Category: Bible Verses
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Does James Contradict Sola Fides (Salvation by Faith Alone)? A Closer Look at James 2:14–26
To listen to a Viewpoint on Mormonism podcast on this topic that aired May 6-10, 2024, go to the following: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 This article includes a verse-by-verse analysis of James 2:14-26. In doing this, we will compare the King James Version (the official version of The Church…
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Is Mormonism the “Faith” That Jude Speaks Of?
Note: The following was originally printed in the September/October 2023 edition of Mormonism Researched. To request a free subscription, please visit here. When Jude, “the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James,” penned his general epistle, he admonished his Christian readers to “earnestly contend for the faith.” He stated in Jude 1:3: Beloved, while I was…
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Doesn’t the book of James say that “faith without works is dead”?
The following is from chapter 19 in Answering Mormons’ Questions (Kregel, 2013). To get additional help in answering LDS questions, we recommend purchasing the book. Click here to see more. Leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint throughout the years have stressed the importance of good works in order to become exalted and…
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Joseph Smith and Luke 10:22
The official History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka History of the Church or HOC) reproduces Joseph Smith’s journal where he stated: “This winter [1832-33] was spent in translating the Scriptures…I completed the translation and review of the New Testament, on the 2nd of February, 1833 and sealed it up, no more to be opened…
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Matthew 5:48 and C.S. Lewis
What did C.S. Lewis mean when he wrote “Be ye perfect” is not idealistic gas? In his chapter 9 of “Beyond Personality: Or First Steps in the Doctrine of the Trinity,” which can be found in his masterpiece Mere Christianity, Christian author C.S. Lewis wrote, The command Be ye perfect is not idealistic gas. Nor…
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Does 2 Timothy 3:1–5 Support the Great Apostasy?
Some Mormons have used 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 14-15 and 4:3-4 as a support of the Great Apostasy and a prediction that all authority would be lost soon after the deaths of the apostles (including the author of this book, the apostle Paul). These verses have been taken out of context to support this teaching. These verses say:…
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Does Amos 8:11-12 Support the Great Apostasy?
Amos 8:11-12 is often cited by Mormons to support the concept of a Great Apostasy. However, BYU professor Charles Harrell argues that this passage reflects ancient Israel’s impending spiritual famine due to wickedness and apostasy, specifically in relation to the Assyrian conquest. It warns of the loss of divine guidance rather than a universal authority…
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Does Isaiah 24:5 Support the Great Apostasy?
Isaiah 24:5 says, “The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.” According to some Latter-day Saints, this refers to an event called the Great Apostasy. The everlasting covenant described here is certainly a reference to the Mosaic law, which would have…
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Isaiah 29:14: Marvelous Work and the Restoration
Isaiah 29:14 says, Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Apostle LeGrand Richards writes, Well did Isaiah predict: ‘For the wisdom of their…
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A Mormon Apostle’s Evasive Answer
On 18 September 2017, the LDS Church’s Deseret News reported on LDS Apostle Russell M. Nelson’s recent devotional address directed at young Mormon adults. In that address, Mr. Nelson spoke of his appreciation for the Bible and invited his audience to join him in studying that volume of scripture insofar as it speaks to ideas…
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Does James 1:5 Teach About Praying for a Testimony?
This article first appeared in the Practical Hermeneutics column of the CHRISTIAN RESEARCH JOURNAL, volume 37, number 06 (2014). There is nothing more important to a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS, Mormon) than having a personal “testimony” confirm the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and, ultimately, Mormonism. James…
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Matthew 5:48: Is Perfection an Achievable Goal?
This article first appeared in the Practical Hermeneutics column of the CHRISTIAN RESEARCH JOURNAL, volume 39, number 06 (2016) Jesus taught in Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father, which is in heaven is perfect” (KJV). This verse has been quoted many times over the years by top leaders of The Church of Jesus…
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Acts 2:36: Was Jesus Created by the Father?
Acts 2:36 says, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Some have pointed to this verse as evidence that Jesus was created by God the Father. Actually, the King James Version does a good job explaining that Jesus was…
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Ephesians 2:20: Is the Mormon Church true because it’s built on apostles and prophets?
A common verse used to support the idea that the Mormon Church is true is Ephesians 2:20. It reads: And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; The Christian church has been likened to a building (1 Cor. 3:9). Verses 10 and 11 read:…
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Does Romans 8:17 Support Becoming Worshipped?
“… and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” Romans 8:17 Three reasons why our inheritance in Christ does not imply equality with Jesus or a future of being properly worshipped by others: 1. Since our inheritance in…
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Does 2 Samuel 12 Support Polygamy?
Does 2 Samuel 12 support the practice of polygamy in the Old Testament and 19th century Mormonism?
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Revelation 14:6-7: Moroni Delivering the Book of Mormon?
Revelation 14:6-7.This verse has been used to support the idea that an angel (Moroni?) declared an “everlasting gospel” by bringing forthe the Book of Mormon. According to chapter 7 of the 2015 church manual Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson,
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Does Job 38:4-7 Support the Preexistence?
In Job 38:4, God questions Job and rebukes him for his pride, asking, “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?” This is what is known as a rhetorical question. When God formed the world, Job 38:7 says, “The sons of God shouted for joy.” If this is really referring to preexistent…
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Joseph Smith and Luke 10:22
The official History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka History of the Church or HOC) reproduces Joseph Smith’s journal where he stated: “This winter [1832-33] was spent in translating the Scriptures…I completed the translation and review of the New Testament, on the 2nd of February, 1833 and sealed it up, no…
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Joseph Smith and Romans 4:5
Joseph Smith revised the Bible. Some say he “corrected” it. The resulting volume is known as the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) or the Inspired Version. My Mormon edition of the King James Version of the Bible (1989) includes seventeen pages of JST “excerpts too lengthy for inclusion in footnotes” at the back of the book.…
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