The JST

Major Doctrinal Contributions of the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) by Robert J. Matthews

(Dr. Matthews was dean of Religious Education and professor of ancient scripture at BYU when this was published.  This is a very small part of that talk).

“Frequently people ask me if the Joseph Smith corrections are supported in the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts.  An answer to that seems to be that if the JST offered no more than the biblical manuscript or if it were completely supported by them, there would have been no need for a JST. Of course it is not supported by the manuscripts. That reminds me of an experience I have every now and again when I go for a haircut.

Often some unappreciative young man has preceded me in the chair that has more hair than three men ought to have. Generally some comment is made about my own contrasting lack of hair, and I say to the barber, ‘Make me look like him.’ The barber laughs, and the answer is always the same. He looks at me and says, ‘It is too late for that.’

And that is why the existing Hebrew and Greek manuscripts cannot provide the light and truth that once were there and why there had to be a restoration of the Bible if a correct Bible were to be had. Present Bible manuscripts simply do not have the luxuriant supply of doctrine that the original had. It is too late for them to do so. They lost it centuries ago…

The JST is a witness for Jesus Christ. It is a witness for the divine calling of Joseph Smith as a prophet and apostle of Jesus Christ. Many people seem to go about it backwards. They want to test Joseph Smith by the content of the inadequate manuscripts.  Actually the restoration of the gospel in this dispensation is as great as any other dispensation and can stand on its own record. Joseph Smith had an independent revelation of his own. The Book of Mormon and the JST are the proper standards by which to measure the accuracy of the ancient Bible. We are not measuring the prophets, but the quality of the ancient record that tells about them.”