Chiasmus
A chiasmus is an ancient literary technique used by the Israelites and other Near Eastern peoples. It is a type of poetic form of writing where the passage leads into a central theme and reverses itself in coming out of the passage. An “A” phrase at the beginning of the passage matches an “A” phrase as the end, and so on through B, C, D, etc.
Chiasmus in the Bible:
• Numbers 15:35-36
. a And the Lord said unto Moses:
. b he shall be surely put to death the man,
. c they shall stone him with stones,
. d all the congregation without the camp.
. e And they brought him,
. d all the congregation without the camp,
. c and stoned him with stones,
. b to death,
. a as the Lord commanded Moses.
• Isaiah 26:4
. a Trust ye in
. b the Lord forever,
. b For in the Lord Jehovah
. a is everlasting strength.
• Isaiah 55:8-9
. a For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
. b neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
. c For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
. b so are my ways higher than your ways,
. a and my thoughts than your thoughts.
• 2 Corinthians 1 – 7
. a The Corinthians can boast in Paul (1:12-22)
. b Grief and comfort over a painful letter (1:23-2:11)
. c Looking for Titus in Macedonia (2:12-13)
. d Contrasts between belief and unbelief (2:13-4:6)
. e Triumphing despite hardships (4:7-5:10)
. f Christ’s ministry of reconciliation (5:11-21)
. e Triumphing despite hardships (6:1-10)
. d Contrasts between belief and unbelief (6:11-7:4)
. c Finding Titus in Macedonia (7:5-7)
. b Grief and comfort over a painful letter (7:8-12)
. a Paul can boast in the Corinthians (7:13-16)
Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon:
• 1 Nephi 12:10-11
. a …for because of their faith in the Lamb of God
. . b …their garments are made white in his blood.
. c …I beheld three generations pass away in righteousness
. . b …their garments were white even like unto the Lamb of God, …made white in the blood of the Lamb
. a … because of their faith in him.
• 1 Nephi 17:13
. a I will be your light in the wilderness
. b I will prepare the way
. c Keep my commandments
. c Keep my commandments
. b I will lead you toward the promised land
. a By me ye are led.
• Mosiah 5:10-12
. a Whosoever will not take upon him the name of Christ shall be called by another name
. . b he findeth himself on the left hand of God.
. c the name that I shall give you that shall never be blotted out,
. d except it shall be by transgression
. d take heed that ye do not transgress
. c retain the name that I shall give you always in your heart
. . b that ye are not found on the left hand of God,
. a know the voice by which ye shall be called and the name by which he shall call you
• Mosiah 23:7
. a It is not expedient that we should have a king
. b Ye shall not esteem one flesh above another
. b One man shall not think himself above another
. a It is not expedient that ye should have a king
• Alma 7:12
. a their infirmities
. . b bowels…mercy
. c according to the flesh
. d HE KNOWS!
. c according to the flesh
. . b succor his people
. a their infirmities
• See also Isaiah 6:10, 1 Nephi 3:3-12, 1 Nephi 4:33-35, 1 Nephi 9:3-5, 1 Nephi 13:39-42, and 2 Nephi 1:5-7
All of the above is further evidence that the Book of Mormon is indeed sacred, translated scripture, and not the crafty deceptions of a cunning, sinister young man, as the critics would propose.
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