The Rest of My SBL Notes

I am finally posting the rest of my notes from the November 2008 Society of Biblical Literature meeting in Boston. There are some good topics here that are of special interest to LDS readers.  As always, please take my notes as my own thoughts on what the speakers said, and not necessarily as their words verbatim.  Also, I apologize if this is difficult to get through — I have left the notes in basically the same state in which I originally took them, so the thoughts are usually quite incomplete and lack structure.

Here are some of the key presentations covered:

• A great fireside by Dr. Dan Peterson and Dr. Bill Hamblin of Brigham Young University.  Dr. Peterson compared Islam and the Restored Church, followed by Dr. Hamblin on the history of traditions based on Solomon’s Temple.  Unfortunately, I arrived late and missed more than half of Dr. Peterson’s presentation, so I apologize that I don’t have the full notes on his part.
• An interesting discussion concerning early Christian ideas on heresy.  I did not record the name of the presenter nor the session he spoke in.
• A few brief notes regarding the formation of a new study group at the SBL that will cover topics associated with the temple. This group is being organized by Bill Hamblin and David Seely of BYU and is a big deal, as there has not previously been any group specifically organized to study the temple, despite the importance of the subject and the number of scholars interested in it.
• Finally, my notes from the LDS and the Bible session.

Sunday Night Fireside

Dan Peterson

Note: the following represents comments made by Dr. Peterson in the second half of his presentation: the question and answer portion.

Islamic translation series (a project Bro. Peterson has been working on through the Maxwell Institute) making inroads into Muslim countries

High ranking officials of Arab world send their kids to BYU

The Church and BYU have good relations with Jordan, Syria–Bro. Peterson recently presented at a conference in Tehran

He was interviewed for Iranian TV – (he mentions that they mistakenly presented him as the leader of LDS church)

Jordan is best probably our best contact in the Arab world

Dr. Peterson debated once with Robert Spencer.  Spencer believes Islam is inherently violent – Peterson explained that verses about jihad in the Qur’an are specifically against the “infidels” that were attacking Mohammad -this is not a declaration of war against all non-believers – Peterson believes in a peaceful Islam. Spencer actually agrees with jihadists, that moderates are not true Muslims.

There are many moderates, but they tend to be silenced–they don’t like their “dirty laundry” paraded (as we don’t)
Islam doesn’t have a “church,” so they can’t just “excommunicate” the terrorists
Capital punishment for conversion does not exist in all areas–they should be able to un-couple this punishment, since they are not an empire any more

Is there an apostasy from Mohammad’s teaching? There is no direct evidence, but some of the polemical texts of the Qur’an may have been added in afterwards when Muslims were at war with Byzantine Christians. Peterson thinks Mohammad was genuinely inspired–but did he have the testimony of Christ (which is the definition of the gift of prophecy)?

 

Bill Hamblin

Note: Dr. Hamblin’s was a Power Point presentation and was based on a series of images (which I cannot attempt to replicate here). I will include some images of my choosing, as appropriate. 

Solomon’s Temple was built on Mount Moriah, Jerusalem, 968 BC

What happened to the idea of the temple after it was destroyed?

History of temple: none–> tabernacle–> temple–> destroyed–> Second Temple–> Herod’s Temple–> destroyed 70 AD

Contents of Presentation:

1. Restoration/ rebuilding of temple (bar Kochba, Julian, other movements, Temple Institute, Temple Mount Faithful)
2. Pilgrimage
3. Memory: writings and art
4. Temple imagery in the synagogue
5. Mystics and the Temple
6. Samaritans

Bar Kochba rebellion–coins from that era found with temple image–they possibly tried to rebuild temple. After the destruction of the temple, its traditions were preserved by many means, in hopes that the temple would soon be rebuilt. 

Painted images of temples on ostraca, bowls, plates

Jews still go to temple mount and believe shekinah is still there–you can still enter presence of God in Jerusalem

Maimonades–wrote a book about temple worship-how we will worship when temple is rebuilt

They kept records of temple instruments and how they should look–they knew what would have to go into a rebuilt temple
They made illustrations, art to preserve temple traditions

Messiah would come back to Jerusalem to rebuild temple

Synagoges maintained some temple imagery– but were missing priests and sacrifices

4th Century Capernaum–depiction of Temple on a wheeled vehicle–merkabah imagery

Torah Shrine–temple depicted, Isaac on altar

Mystics-Kabbalistic temple depicted as Dome of the Rock—Mystics tried to ascend to heavenly temple (inside)

Kaballah sefirot compared to items in temple

Samaritans offer blood sacrifices on Mt. Gerizim until today

Christians–Jerusalem was center of Universe

New Testament full of temple imagery–Luke starts off in temple
Jesus teaches in temple, Paul talks of temple, etc.

Temple destroyed early on in Christian era

Tradition of Mary in temple–she helped make the veil that was rent at Christ’s death

Presentation of Jesus at temple after birth

Lamb of God in NT is temple image/sacrifice

Hebrews–he is both high priest offering sacrifice and being sacrificed

Medieval Christians create rival temple called Church of Holy Sepulchre–by Constantine
Candle of Patriarch lit mysteriously in Holy of Holies once per year

Tradition that Jesus ascends to Heaven from tomb (at Church of Holy Sepulchre)–resurrection and ascent from the temple

Germanos–patriarch of Constantinople–On the Divine Liturgy–compares church to temple
Bishop is high priest, eucharist is sacrifice

Ravenna depiction of Abel and Melchizedek–depicts Adam’s temple and Melchizedek’s temple –Josephus claims that Melchizedek builds the first temple–Christians pick up this idea–they offer same thing, bread and wine

 

Image depicting temple as proto-type of the church

Cherubim on apse over altar–the altar of the church is parallel to holy of holies where ark was kept

Christian baptismal font on 12 oxen

Crusaders saw themselves as rebuilding temple-templars were guardians of the temple–Temple of Christ built in Dome of the Rock–performing mass in Dome of Rock

Ark of Covenant hidden in a church in Ethiopia

Lalibela and the Celestial Temple–his city called New Jerusalem by the Ethiopians, with restored temple

Solomon forced demons to build temple for him–demons are pagan gods who are subject to Solomon

Dome of the Rock depicted as temple

Mohammad ascended into heaven from Rock in Jerusalem and sees heavenly temple

God hidden behind 70000 veils–angels lead Muhammad by hand through veils

Kabbah built by Abraham–has the true essence of temple–perfect cube, just like the holy of holies–just like New Jerusalem

Veil over Kabbah–people not allowed inside

Dome of Rock was restoration of Solomon’s temple

Christians had left temple mount desolate waiting for Christ to return and rebuild temple

Jews have depicted their temple as Dome of Rock

Christ depicted as crucified over temple — relating the two

Up to 16th century, temple was depicted as dome of rock, but called Solomon’s temple
Alternative is to depict temple as cathedral
These are two main ways depict in medieval art

Temple depicted as esoteric — many hidden meanings in temple — Isaac Newton wrote “Chronology of ancient kingdoms” –microcosmic model of cosmos–he thought he could find secrets of universe by analyzing temple

Magicians pick up on temple themes — Seal of Solomon gives power over demons — Solomonic magic
–seal = magic circle — Solomon’s dedication prayer repeated

Freemasons pick up Solomonic ideas — Christ makes cosmos with compass
Temple elements depicted on Masonic certificate

Philip of France kills Templars — Neo-Templars continue in 18th century
Dan Brown uses this in Da Vinci Code — the Templars dug secrets out of basement of temple

Indiana Jones copies Tisseau’s depiction of Ark

Popular culture continues these depictions

Modern scholarship tries to reconstruct temple

We can see rocks from Herodian temple walls

1967, the Israelis captured Temple Mount — Rabbi Goran was ready to destroy dome of rock
Moshe Dian impeded it to avoid war with entire Muslim world

How will this play out? Temle Mount Faithful have the cornerstones for new temple already

Isaiah says temple will be house of prayer for all nations

Temple treasure put in Nea church — Justinian thought it was Mt. Zion he was building on

 

 

 

——————————————————————-

 Stan

Is there any evidence for early Christians as heresiologists?—They (Ebionites) consider Paul to be a heretic

Mark 12:18 — Sadducees reject resurrection

Was there heresiological discourse pre-70 AD?  Some say heresy didn’t mean the same thing before this period

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4QMMT shows that Qumran saw themselves as very different

Justin Martyr brought together first terminology and concept of heresy (some say)

4QMMT –parash – “We have separated ourselves”

Parash used to describe rise of Sadducees and some other sects

Clementines — the Sadducees separated from the people

The people –laos, ‘am –heresy disturbs the unity of the people

Jewish Christians joined heresiological discourse — declare Sadducees as heretics

Family of the Lord, descendents of David — opposed by all “seven sects”
Seven heresies among the people from which Simon and others came

Recognitions 1 – “whole people” should come to the faith

Before the coming of Christ, the Enemy anticipated the move and created schisms among the people to confound them against the Christian message

Recog. 1:54 – description of heresies

Pseudo-Clementines — don’t describe Samaritans as “parash” — Rabbis believed that Samaritans worshipped Mt. Gerizim –Later Christian heresiologists change it to worship “on” Mt. Gerizim

To Jewish Christians, Paul was main heretic –Ebionites believed Paul to be an apostate that caused schisms in Christianity

Simon Magus becomes arch-heretic

____________________________________

Temple Studies-group formation

Some of individuals in attendance (that I wrote down): Beverly Krishman, Dan Peterson, John Gee, David Seely, Sis. Seely, Bill Hamblin, James Davila, Revd. Robin Griffith-Jones

Focus on Temple as idea in Biblical Studies – cover a variety of genres
–synthesize the various streams of temple ideas
–broad-based group that covers the temple
–how temple was interpreted by Jews & Christians after destruction

This should encompass other temples besides Jerusalem

Conferences at BYU Jerusalem Center possible

Possible Themes for future sessions:

–Conception of Temple in New Testament and Early Fathers
–Temple in Art
–Jerusalem Temple in Modern Politics
–Continuation of Temple Liturgy in Judaism and Christianity
–Jewish Temple outside Jerusalem
–Music/psalms and the temple

Finalize steering committee and programs for next couple of years

——————————————-

LDS and the Bible Session

Robert Millet

Most frequently raised question is Joseph’s view of the Bible and his claim to continuing revelation

Joseph Smith’s family was very dedicated to study of the Bible
Joseph believed that Bible represented God’s word
Bible doesn’t claim completeness for itself — why should canon be closed?

Different sects understood same passages differently
There seems to have been much more given to man than what we have in the Bible

Joseph to uncle Silas — why should it be thought incredible that God should speak again in these last days — since we already have Bible you should admit that the word given to Noah wasn’t sufficient for Abraham, etc.

Was the church right in perceiving the need to close the canon? Doesn’t closing the canon limit God? If the Spirit inspired only the first century documents, does that mean that that same Spirit does not work in the world today?

Why would one suppose that the Apocalypse ended the words of the prophets?
No branch relies on biblical text alone in deciding church doctrine. There really isn’t a sola escriptura.

Bible used to judge and divide today.

Infallibility — many definitions of infallibility

Bart Ehrman has created much controversy over errancy of Bible. What good does it do to say that the originals were inspired?

5700 Greek manuscripts — 250-400,000 variants (more variants than there are words)

Why would God allow this to happen? Why does God allow suffering? Gives people free will. While not accurate, they represent the meaning of original authors-they don’t need to be perfect

Joseph Smith: “I believe the Bible as it ought to be, as it was penned by the original writers”

Infinite Being can work through finite humans to bring about His word.

Gospel writers did not have “God’s eye view”

Spirit of revelation is energizing force and human must put the message into words

When God chooses to speak through a person, the person isn’t just a ventriloquist dummy through whom God speaks, but person is filled with intelligence and expresses things in their own words

The fact that God spoke to ancients is a testimony that God can speak to man today.

For LDS: Scripture is open, but canon not so open

 

Gaye Strathearn

PhD Claremont — dissertation on Valentinian Bridal Chamber

Emergence of Jewish Sectarianism in Early Second Temple Period

Balanced interplay between Prophet, Priest, and King had a delicate balance –two for norms, one for creative movements

Lehi and family were embroiled in events that led up to destruction of temple
Samaritans were also involved
Both were in North originally
Neither Samaritans nor Nephites felt need to adhere to Deuteronomistic restrictions on building temples outside Jerusalem

Samaritans continued temple rituals into time of Romans

Samaritan Temple on Mt. Gerizim — aligned with design of Ezekiel and Temple Scroll — built on model of Jerusalem temple

Temple had staircase, two stories

They didn’t see themselves as schismatics or apostates
–they called it the House of YHWH

Josephus talks about argument over whether sacrifices should be sent to Samaria or Jerusalem — at some point, they were indistinguishable

There were tolerable (Jewish) temples in Egypt — Samaritan temple must have been more of a direct threat

Nephites see temple as important  – one of the first things they do is build temple “after the manner of Solomon”

They have no problem offering sacrifices or celebrating temple festivals outside of Jerusalem

Temple as a place of gathering for preaching and making covenants

Tribes of Joseph had writings-
Samaritan canon contains only Pentateuch (like Sadducees) – Jews didn’t reject them for this
Deut. 7:4 — Samaritan version emphasizes Mt. Gerizim – altar to be built at Gerizim
There are differences between Samaritan Pentateuch and Masoretic text

Nephites also had a different OT — Zenos and Zenock were likely prophets sent only to Northern kingdom

Both Samaritans and Nephites were separated from Jerusalem, both had temples as center of society, both had different view of scripture than Jerusalem, both claimed to be descendents of Joseph

__________________________________’

Terry Ball

Isa 28: 7–8, 9–10

How should we translate this?
Confrontation between Isaiah and Jewish leaders about how they should respond to Assyrian crisis
Is this Isaiah speaking or response from civic leaders?

This is a paradigm for revealing truth
Is Isaiah trying to imitate necromancers? Van der Toorn’s theory
Is it Assyrian language? –what the Assyrians will say

Other possibilities:

–Priests are mocking Isaiah, who is speaking as school teacher
–Priests are imitating baby talk
–Priests are drunk and that is how it comes out
–Drinking song?

LDS Scripture
2 Ne 28 -line upon line, precept upon precept
Is this related to Isa 28? Can it be used to prove this translation?

Entrapment motif

Vs. 13 is what we’re familiar with, and not necessarily 10
Lynne Wilson
Joseph Smith’s Pneumatology and the Bible

Joseph’s thoughts make an abrupt departure from thoughts of his day
–Holy Ghost comes only by priesthood authority

KJV 312 references to Spirit
213 more references in Joseph’s scriptures

Associates power with the Holy Ghost — mentioned only 10 times  in Bible, 57 in Joseph’s scriptures (35 in D&C)

Why did Joseph have more to say about the Spirit than the Bible? Spirit was core to the Restoration

Spirit’s workings (Joseph expands biblical understanding):
1. Born again-
2. Strait gate
3. Baptism of Spirit and Fire — BoM explains more clearly
4. Gift of Holy Ghost –personal endowment of power after baptism (unique to Joseph) –Melchizedek priesthood is necessary to bestow gift of Holy Ghost–by laying on of hands–getting Holy Ghost is essential part of baptism–baptism by water is only one half of baptism, need also fire

We believe in gift of Holy Ghost as much as in Apostle’s day
Joseph believed in active use of all the gifts of Spirit

Moroni 10:30; D&C 46:26

Joseph was passionate about the gifts of the Spirit

Holy Ghost fascinated Joseph from beginning to end of career

Wherein do you differ from the other sects? “We believe the Bible and others believe their interpretation of the Bible.”

 

Frank Judd

Pilate was considered a saint in some circles
Some saw him as son of perdition

Justin Martyr–generally negative view of Pilate
Irenaeus–less blame to Pilate than to Jews
Tertullian–Pilate became secret believer and reported event to Emperor
Eusebius recalls same tradition–both positive and negative attitudes
Cyprian–some of his contemporaries–Pontius Pilate fulfilled prophecy in writing text over cross–inspired by God to write that
–he is both pure and innocent
Origen–mentions him more than any other–Mixed view of him–Pilate didn’t condemn Jesus, it was Jewish people

Eusebius was first to record suicide of Pilate

How does one account for mixed reviews of Pilate by early Christians? Variety of perspectives in early Christianity. They use Pilate for their arguments/purposes. There is not really a consensus/single view of Pilate.

LDS views–many are negative
Pilates hands never dirtier than after he washed them–Neal A Maxwell
Compared to Gov. Ford/ assassins of Joseph Smith–Seymour B. Young

John 19:11–Pilate not as guilty as Jews

Some see Pilate as fair

Some have positive views of Pilate–BH Roberts, J Reuben Clark, Spencer W. Kimball
Kimball–Pilate had conviction in his heart of Jesus and wanted to let him go

LDS views are similar to early Christian–varied, no consensus