Hugh Nibley's Defending the Book of Abraham Part 1

Key Concepts:

• Book of Abraham: A text within the Pearl of Great Price, claimed by Joseph Smith to be a translation of ancient Egyptian writings by Abraham.
• Joseph Smith: Founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, claimed to have translated the Book of Abraham.
• Apocryphal Histories: Non-canonical religious texts, particularly those related to the Old Testament.
• E.A. Wallace Budge: A prominent Egyptologist who, despite being critical of Joseph Smith, suggested the Book of Abraham was based on Old Testament apocryphal sources.
• Authenticity: The central question of whether the Book of Abraham is a genuine autobiography of Abraham or a fabrication.
• Method vs. Substance: The argument that critics focus on the method by which Joseph Smith produced the book rather than the content itself.
• Evidence-based evaluation: The proposal to evaluate the Book of Abraham based on its own merits and internal consistency, rather than solely on the circumstances of its production.

Main Topics and Key Points:

• The Central Question: The core issue is whether the Book of Abraham is an authentic autobiography of Abraham or a fabrication. The speaker emphasizes that this question should be addressed directly.
• Critic's Approach: The speaker criticizes those who focus on discrediting Joseph Smith and the method of translation rather than engaging with the content of the Book of Abraham itself.
• Joseph Smith's Narrative: The speaker argues that the Book of Abraham presents a detailed and original narrative that should be evaluated on its own merits, regardless of the perceived competence of Joseph Smith.
• E.A. Wallace Budge's Statement: The speaker highlights Budge's observation that the Book of Abraham is based on Old Testament apocryphal sources. This is presented as significant because Budge was a leading authority on apocrypha, and his statement suggests that Joseph Smith had access to information that was not widely available at the time.
• Evaluating the Book: The speaker proposes that the Book of Abraham should be evaluated like a diamond, by subjecting it to established tests and examining its internal consistency, rather than focusing on its origins or the claims of those involved in its production.
• Analogy of the Titanic Account: The speaker uses the analogy of a newspaper reporter's eyewitness account of the Titanic sinking to illustrate that even if the reporter's claim to have been on the ship is false, the account itself may still be accurate.
• Focus on the Book, Not the Man: The speaker emphasizes that the Book of Abraham is on trial, not Joseph Smith. The book's authenticity should be determined based on its own merits, not on the reputation of its translator.
• Importance of Genuine Papyrus: The speaker questions the relevance of how Joseph Smith obtained the papyri if the papyri are genuine.

Important Examples, Case Studies, or Real-World Applications Discussed:

• The Diamond Test: The analogy of testing a diamond to determine its authenticity is used to illustrate how the Book of Abraham should be evaluated.
• The Titanic Account: The analogy of a newspaper reporter's eyewitness account of the Titanic sinking is used to illustrate that even if the source is unreliable, the information may still be accurate.

Key Arguments or Perspectives Presented, with Their Supporting Evidence:

• Argument: Critics focus too much on discrediting Joseph Smith and the method of translation rather than engaging with the content of the Book of Abraham.
  • Evidence: The speaker claims that critics dwell exclusively on the method by which they assume the book was produced.
• Argument: The Book of Abraham should be evaluated on its own merits, regardless of the perceived competence of Joseph Smith.
  • Evidence: The speaker argues that the book presents a detailed and original narrative that should be evaluated independently.
• Argument: The Book of Abraham may be based on Old Testament apocryphal sources, as suggested by E.A. Wallace Budge.
  • Evidence: The speaker quotes Budge's statement that the Book of Abraham is based on the Bible and some Old Testament apocryphal histories.

Notable Quotes or Significant Statements with Proper Attribution:

• "I Abraham these words" - Opening verse of Joseph Smith's Book of Abraham.
• "The letter press Joseph Smith explanation of the book of Abraham is an idiotic as the pictures and is clearly based on the Bible and some Old Testament apocryphalic histories" - E.A. Wallace Budge.

Technical Terms, Concepts, or Specialized Vocabulary with Brief Explanations:

• Apocryphal Histories: Non-canonical religious texts, particularly those related to the Old Testament.
• Modus Operandi: A particular way or method of doing something, especially one that is characteristic or well-established.
• Bona Fides: Sincerity and good faith.

Logical Connections Between Different Sections and Ideas:

• The speaker begins by questioning whether the audience even knows the basic facts about the Book of Abraham.
• The speaker then criticizes the approach of critics who focus on discrediting Joseph Smith rather than engaging with the content of the book.
• The speaker highlights Budge's statement as evidence that the Book of Abraham may be based on Old Testament apocryphal sources.
• The speaker proposes that the Book of Abraham should be evaluated on its own merits, using the analogy of the diamond test and the Titanic account.
• The speaker concludes by emphasizing that the Book of Abraham is on trial, not Joseph Smith.

Brief Synthesis/Conclusion of the Main Takeaways:

The speaker argues that the Book of Abraham should be evaluated on its own merits, regardless of the perceived competence of Joseph Smith or the circumstances of its production. The speaker criticizes those who focus on discrediting Joseph Smith and the method of translation rather than engaging with the content of the book. The speaker highlights Budge's statement as evidence that the Book of Abraham may be based on Old Testament apocryphal sources. The speaker proposes that the Book of Abraham should be evaluated like a diamond, by subjecting it to established tests and examining its internal consistency. The speaker concludes by emphasizing that the Book of Abraham is on trial, not Joseph Smith.