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Theological Apostasy and the Role of Canonical Scripture: A Thematic Analysis of 1 Nephi 13–14

TitleTheological Apostasy and the Role of Canonical Scripture: A Thematic Analysis of 1 Nephi 13–14
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsOwen, Paul
JournalJournal of Book of Mormon Studies
Volume23
Pagination81-100
Type of ArticleEssay
KeywordsApostasy; Canon; Great and Abominable Church; Revelation; Scripture; Theology
Abstract

This essay is a thematic analysis of 1 Nephi 13–14. After surveying the contents of the three visions within this section, this essay brings out the implications of this material in order to consider the embedded theological interests and literary history of 1 Nephi specifically and the Book of Mormon more generally. The key topics that emerge center around the identity of the great and abominable church (and how that might shed light on the historical location of the source material cited within 1 Nephi), the nature of the “book” that proceeds from the mouth of “the Jew” (and the identity of that Jew), and the way earlier apocalyptic revelations are reused within 1 Nephi (and perhaps the Book of Mormon as a whole).

URLhttps://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jbms/vol23/iss1/6

Scripture Reference

1 Nephi 13:1-42
1 Nephi 14:1-30