PDF version of the lesson notes.

Introduction

• I am going to be out of town this week. A big thanks and best of luck to Ben G. for subbing for me.

I. Background Issues

• Today’s lesson (John 16-17) picks up where last week’s lesson (John 13-15) left off. Of course, we didn’t cover any of the John material so let me outline the relation between John 13-15 and John 16-17. The material from John 13-17 may be best thought of as one continuous discourse or a series of connected discourses that revolve around the last supper and Jesus’ farewell to his disciples. Read the rest of this entry »

PDF version of the lesson notes.

I. Background Issues

• In the last three lessons Matthew has been our main text. The backdrop of the last few lessons has been Jesus final days and discourses. In broad outline the lessons have covered the following actions by Jesus: (1) he enters Jerusalem triumphantly (Matt 21:1-11), (2) cleanses the temple (Matt 21:12-22), (3) contends with the Jewish leadership (Matt 21:23-23:36?), and (4) discusses the fate of Jerusalem and his return (Matt 24-25). Read the rest of this entry »

PDF version of the lesson notes.

I. Background Issues

• Last week we covered Joseph Smith-Matthew which is the Joseph Smith Translation of Matthew 24. Today, the King James Version of the Bible is once again are primary text in our coverage of Matthew 25. Read the rest of this entry »

Today in class there were some questions about where one can find the complete text of the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible. Here are a few resources and options that may be useful. There are actually quite a few options and the full text is available for free. You can also purchase the JST in published form from Herald House (Community of Christ) for around $24.

• The Joseph Smith Translation Text online. Note, the website refers to the JST as the Inspired Version because that is name the JST is known by in the Community of Christ (RLDS) church.
• Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible published by Herald House (Community of Christ).
• Jim Faulconer at the Feast Upon the Word Blog prepared a useful side-by-side presentation of Joseph Smith-Matthew and the King James Version of Matthew 24 as a pdf file.
• The Complete Joseph Smith Translation of the New Testament: A Side-By-Side Comparison with the King James Version edited by BYU religion professor Thomas Wayment can be purchased from Deseret Book or Amazon.

PDF version of the lesson notes.

I. The Joseph Smith Translation

• Today, the lesson covers the Joseph Smith Translation of the Matthew 24. Joseph Smith-Matthew and the Book of Moses comprise the canonized portion of the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible. Read the rest of this entry »