![]() To me it is worth reading only after one has read the entire Old Testament, and even then some of the books in it could be skipped entirely.īut what about the Book of Jasher? Is it worth reading? Just how authentic is it? Was it everincluded in a collection of canonized books of scripture? Let us now review the history of the Book ofJasher, and then discuss how modern revelation supports its authenticity.ġ. That was just before the Prophet JosephSmith inquired of the Lord in 1833 whether the Apocrypha needed to be retranslated, because itwas in his Bible (see preface to D&C 91) and was known to be controversial. As early as 1629 the Puritansdemanded that it be removed from the King James version, and in 1827, Protestant Biblesocieties took a definite stand against it. The collection was included in the Latin translation of the Bible (theVulgate) and also in the 1611 authorized King James version. The Apocrypha, on the other hand, refers to a specificcollection of books which was included in the translation of the Hebrew Old Testament into Greek in the third century BC (the Septuagint), but which was later rejected fromthe Hebrew canon in about AD 90. Speaking of the Apocrypha, have you read it? Do you even have a copy of it? Just what is theApocrypha anyway? It is important to distinguish between "apocryphal" books in general and "the Apocrypha" with a capital "A." An apocryphal book can refer to almost any allegedly sacred writing not included in sacred canon and of doubtful authorship or authenticity. (D&C 91:1-6)Īnyone who has read the Book of Jasher will agree that it certainly contains much truth (manystories from the Bible), and it certainly appears to contain some later interpolations of men, soreading by the Spirit seems like an excellent way to discern which is which. Therefore it is not needfulthat it should be translated. Therefore, whoso readeth it, let him understand, for the Spiritmanifesteth truth And whoso is enlightened by the Spirit shall obtain benefit Andwhoso receiveth not by the Spirit, cannot be benefited. Verily, I say unto you, that it is not needful that the Apocryphashould be translated. Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you concerning the Apocrypha There are manythings contained therein that are true, and it is mostly translated correctly There aremany things contained therein that are not true, which are interpolations by thehands of men. After reviewing the standard scholarly analysis of how the book appears to have been composed ofold Jewish legends, the article concluded with the wise injunction to treat it according to the Lord'sadvice on how to study the Apocrypha: One articlein the "I Have a Question" column of The Ensign responded to the question of its authenticity. Church has never taken an official stand on the authenticity of the Book of Jasher, butwhen apostles make lists of "lost books" from the Bible, Jasher is generally included. Various photocopy reprints of that edition are stillavailable, and the book is also accessible in its entirety on the Internet. Perhaps the closest approach to an official acknowledgment of the Book of Jasher among the latter-day saints was when the Prophet Joseph Smith quoted from it as a source which had "not beendisproved as a bad author." The saints became more enamored with the book than did the rest ofthe Judeo-Christian world, and certain members of the Church secured the copyright andrepublished the work in 1887 in Salt Lake City. It is similar to theBooks of Joshua through Chronicles in the Bible which describe many historical events such asbattles and wars, but which also point out the hand of God in the affairs of men. It is written mostly as asecular history, but it does contain many references to what God was doing. Itcontains much more information than is found in Genesis for that same period, which makes veryinteresting reading and clears up many confusing issues in the Bible. The book is a history of the world from the creation until the period of the Judges in Israel. Because the Church is now commencing study of the Old Testament again thismonth, it seems appropriate to reconsider just how authentic that book really is. Church as a supplement totheir study of the Old Testament ever since its publication was announced in the Times andSeasons in June, 1840. The Book of Jasher has been popular among members of the L.D.S. Thesecorrelations attest that it was composed from exceedingly ancient reliable sources. The question arises of how the author of Jasher could have known specific facts frombefore the Great Flood, such as Cainan becoming very wise when he was forty years old. The Book of Jasher includes details about antediluvian patriarchs which are confirmed by modernrevelation. Book of Jasher How Did the Book of Jasher Know?
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