Reason 5 of 10
The Bible was not corrupted
The eighth Article of Faith accepts the Bible only as far as it is translated correctly, and the Book of Mormon says plain and precious parts were taken from it. The manuscripts show the Bible we read is the Bible the apostles wrote.
What Latter-day Saints are taught
The eighth Article of Faith qualifies trust in the Bible: as far as it is translated correctly. The Book of Mormon says many plain and precious things were taken out of the book of the Lamb of God, and that this is why many stumble.
8We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
Articles of Faith 1:8 · read it at ChurchofJesusChrist.org
26And after they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away. 27And all this have they done that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men. 28Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God.
1 Nephi 13:26-28 · read it at ChurchofJesusChrist.org
What the evidence shows
The question is when the plain and precious parts were removed, and the manuscripts leave no room for it. The Great Isaiah Scroll found at Qumran in 1947 dates to the second century BC and matches our Isaiah closely. Thousands of Greek New Testament manuscripts, some from the second and third centuries, carry the same gospel we read today. Copying variations exist and are openly catalogued; none of them removes a doctrine or restores a lost one.
Translation is not the problem either. Modern translations are made from the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts, not from a chain of earlier translations.
What God promised
God promised that his word would stand forever, and Jesus said his words would not pass away. Peter told his readers that the word which stands forever is the good news preached to them.
8The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever.”
Isaiah 40:8 (WEB) · context
35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Matthew 24:35 (WEB) · context
24For, “All flesh is like grass, and all of man’s glory like the flower in the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls; 25but the Lord’s word endures forever.” This is the word of Good News which was preached to you.
1 Peter 1:24-25 (WEB) · context
16Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, 17that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (WEB) · context
What Latter-day Saints answer
Latter-day Saints point to the many manuscript variants and to the Joseph Smith Translation, which they believe restores some lost truths.
Why that answer falls short
Variants are why we can trace the text: with so many early copies from different places, scholars can see where a copyist slipped. Not one variant contains the teachings that would make the Bible agree with Latter-day Saint distinctives, such as an embodied Father, eternal progression to godhood or baptism for the dead as the key to salvation.
Sources
- Articles of Faith 1:8; 1 Nephi 13:26-28 (churchofjesuschrist.org).
- Earliest source The Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa-a), Israel Museum, Jerusalem; Greek New Testament papyri such as P52 and P66.