Old Testament Study Guide for Latter-day Saints

[brownbear]

I am looking for a scholarly translation/guide/resource to the Old Testament from the lens of Mormonism. Here are some works in the vein I am hoping to find for the Old Testament:

- Hardy, G. (2023). The annotated Book of Mormon. Oxford University Press. https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-annotated-book-of-mormon-9780190082208?cc=us&lang=en&

- Wayment, T. A. (2019). The New Testament: A translation for Latter-day Saints: A study bible. Greg Kofford Books. https://gregkofford.com/products/new-testament-wayment

- Bokovoy, D. E. (2014). Authoring the Old Testament: Genesis-Deuteronomy. Greg Kofford Books. https://gregkofford.com/products/authoring-the-old-testament-1

Edited October 6, 2024 by brownbear
Formatting

[rpn]

Jehovah and the World of the Old Testament (though not a study guide per se).

And the Old Testament Institute Study Guide (though I don't know that it's been updated recently).

[Calm]

1 hour ago, rpn said:

the Old Testament Institute Study Guide (though I don't know that it's been updated recently).

It hasn’t yet. I don’t think it’s much scholarship, more Sunday School level tradition imo.  I think it is the last one waiting to be. 

Edited October 7, 2024 by Calm

[Calm]

Maybe this:

https://fairlatterdaysaints.org/store/product/approaching-holiness-exploring-the-history-and-teachings-of-the-old-testament/

https://fairlatterdaysaints.org/store/product/complete-joseph-smith-translation-of-the-old-testament-a-side-by-side-comparison-with-the-king-james-bible/

Edited October 7, 2024 by Calm

[Kevin Christensen]

An Latter-day Saint reader, I've been particularly helped in understanding the Old Testament by these books:

The Art of Biblical Narrative by Robert Alter, which pays close attention to type scenes and allusion.  He shows how to read, to see and understand more of what is there.  This book inspired Alan Goff to take a similar approach to the Book of Mormon.

Who Wrote the Bible? by Richard Elliot Friedman. For a basic understanding of the Documentary Hypothesis.  There are other approaches that see things this approach does not but this is helpful for orientation and insight.

The Older Testament: : The Survival of from the Ancient Royal Cult in Sectarian Judaism and Early Christianity by Margaret Barker.  She argues that a misreading has been forced upon modern readers by those who transmitted the books.  Since the key period is 600 BCE, this book is of particular interest to Latter-day Saint readers.

The Great Angel: A Study of Israel's Second God by Margaret Barker.  This looks closely at how the original theology has been changed in transmission, and looks at the importance for Christianity.  This was the book that first attracted the attention of LDS scholars.

Who Shall Ascend Into the Hill of the Lord? The Psalms in Israel's Temple Worship in the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon by LeGrand L. Baker and Stephen D. Ricks.  They shows what happens if you put the Psalms in not just in the context of the temple, but in order in light of the temple.

Old Testament and Related Studies by Hugh Nibley.  The "Before Adam" talk was very important for me personally.

Abraham in Egypt by Hugh Nibley.  The essays on The Sacrifice of Isaac and The Sacrifice of Sarah changed my readings and understanding.

In God's Image and Likeness: Ancient and Modern Perspectives on the Book of Moses by Jeffery Bradshaw

Did God Have a Wife? by William Dever.  For how archeology works and casts light on the text.

FWIW,

Kevin Christensen

Canonsburg, PA

 

 

Edited October 7, 2024 by Kevin Christensen