Many readers are aware that biblical language is scattered throughout the Book of Mormon.
The presence of many words or phrases from the Old Testament
is understandable, since much of it was on the brass plates that were had among the Nephites.
However, there is also language from both New Testament and parts of the Old
in the Book of Mormon that originated after Lehi left Jerusalem.
Although we don’t often know exactly why this later biblical language is in the text,
several explanations are possible.
First of all, readers may not realize how many New Testament passages
are actually paraphrasing or quoting parts of the Old Testament
or other ancient texts that were likely available to the Nephites
through the brass plates or other sources.
In addition, we can be sure that some of this biblical language comes from Jesus Christ Himself.
On the first day when He ministered among the Nephites,
Jesus drew on or quoted entire chapters from Old World scriptural texts,
such as His Sermon on the Mount and the book of Malachi.
Jesus most likely delivered additional New Testament teachings to the Nephites
during His subsequent visits among them.
Mormon explained that he couldn’t record
“even a hundredth part of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people.”
Opening the door to another explanation,
it’s possible that some of the biblical language comes through Mormon and Moroni
who, as they edited and shaped earlier Nephite and Jaredite texts,
drew upon language from Christ’s abundant teachings among the Nephites.
We can also be confident that some Book of Mormon prophets learned New Testament-type teachings
directly from Christ Himself
or from angelic messengers.
Nephi, for example, was shown a vision of the last days that he was told had been seen by other prophets
and would later be recorded by the Apostle John.
It makes sense, in light of their shared revelations,
that some of Nephi’s descriptions of his vision were similar to the language used by John.
Finally, it’s possible that much of the Book of Mormon’s biblical language
is due to the process of its translation.
One theory is that Joseph Smith, as a translator,
was inspired to express the ideas on the plates using his own words and phrases.
Under this scenario, Joseph’s rendition of the text may have integrated biblical passages from his memory,
perhaps even unintentionally.
On the other hand, there are scriptural, historical, and linguistic evidences
supporting the idea that the translation was revealed to Joseph Smith word for word.
Under this theory, the divine process responsible for producing the English translation,
integrating biblical passages and phraseology into the English text.
The longer biblical quotes and some of the text’s complex blending seem consistent with this theory.
It has been suggested that Joseph Smith may have used a Bible during the translation
and that this accounts for so many of its lengthy quotations. However,
Joseph’s use of a Bible was never reported,
and was even refuted, by those who witnessed the translation.
Besides, the many variations in quoted texts and the complex blending of multiple biblical passages
seems to go well beyond simply opening a Bible and copying its words.
As has been demonstrated, there may be many reasons why biblical language shows up in the Book of Mormon.
What explanation might best fit a given situation
depends on many complex factors, including the authorship,
date, and nature of the Book of Mormon text in which the biblical wording occurs,
as will be discussed further in the upcoming parts of this series.
Above all,
it is good to remember that the Book of Mormon was meant to be read by people in modern times
people who, especially when the Book of Mormon was translated,
knew and used the language of the King James Bible
and readily associated that language with holy scripture.
As such, finding biblical language in its pages can be seen as a fulfillment of Nephi’s teaching
that God “speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding.”