DOES THE BOOK OF MORMON CONTAIN ANACHRONISMS?

Critics say the Book of Mormon is not true because it refers to things that they assume were not in existence at the time it says they were.

For example, they say there were no Christians in the world until after the time of Christ.

(B.M. ANACHRONISMS Continued) CHRISTIANS

The Book of Mormon refers to Christians in Alma 46:13-16, many years before the birth of Christ. However, early Christian church fathers and theologians such as Augustine wrote, “That which is called the Christian religion existed among the ancients and never did not exist from the beginning of the human race” (Epistolae Retrac 1.13:3). (See Christ under MISUSE OF PROPER NAMES below.)

(B.M. ANACHRONISMS Continued) HOLY GHOST

Critics claim that the wording Holy Ghost, such as used in 1 Nephi 10:11, was not known in Old Testament times and could not have been known to Lehi’s group which left Jerusalem 600 B.C. However, the fact that the exact wording of Holy Ghost was not mentioned in the Old Testament period does not mean that the concept was not known. Certainly, it was known. The Psalmist wrote, “Cast me not away form thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me” (Psalm 51:11). The Hebrew word for “spirit” is ruwach, which means breath. The same meaning as the New Testament Greek word for “Ghost,” pneuma, which means breath.

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(B.M. ANACHRONISMS Continued) Steel

Critics claim that mankind had no ability to manufacture steel in the early time period of the Book of Mormon. They insist that Nephi could not have possessed a steel bow, as the Book of Mormon claims he had. However, steel bows are mentioned in 2 Sam. 22:35; Job 20:24; and Psalm 18:34. The Nephites could have taken the technology of manufacturing steel-like metal with them to the Americas.

Bible scholars claim that the word “steel” as used in the Bible did not actually represent today’s fine steel in a literal sense but was another similar metal. Some say it may have been a combination of several allows. The same could be said of the Book of Mormon. Those who criticize the Book of Mormon are also being critical of the Bible for the same issue.

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