Moses 1 and the Apocalypse of Abraham: Twin Sons of Different Mothers?

Title

Moses 1 and the Apocalypse of Abraham: Twin Sons of Different Mothers?

Publication Type

Journal Article

Year of Publication

2020

Authors

Bradshaw, Jeffrey M. (Primary), Larsen, David (Primary), and Whitlock, Stephen T. (Primary)

Journal

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

Pagination

179-290

Volume

38

Terms of use

Items in the BMC Archive are made publicly available for non-commercial, private use. Inclusion within the BMC Archive does not imply endorsement. Items do not represent the official views of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or of Book of Mormon Central.

Bibliographic Citation

Abstract

This article highlights the striking resemblances between Moses 1 and a corresponding account from the Apocalypse of Abraham (ApAb), one of the earliest and most important Jewish texts describing heavenly ascent. Careful comparative analysis demonstrates a sustained sequence of detailed affinities in narrative structure that go beyond what Joseph Smith could have created out of whole cloth from his environment and his imagination. The article also highlights important implications for the study of the Book of Moses as a temple text. Previous studies have suggested that the story of Enoch found in the Pearl of Great Price might be understood as the culminating episode of a temple text woven throughout chapters 2–8 of the Book of Moses. The current article is a conceptual bookend to these earlier studies, demonstrating that the account of heavenly ascent in Moses 1 provides a compelling prelude to a narrative outlining laws and liturgy akin to what could have been used anciently as part of ritual ascent within earthly temples.

Apocalypse of Abraham
Pearl of Great Price
Temple Worship
Book of Moses

© 2024 Scripture Central: A Non-Profit Organization. All rights reserved. Registered 501(c)(3). EIN: 20-5294264