Sunday, August 14, 2022

The Joseph Smith Translation Harmonizing the Number of Angels at the Tomb in the Gospels

In his revision of the Bible, Joseph Smith attempted to harmonize the gospels with respect to who the women say (men or angels) and how many angels they witnessed at the tomb.

  

Matt 28:1-7 (=JST Matt 28:1-5):

 

KJV

1867 Inspired Version (RLDS)

[1] In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

[2] And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

[3] His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

[4] And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

[5] And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

[6] He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.  Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

[7] And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

[1] In the end of the Sabbath day, as it began to dawn towards the first day of the week, early in the morning, came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.

[2] And behold, there had been a great earthquake; for two angels of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

[3] And their countenance was like lightning, and their raiment white as snow; and for fear of them the keepers did shake, and became as though they were dead.

[4] And the angels answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for we know that ye seek Jesus who was crucified.

[5] He is not here; for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay; and go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him; lo, I have told you.

 

New Testament Manuscript 2, Folio 2, pp. 7-8:

 





 

Chapter 28th

 

<1/> In the end of the Sabath day, as it began to dawn towards the first day of the week, early in the morning, came Mary Magdale  <2/> =ne, & the other Mary to see the sepulchre. <2/> & <And> behold there was a <had been> great Earthquak; for the <two> Angel<s> of the Lord decended from heaven, & came & rolled back the stone from the door, & s[e]<a>t upon it. & <and> his <their> countenance was as <like> lightning, & his <their> raiment white as snow[;]<.> & <And  for fear of <t>h[i]<e>m the keepers did shake, & became as though they were dead. & <And> the Angel<s> ansered & said unto the women, Fear not; ye; for I <we> know that ye seek Jesus who was crusified. [he]<He> is not here; for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay; & go quickly & tell his Deciples <that> he is risen from the dead; & <And,> <Behold,> he goeth before you into gallilee; there shall ye see him; Lo! [I]<I>  <3/> have told you.

 

Mark 16:1-8 (=JST Mark 16:1-7):

 

KJV

1867 Inspired Version (RLDS)

[1] And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

[2] And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

[3] And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

[4] And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

[5] And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

[6] And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

[7] But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

[8] And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

[1] And when the Sabbath was passed, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Salome, bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

[2] And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun; and they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher?

[3] But when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away, (for it was very great,) and two angels sitting thereon, clothed in long white garments; and they were affrighted.

[4] But the angels said unto them, Be not affrighted; ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified; he is risen; he is not here; behold the place where they laid him;

[5] And go your way, tell his disciples and Peter, that he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him as he said unto you.

[6] And they, entering into the sepulcher, saw the place where they laid Jesus.

[7] And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulcher; for they trembled and were amazed; neither said they anything to any man, for they were afraid.

 

New Testament Manuscript 2, Folio 2, pp. 43-44:

 




 

Chapter 16th

 

 <1>     And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought swet spices that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they came unto       the Sepulchre at the rising of the sun; and they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? and <but> when they looked the saw that the stone was rolled away, for it was very great and entering into the sepulchre they saw a young man sitting on <and for behold there was a great earth quake and the angle of the Lord <had> decended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it, <&> <&> his countenece was like lightning and he clothed in> right side <was> clothed in a long white garment <even white as n snow> and they were affrighted <afrighted> and they said unto them be not afrighted ye seek Jesus of Nazereth who was crucified he is risen he is not here behold the place where they laid him but go your way tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Gallilee there shall ye see him as he said unto you And they went out quickly, and fled from the Sepulche; for they trembled, and were amazed; neither said they any thing to any man, for they were <3/> affraid

 

There is a pinned note between page 44 line 34 through page 45 line 6 in the handwriting of Sidney Rigdon:

 



 

<But when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away, (for it was very great;) and two angels sitting thereon, cloathed in long white garments; and they were affrighted. But the angels said unto them, Be not affrighted; ye seek Jesus of Nazereth, who was crucified; he is risen; he is not here; behold the place where they laid him; and entering into the sepulchre the saw and go your way, tell his disciples and Peter, that he goeth before you into Gallilee; <2/> there shall you see him, as he said unto you. <2/> And they, ent entering into the sepulchre, saw the place where they laid Jesus.>

 

Luke 24:1-5 (=JST Luke 24:1-4):

 

KJV

1867 Inspired Version (RLDS)

[1] Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

[2] And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

[3] And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

[4] And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

[5] And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

[1] Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

[2] And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher, and two angels standing by it in shining garments.

[3] And they entered into the sepulcher, and not finding the body of the Lord Jesus, they were much perplexed thereabout;

[4] And were affrighted, and bowed down their faces to the earth. But behold the angels said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

 

New Testament Manuscript 2, Folio 4, pp. 101-2:

 





                                         Chapter (24th)

 

Now upon the first day of the week very early in the morning they <women> came unto the Sepulchre bringing the spicies which they had prepared and certain things <others were> with them and they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre and they entered in and found not the body of the Lord Jesus, and it came to pass as they were much perplexed and stood wondering behold two Angels descended from heaven and stood by them clothed in shining garments and as they were affraid and bowed down their faces to the earth they said unto them Why seek ye the living among the dead?

 

There is a pinned note in the handwriting of Sidney Rigdon offering a final revision of Luke 24:1-4:

 



  

<Now upon the firs first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women came unto the Sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had pre=pared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone roled away from the Sepulchre, and two angels standing there by <it> in shining garments[,]<.> And they entered into the sepulchre[.]<,> and not finding the bo]dy of the Lord Jesus, they were much perplexed there =a]bout[,]<;> but the angels said and were affrigh[e]<te>d[;]<,> and bow =ed down their faces to the ground earth, <But> behold, the angels said unto them;>

 

John 20:1:

 

KJV

1867 Inspired Version (RLDS)

The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher, and two angels sitting thereon.

 

New Testament Manuscript 2, Folio 4, p. 118:

 




<(1st   two angels sitting thereon>