Some critics (e.g., the Tanners; Marvin Cowan; Richard Packham) have claimed that Joseph Smith did not know that the KJV OT and NT used different names for the same person (e.g., OT Elijah and NT Elias). However, this is refuted by the JST, where Joseph Smith’s changes often reflected a knowledge that, for instance, OT Isaiah and NT Esaias were one and the same person:
OT Isaiah and NT Esias
He answered and said
unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written.
This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of
men. (Mark 7:6-7)
And the Pharisees and
scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the traditions of
the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? He answered and said unto them,
Well hath Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people
honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit, in vain
do they worship me, teaching the doctrines and commandments of men. (Mark 7:6-7
JST)
OT Noah and Shem and NT Noe and Sem
Which was the son of
Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the
son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech. (Luke 3:36)
And of Cainan, and of
Arphaxad, and of Shem, and of Noah, and of Lamech. (Luke 4:43 JST)
OT Hosea and NT Osee
As he saith also in
Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved,
which was not beloved. (Rom 9:25)
As he saith also in
Hosea, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved,
which was not beloved. (Rom 9:25 JST)
On Joseph Smith's knowledge that OT Elijah and NT Elias were one and the same person, see:
"Elias" as a "Forerunner" in LDS Scripture
