirs according to the Promise.
1748 J. MASON Elocut. 29 In a Climax, the Voice should always rise with it.
1828 WHATELY Rhet. in Encycl. Metrop. 264/1 The well-known Climax of Cicero in the Oration against Verres.
1876 GLADSTONE Synchr. Homer 151 The whole passage as to the gifts of Agamemnon is in the nature of a climax.
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March 23, 2008 at 9:26 pm
ama49
#2 and #4 (runtu)
Thanks for sharing your insights. What is the site for your blog?
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March 24, 2008 at 1:59 pm
ama49
#6
You’re right about what you said about climax…the book says it was discovered in the Bible in 1898…not that climax was merely discovered. The book goes on further to say that “the fact climactic forms appear in the Book of Mormon is good evidence this volume of scripture belongs to the ancient world of its companion volume, the Bible…(because of) the scarcity of climax in the Old Testament, it is highly improbable that Joseph Smith was aware of this poetic device.” (pg 169)
Whether or not Smith knew of this (highly unlikely with a minimal education) we won’t know for sure.
The greatest evidence of the Book of Mormon is the confirmation from the Spirit.
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March 25, 2008 at 6:51 pm
runtu
My blog is at runtu.wordpress.com. It’s probably not for the faint of heart. LOL
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March 26, 2008 at 3:13 am
brooksrobinson
I found your post interesting. I haven’t found anything that historically backs the BoM. So I’ve been in the process of examining various word usages now, such as “apostle” “Christ” “Church” “Bible.” How those words shouldn’t be in the Book of Mormon at all.
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March 26, 2008 at 12:14 pm
brooksrobinson
http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/booksmain.php?bookid=8
<–is this an online version of the book?
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March 26, 2008 at 12:26 pm
brooksrobinson
What also concerns me about the BoM, besides the lack of historical evidence, is the different Jesus the Mormon Church portrays. One that portrays God as a sort of “office” ran by three gods that are separate. This incidentally, is not what the BoM says about Jesus from what I can tell so far. Also the translation of the word “God,” in both the Old Testament and New Testament seem to have confused Joseph Smith. Galatians 1:6-10 also talks about not accepting another gospel other then the one which you accepted. The BoM would be another gospel.
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March 29, 2008 at 7:07 pm
ama49
#12
I’m glad you have concerns and that you want to make sure things are in line with what Heavenly Father and Jesus want. You should be concerned about that.
Let me ask you a question. If someone who were an athiest were investigating the Bible, how would you suggest helping them believe? Another question (similar to the first): how do you know Jesus is the Christ?
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March 29, 2008 at 8:11 pm
ama49
#11
There isn’t an online version…I think that version is a Hugh Nibley version.
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March 29, 2008 at 9:11 pm
brooksrobinson
If it was a true genuine searching Atheist (rather then those who simply want to start trouble) I would show them the historical reliability of what we have now as far as the Bible is concerned. This would be through the archaeological evidence of New Testament manuscripts, the tradition of the early church fathers that had been taught by the apostles, and challenge them to seek it out themselves. However, there are two kinds of faiths(Martin Luther put it this way), the faith that the events did happen the way they are described, and the faith in the person in which they describe. In other words, I may have faith that Jesus was the “Messiah,” I may have faith that the events portrayed in the Gospels did happen, however I still need to have the faith in the actual person of Jesus,(as in his salvation plan, and his revealing of the Father). If it was a non-genuine Atheist, I’d pray that the Lord open his heart up for the message, and I’d attempt to answer questions in hope of planting a seed.
“how do you know Jesus is the Christ?”
Many years ago, this question would have perhaps made me more uncomfortable, depending on who the asker was. My knowledge of the gospels or even the Bible was lacking then. I would have depended simply on faith and the tradition passed down to me from going to church. As I’ve matured, studied the Bible a bit more since then, and read outside studies concerning the Bible, my faith has expounded into not just simply a matter of a blind faith that these events happened, but to a reasonable faith in these events. Do not get me wrong, a personal testimony is important, what God has done for my family is unbelievable. However, it is important to step forward from the personal to the external. Can my faith be reasonably backed up? That answer is yes, if the events of the Bible that are supposed to have happened never took place, or that the gospels were a hoax and truly never took place, what good is my faith in a make believe person, who was sent to save me? These events can be affirmed through prophecies of the Old Testament, outside sources, those of which are from the Roman historian, Tacitus, or the Jewish Historian Josephus (to name a few). Many times the Bible has provided histories of ancient people that were suspected of not existing, until of course their ruins were found. So I believe the Bible to be a historically accurate source. I also go by the tradition. Jesus is held to be the Christ not just in the modern church but in the first church. This is evident from Paul’s letters in which a few of them were written before the gospels themselves were composed. This is affirmed through the gospels, and also later by the early church fathers who would have been apart of the first generation church, such as Polycarp and Ignatius. So my faith goes beyond the run of the mill, I believe cause I was told, to a reasonable faith. To that similar to the Berean’s, a faith that is reasonable, and not a blind leap. Are their still aspects that will remain blind, yes.
I can go into this in more detail, my email is spectrert1 at hotmail dot com
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March 30, 2008 at 8:13 pm
ama49
#15
I think your approach in how you believe Jesus is your Savior is the right one to take.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:3 that no man can say Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Ghost. It sounds like you had a spiritual conversion first and then you reaffirmed this conversion with “facts.” However, regardless of history, science, etc. you need to have a spiritual conversion by the Holy Ghost. History can show there was a Jesus, but history and science can’t testify to your heart that He is your Savior.
So the next question would be how do you feel and recognize the Spirit (or Holy Ghost)?
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March 31, 2008 at 5:25 pm
brooksrobinson
The Holy Ghost is something that doesn’t posses so to speak. The inspiration of the prophets of the Old testament never took away their personality or their self. The Holy Spirit works in many different way’s, just depending on what your spiritual gifts are. For instance, when I profess the teachings of the Bible and my faith in my God Jesus Christ, if it is in the right context (verses me instigating a fight), I find myself saying the proper words at the right time. I feel myself saying things clearly and with a sort of authority, as if I’ve had years of professional experience in this manner. I also feel the Spirit during worship of my God. In which a sort of spiritual over taking over flows my body. The Holy Spirit gives me guide by providing me with the voice in the back of my mind that convicts me when I’m doing something wrong, and when I’m keeping up with my Bible reading and prayer time, it seems I’m aware of more oppurtunities to flee from temptation. So there are many various aspects in which the Spirit can work in ones life.
There is a difference between an emotional appeal and that of which comes from the Spirit. There maybe some confusion there, the Holy Spirit would never guide one to follow beliefs contrary to that which is of God. In other words, if one feels that they are being told a revelation from God, or an insight on scripture, but it isnt something that is Biblically sound, it may not be the Holy Spirit, but that of a false spirit appealing to the sinful decitful heart of man. When I read the Book of Mormon for instance (sorry if this sounds offensive), I do not get the inspiration I get from reading the Bible. Instead it seems, the Spirit reveals to me the various language structure issues, wording issues (such as Greek based words found), and theological issues that are contained inside this book. This is why the Bible is the guide that must be used to test various doctrines and idea’s that have come about through out the generations. If you’d like to get into a more indepth discussion on our two varying beliefs please email me. I’d hate to take up so much space on your entries.
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March 31, 2008 at 6:31 pm
ama49
#17
The way you describe the way you feel the Spirit is exactly how one feels the spirit and how I’ve felt the Spirit in the past. It is how I feel the Spirit when I read the Bible and when I read the Book of Mormon.
When we read with open minds, with real intent, and a desire to know if it is true, God will reveal the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and every other scripture and truth that He has revealed in all religions and faiths.
If you were to read the Bible with a skeptical approach, the Holy Spirit wouldn’t reveal truth to you either. God reveals truths to us as we are ready to receive them.
You do not offend me at all by your comments at all. I’ve experienced what you’ve experienced as well. I’ve been on both sides of the fence. At one point I didn’t believe the Book of Mormon, but when I humbled myself and opened myself up to feeling the spirit, I felt and continue to feel an overwhelming confirmation of the Spirit.
If you stop focusing on why the Book could possibly not be true and focus on why it could be true, the Holy Ghost will give you the same confirmation that you described with your experience with the Bible. I know this as I’ve experienced both.
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April 1, 2008 at 4:42 am
brooksrobinson
“If you stop focusing on why the Book could possibly not be true and focus on why it could be true”- The Spirit though will not lead you into false belief my friend. If the Book has no historical backing, no archaeological proof, a constant switching between language structure (old English and Victorian era English), words that should not be in there( words that are Greek and would not of been created during this time), and at least one false prophecy that I’ve come across while reading it so far, thus it cannot be true. Also as the book, Galatians boldly proclaims, not to accept another gospel even if an angle brings to you this gospel. God needs no other testament, the Bible is the most accurate book of any writing of antiquity, therefore there is no need to have extra affirmation. Before the BoM showed up onto the scene it still could be found across the globe. It is a book written by men under the inspiration of God, therefore God will preserve his book from those who wished to change it hundreds of years ago to fit their desires, as it was first being meticulously put together.
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April 2, 2008 at 1:59 am
ama49
I’ll repeat what I said before:
“When we read with open minds, with real intent, and a desire to know if it is true, God will reveal the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and every other scripture and truth that He has revealed in all religions and faiths.”
It’s a promise and I’ve experienced it many times. When you are ready, pray with real intent. God will reveal it to you. He promised He would.
That’s all I’m saying about this.
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