3 And I know that the record which I make is atrue; and I make it with mine own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge.
This is a very personal, non-academic statement. Notice the words “I know”, “I make”, “mine own hand”, “my knowledge”. Reflect back to verse 1 for the source and the type of knowledge Nephi has (goodness and mysteries of God).
In no uncertain terms he (Nephi) states that he knows his record to be true. Why did he need to tell us that? Anyone writing seriously would assume that his readers would expect him to be writing what he knew to be true. Maybe the importance of “true” harks back to the source of the truth. Not his natural senses; his touch, sight, smell etc., but rather the real source of truth, the Spirit of God. In fact, Nephi states this later in his conclusion to the vision he received after he desired to see what his Father had seen. In 1 Ne 14:30, he states that the things he saw in vision, shown him by the Spirit, and written by him are true.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
1 Nephi 1:2
2 Yea, I make a record in the alanguage of my father, which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians.
Nephi chose to write in the language of his father, which was some kind of a combination of the Egyptian language and included the learning of the Jews. It seems like he is saying that it was not pure Egyptian, but heavily influenced by Jewish language, poetic forms, traditions and environment and all things Jewish (Hebrew).
Was the language tie due to the influence of the Egyptians while the children of Israel were captive in the land? Was it because Lehi came from a merchant background and he learned the language as a part of his profession and family culture? Interesting that this is also the language of the brass Plates (Mos 1:4)
Could the fact the Joseph (who was sold into Egypt) and became more Egyptian than any of the other brothers, taught the language to his descendents and it was carried down to Lehi as one of Josephs descendents?
Nephi chose to write in the language of his father, which was some kind of a combination of the Egyptian language and included the learning of the Jews. It seems like he is saying that it was not pure Egyptian, but heavily influenced by Jewish language, poetic forms, traditions and environment and all things Jewish (Hebrew).
Was the language tie due to the influence of the Egyptians while the children of Israel were captive in the land? Was it because Lehi came from a merchant background and he learned the language as a part of his profession and family culture? Interesting that this is also the language of the brass Plates (Mos 1:4)
Could the fact the Joseph (who was sold into Egypt) and became more Egyptian than any of the other brothers, taught the language to his descendents and it was carried down to Lehi as one of Josephs descendents?
1 Nephi 1:1
1 Nephi
1 I, Nephi, having been aborn of bgoodly cparents, therefore I was dtaught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many eafflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a frecord of my proceedings in my days.
September 11, 2003
When Nephi says learning, it seems to refer to the following:
Taught somewhat in the learning of his father
Highly favored of the Lord in all his days
Having seen many afflictions
Great knowledge of the goodness and mysteries of God
Afflictions teach us. God allows afflictions to teach us, as a favor to us and this shows us his goodness. Because of all this, Nephi wants to share and teach us by what he writes.
1 I, Nephi, having been aborn of bgoodly cparents, therefore I was dtaught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many eafflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a frecord of my proceedings in my days.
September 11, 2003
When Nephi says learning, it seems to refer to the following:
Taught somewhat in the learning of his father
Highly favored of the Lord in all his days
Having seen many afflictions
Great knowledge of the goodness and mysteries of God
Afflictions teach us. God allows afflictions to teach us, as a favor to us and this shows us his goodness. Because of all this, Nephi wants to share and teach us by what he writes.
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