2014, Mike Parker http://bit.ly/ldsarc For personal use only. Not a Church publication.

New Testament
Week 1: Introduction
1) Welcome!
1

a) Please complete the sign-in sheet, and be sure to provide your email address if you want
to be notified when lesson notes are available online.
b) Personal introduction.
2) [SLIDE 2] Is it in the New Testament?
a) I thought wed start right off by having a little fun. How much do we really know about
whats in the New Testament? (Youre not being graded on this!)
1. Love bears all things, believes all
things, hopes all things, endures all
things.
YES: 1 Corinthians 13:7. (This is the NRSV
reading, which uses the more modern
love instead of the KJVs archaic
charity.)
2. The Immaculate Conception. NO: This is the Roman Catholic doctrine
that the conception of the Virgin Mary was
without any stain of original sin.
2
Many
people mistakenly believe its a reference to
the conception of Jesus, but it actually
refers to Marys conception.
3. After Jesus birth three wise men
visited the baby Jesus, bringing
gifts.
NO: The number of wise men is not
mentioned in Matthew; its assumed there
were three magi because there were three
gifts. Also, its not clear how old Jesus was
when the magi arrived; he may not have
been a baby anymore.
3

4. Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of
man, and drink his blood, ye have
no life in you.
YES: John 6:53. Most Christians interpret
this metaphorically,
4
but early anti-
Christians used this as a proof-text that
Christians believed in cannibalism!

1
If anyone asks, the image of Jesus on the title slide of the PowerPoint presentation is a 6th century A.D. encaustic painting
of Christ Pantocrator (Christ Almighty) at Saint Catherines Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai. The iconic image of
Christ Pantocrator was one of the first images of Christ developed in the Early Christian Church and remains a central icon of
the Eastern Orthodox Church. In the half-length image, Christ holds the New Testament in his left hand and makes the gesture
of teaching or of blessing with his right. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_Pantocrator) The painting is, of course,
anachronistic, since neither the New Testament codex Jesus is holding nor the gesture he is making were known in the 1st
century.
2
Frederick Holweck, Immaculate Conception, The Catholic Encyclopedia (New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910 ),
vol. 7 (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07674d.htm). The Immaculate Conception was finalized as a Roman Catholic
doctrine in an Apostolic Constitution issued by Pope Pius IX on 8 December 1854
(http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius09/p9ineff.htm).
3
According to Matthew 2:16, when Herod the Great discovered he had been tricked by the wise men, he ordered all the
children two years old and younger in and around Bethlehem to be killed. This seems to indicate that he believed Jesus was
somewhere between infancy and toddler age.
4
The exception to this is Roman Catholics, who believe that the Eucharist (the sacrament of the Lords Supper) actually
becomes the literal body and blood of Christ. This is the Roman Catholic doctrine of Transubstantiation; see Joseph Pohle,
The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, The Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 5
(http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05573a.htm).
Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class New Testament: Introduction Week 1, Page 2
2014, Mike Parker http://bit.ly/ldsarc For personal use only. Not a Church publication.
5. The Apostle Paul was martyred for
his testimony by being beheaded in
Rome.
NO: The Book of Acts ends without
mentioning anything about Pauls death;
his fate is based on tradition, not scripture.
6. The Apostle Peter first met Jesus
through his brother, Andrew, a
disciple of John the Baptist who
believed Jesus was the Messiah.
YES: At least according to the Gospel of
John (1:4042). The other Gospels have
different accounts of the first meeting of
Peter and Jesus.
5

7. From each according to his ability,
to each according to his needs.
NO: This is a quote from Karl Marx, the
19th-century socialist philosopher.
6

8. There are three degrees of glory in
the resurrection: the celestial, the
terrestrial, and the telestial.
NO: 1 Corinthians 15:40 speaks of celestial
and terrestrial bodies only; the additional
telestial glory comes from Joseph Smiths
revelations (see D&C 76 & 88).
7

9. Women should keep silent in
church, and if they learn anything,
they should ask their husbands at
home.
YES: 1 Corinthians 14:3435. (But just try
that in todays church!
8
)
10. Behold I have given unto you my
gospel, and this is the gospel which I
have given unto youthat I came
into the world to do the will of my
Father, because my Father sent me.
NO: this is a quote from 3 Nephi 27:13
(although the same concept can be found in
the New Testament, e.g. John 5:30; 16:28)
11. Abraham was justified by faith, not
by works, so that he could not claim
that God was in his debt.
YES: Romans 4:15.
12. Abraham was justified by works,
and not by faith only, as
demonstrated when he offered his
son Isaac on the altar.
YES: James 2:2124.

5
According to Mark 1:1618 and Matthew 4:1820, Jesus first met Peter and Andrew when he walked by them on the
shores of Galilee and commanded them to Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Luke 5:111 has its own unique
account, in which Jesus came to Peter and used his boat as a podium from which to preach to the multitudes, then performed a
miracle in providing a catch of fish so great that Peters net broke.
6
Although the quote itself predates Marx, he made it famous in his 1875 tract Critique of the Gotha Programme: In a
higher phase of communist society, after the enslaving subordination of the individual to the division of labor, and therewith
also the antithesis between mental and physical labor, has vanished; after labor has become not only a means of life but life's
prime want; after the productive forces have also increased with the all-around development of the individual, and all the
springs of co-operative wealth flow more abundantlyonly then then can the narrow horizon of bourgeois right be crossed in
its entirety and society inscribe on its banners: From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs!
(http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1875/gotha/ch01.htm).
7
Because the word telestial is found in JST 1 Corinthians 15:40, the answer to #8 could really go either way. As well
discuss in lessons 2 and 22, telestial is not likely to be the original lost reading, but rather Joseph Smiths attempt to
harmonize the New Testament with the revelations he had received.
8
As well discuss in lesson 21, there is evidence that this passage did not originate with Paul, but was an insertion from a
later scribe as Christianity became more opposed to womens authority in the early 2nd century.
Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class New Testament: Introduction Week 1, Page 3
2014, Mike Parker http://bit.ly/ldsarc For personal use only. Not a Church publication.
3) Review the syllabus.
a) [SLIDE 3] Class schedule.
i) Thursdays, 7:008:45 PM.
ii) The class will meet for 30 sessions (4 September 201428 May 2015), with a few
weeks off (building cleaning, my wedding anniversary, spring break, etc.).
(1) I may have to modify the calendar during the year for unscheduled building
cleanings, business trips, etc.
(2) Well take a six-week break for the Thanksgiving/Christmas season
(27 November 2014 through 1 January 2015).
b) [SLIDE 4] Class web site.
i) http://bit.ly/ldsarc
ii) Ill post all the lesson notes, handouts, and PowerPoint presentations on the web site
weekly.
iii) Ill also include links for additional reading, if theres something interesting that
throws more light on a lesson.
iv) This is a personal web site, not an official web site of the Church, the Hurricane West
Stake, or any other Church unit or department. Im responsible for any errors in the
material there, so please let me know if you find something that needs to be fixed.
c) [SLIDE 5] Class email list.
i) Ill send out a weekly email announcing when the website is updated.
ii) The email will come from huarc@googlegroups.com
(1) If youre not getting messages from me, check your Spam folder. You might need
to add this email address to your whitelist of approved addresses.
iii) If you ever want to stop receiving emails, click unsubscribe at the bottom of any
message and follow the instructions.
4) [SLIDE 6] Lesson schedule.
i) On the syllabus.
ii) Well approach the New Testament thematically, beginning with the Gospels and
Acts, then the epistles, and concluding with the book Revelation.
(1) Ive grouped the reading together so that well cover material by the same author
as a block. For example, when we read the Gospel of Luke, well continue directly
into the Acts of the Apostles, which was written by the same author. After that,
well return to the Gospel of John, and then go directly into the epistles of John,
before proceeding to the epistles of Paul.
(2) Youll notice that were going to read the Gospels chronologically, rather than
jumping back and forth from book to book.
Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class New Testament: Introduction Week 1, Page 4
2014, Mike Parker http://bit.ly/ldsarc For personal use only. Not a Church publication.
(a) There is a strong Christian impulse to try to harmonize the four Gospel
accounts.
9
The idea behind harmonization is to assemble everything the
Gospels have to say into a single chronological narrative, under the
assumption that this will give us a complete picture of what really
happened.
(i) There are tablesincluding one in the appendix to the LDS edition of the
Bible
10
that try to line up synoptic events in each Gospel.
(b) However, there are drawbacks to this approach:
(i) Many times the Gospels put events in different chronological order.
1. For example, the Synoptic GospelsMatthew, Mark, and Lukesay
that Jesus cleansed the temple at the end of his ministry, in the week
before his crucifixion; but John records Jesus cleansing the temple at
the beginning of his ministry.
11
Some harmonies try to resolve this by
claiming that Jesus cleansed the temple twiceonce at the start of his
ministry, and the second time at the end
12
but this just ignores the
fact that each Gospel only has one cleansing account.
(ii) When harmonizing parallel accounts, the tendency is to favor the most
detailed account and ignore the others. But this prevents us from
exploring why the other accounts are shorter, why some details are in
some Gospel accounts and not in others, why these differences might be
significant, and what we can learn from them.
(iii) Finally, harmonizing the Gospels also ignores each authors individual
focus, message, and picture they were trying to paint for the reader. How
did Mark portray Jesus that was different than how Luke portrayed him?
What did the Last Supper mean to Matthew, and did it mean something
different to John?
(c) So in this class were going to skip the harmonized approach, and read each
individual Gospel on its own terms. Im going to ask you to read each Gospel
as if you were reading it for the first time, and pay attention to what is unique
in each books message.
13

iii) Please read ahead and come prepared to participate in the discussion with questions
and comments. Id like to have as interactive a class as possible.
5) Materials.
a) [SLIDE 7] Required: The Standard Works.

9
This practice is not new, and dates back to at least the second century A.D. The early Christian apologist Justin Martyr (c.
A.D. 100165) quoted from the New Testament using a harmonized text drawn from the Synoptic Gospels. Martyrs pupil,
Tatian (c. A.D. 120c. 180), composed a harmony of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John known as the Diatessaron
(http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/diatessaron.html).
10
In the 1979 edition of Bible, it is part of the LDS Bible Dictionary, under the entry Gospels, Harmony of (pages 684
696). For the 2013 edition, it was moved to its own appendix as Harmony of the Gospels (pages 75974). Its available online
at https://www.lds.org/scriptures/harmony
11
See Matthew 21:1216; Mark 11:1519; Luke 19:4548; John 2:1417.
12
The Gospel Harmony in the LDS Bible Dictionary takes this approach, referring to the account in John as First
cleansing of temple (685/760) and the account in the Synoptics as a separate event, Moneychangers cast out (693/769).
13
I apologize that this will be a problem for those who wish to use my materials to teach Sunday School: The 2015 Gospel
Doctrine schedule begins with a study of John 1:114, but we wont get to the Gospel of John until the end of January 2015.
Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class New Testament: Introduction Week 1, Page 5
2014, Mike Parker http://bit.ly/ldsarc For personal use only. Not a Church publication.
i) I would hope that your copy is the one published by the Church in or after 1981.
14

b) Recommended: A modern English-translation study Bible to supplement your reading
of the King James Version.
i) There are two versions I recommend; theyre listed on the back of the syllabus.
ii) Next week well discuss why I suggest using a modern study Bible, and Ill bring
copies of the ones I recommend so you can look through them.
iii) To clarify: You dont need to purchase anything to attend and benefit from this class.
Most of the resources Ill refer to, including modern translations of the Bible, are
available for free on the Internet. Even if you dont have Internet access, your LDS
standard works will be sufficient for this class.
6) [SLIDE 8] Approach.
a) Ultimately the goal of every class in the restored Church should be to bring us to
Christ. In this class were going to do that by examining the Lords commandments and
promises in the New Testament.
b) This is going to be a different kind of class than you typically encounter in the Church.
i) Usually our classes focus on practical application of gospel principles, using the
scriptures to introduce those principles.
ii) In this class, were going to focus instead on understanding the text of the scriptures.
We are going to examine the New Testament from the aspects of:
(1) History. What does the historical record tell us about when the books of the New
Testament were written and how the early Christian church developed?
(2) Textual development. How did the books in the New Testament come to be
written, compiled, and translated? What differences are there between various
manuscripts of the New Testament books? What can we learn from the original
language used to write it and from other English translations of the Bible?
(3) Archeology. What do we know about the sites and locations of the events
described in the New Testament?
(4) Culture. What were the cultural expectations and assumptions of the people
who wrote the New Testament? What cultural expectations and assumptions do
we bring to the text? Do we sometimes misread or misunderstand the text
because we read it as if the people of the New Testament believed and thought
like 21st-century Americans?
(5) Modern revelation. How do the revelations to Joseph Smith and other modern
prophets help us understand the prophets, people, and events in the New
Testament?
(6) (Most importantly) Faith. What do we learn about God the Father, our Savior
Jesus Christ, and the plan of salvation from the writings in the New Testament,
and how can we apply that understanding in our lives?

14
A revision to the 1981 edition was published in 2013. There are numerous differences in the headings, footnotes, and
study aids, and some updates to the text of the King James Version of the Bible. For a list of changes in the 2013 edition, see
http://www.lds.org/scriptures/adjustments
Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class New Testament: Introduction Week 1, Page 6
2014, Mike Parker http://bit.ly/ldsarc For personal use only. Not a Church publication.
c) Gospel Doctrine teachers: Not everything in this class will directly transfer to your
lessons. This course is designed to give you background on the text of the New
Testament that will help you understand the text better so youre better prepared to
teach it. This means that some of what we discuss is going to be very high-altitude
material that doesnt always fit into the how does this apply to our daily lives-style
Gospel Doctrine lessons.
d) If there are some here who are not Latter-day Saints, and Id like to extend a special
welcome to you and tell you how grateful I am that youve come to study with us.
i) In this class we will be using not only the Bible, but also Mormon scriptures (the
Book of Mormon, the Doctrine & Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price) to help us
understand and interpret the Bible. We believe these three books are equal to the
Bible and stand as complimentary companions to it. Im going to count on your
Latter-day Saint friends or family to help you find the passages we discuss.
7) [SLIDE 9] New Testament.
a) Latter-day Saints have a unique understanding of the message of the New Testament
because of the revelations to the Prophet Joseph Smith and his successors.
i) Because of this additional prophetic information, we differ from many of our
Christian brethren on how to contextualize and interpret the message of the New
Testament.
b) [9.1] Some of the unique ways we understand the New Testament:
i) Human beings lived in a premortal existence with God, and came to earth as part of
a plan so that we can become like God is.
ii) Many of the commandments and ordinances in the New Testament, such as baptism,
have been practiced from the time of Adam, and were not new to first-century
Christians.
iii) Jehovah, the God of Israel in the Old Testament, was the pre-mortal Jesus Christ.
15

iv) Christs apostles held the priesthood authority of God, and organized and led his
Church.
v) After the deaths of the apostles, the Christian Church fell into apostasy and error, a
condition that continued until the Lords Church was restored in A.D. 1830 through
Joseph Smith.
c) [9.2] We need to be careful, however, to distinguish between eternal truths that have
been revealed in various ages, and elements of the New Testament Church (or the
Church today) that simply reflect the culture and tradition of their time.
i) It is a mistake to think of New Testament Christians as proto-Mormons,
16
with
wards and stakes, Relief Societies, priesthood quorums, and other things that are
unique to the modern LDS Church.

15
See Mosiah 3:5; 3 Nephi 11:14; D&C 110:13.
16
This phrase was coined by non-Mormons Carl Mosser and Paul Owen in their paper, Mormon Scholarship, Apologetics,
and Evangelical Neglect: Losing the Battle and Not Knowing It? Trinity Journal, n.s., 19/2 (1998): 179205
(http://www.academia.edu/185247/_Mormon_Scholarship_Apologetics_and_Evangelical_Neglect_Losing_the_Battle_and_N
ot_Knowing_It_). Mosser and Owen argued that recent Latter-day Saint New Testament scholarship was not attempting to
show that the early Christians were proto-Mormons but rather that remnants of true pre-Hellenized belief remained for a
time after the apostasy.
Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class New Testament: Introduction Week 1, Page 7
2014, Mike Parker http://bit.ly/ldsarc For personal use only. Not a Church publication.
(1) Outside of a core set of revealed beliefs that we share, ancient Christians had very
different assumptions and expectations than we do about life and how to live it.
Were going to explore some of these cultural differences this year.
ii) Its also important to keep in mind that not all the things we know today were
revealed in ancient times. Modern scriptures are very explicit that some doctrines
have been withheld from previous dispensations and revealed in our day for the first
time.
17

8) Understanding the atonement of Jesus Christ.
a) The central message of this years study will be the atonement of our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ.
b) [SLIDE 10] Joseph Smith taught:
The fundamental principles of our religion [are] the testimony of the apostles and
prophets concerning Jesus Christ, that he died, was buried, and rose again the third
day, and ascended up into heaven; and all other things are only appendages to these,
which pertain to our religion.
18

c) [SLIDE 11] How exactly does the atonement of Christ work?
i) Many theories have been created to explain the mechanics of Christs atonement.
(1) Some are touching allegories of fathers who must sacrifice their sons to save the
lives of strangers.
19

(2) Others allude to substitutionary punishment
20
or economic relief.
21

(3) Still others involve dubious theories supported by questionable proof-texts from
the scriptures.
22

ii) The reality is that the atonement is not something that can be grasped completely.
No single theory will allow us to comprehend it in its fulness.
(1) [11.1] Three times the Book of Mormon describes the atonement as infinite,
23

which means, at least to me, that we finite, mortal beings can only incompletely
appreciate some of the concepts behind it.

17
See D&C 121:26; 124:41; 128:18.
18
Joseph Smith, Elders Journal 1/3 (July 1838): 44 (https://archive.org/stream/eldersjournalkir01unse#page/44).
Josephs statement was the last in a series of answers to 20 questions that which are daily and hourly asked by all classes of
people whilst we are traveling. The questions themselves had been published in the previous issue of the Journal (1/2,
November 1837, 2829). I have not been able to determine the source of the quotation in the middle of the statement. The list
and answers are reprinted in an edited format in History of the Church 3:30 (http://byustudies.byu.edu/hc/3/4.html#30) and
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith 121 (http://scriptures.byu.edu/stpjs.html#121).
19
One of the best-known of this type is Dennis E. Hensley, To Sacrifice a Son: An Allegory, Michigan Baptist Bulletin,
1967 (http://www.snopes.com/glurge/drawbridge.asp).
20
President Gordon B. Hinckley used this type in his 1994 First Presidency Christmas Devotional. See Pres. Hinckley:
Christmas a result of redeeming Christ, Church News, 10 December 1994, 4 (http://goo.gl/jDxEbC). This story has been
published as a book for LDS children and made into a short direct-to-video film.
21
See Elder Boyd K. Packer, The Mediator, General Conference, April 1977 (https://www.lds.org/ensign/1977/05/the-
mediator). See also Stephen E. Robinson, Believing Christ: The Parable of the Bicycle and Other Good News (Salt Lake City:
Deseret Book, 1992): 3034.
22
Im thinking here primarily of W. Cleon Skousens theory of a universe filled with organized intelligences that demand
justice from God or they will refuse to follow him. See Why Was the Atonement Necessary, appendix to The First 2000 Years
(Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1953): 35262. This theory was also presented in a fireside given by Skousen in April 1977 in
Safford, Arizona, a recording of which has circulated widely among full-time missionaries. For a critical review of Skousens
theory, see Clyde J. Williams, A Response to the Address The Real Meaning of the Atonement, June 2000
(http://emp.byui.edu/marrottr/Skousen-Williams.pdf).
23
2 Nephi 9:7; 25:16; Alma 34:1014.
Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class New Testament: Introduction Week 1, Page 8
2014, Mike Parker http://bit.ly/ldsarc For personal use only. Not a Church publication.
d) Within Mormon scripture and hymns, there have been four ways to express how the
Atonement works.
24

i) [SLIDE 12] Expression #1:
(1) Scriptures: Galatians 3:13; 2 Nephi 9:21; D&C 19:16.
(2) This is the idea of the atonement as a substitution: Christs death was a sacrifice
to appease Gods requirement of perfect obedience. Mans sin and suffering is
vicariously imputed to Christ, who, as the Lamb of God, was sacrificed in our
place.
(3) Under the Law given to Moses, provision was made for a scapegoat that would be
sent away into the wilderness, bearing the iniquities of Israel (Leviticus 16:20
22). Jesus is our scapegoat, who was wounded for our transgressions [and]
bruised for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:46; cf. Mosiah 14:46).
(4) [SLIDE 13] This idea is expressed in some Latter-day Saint hymns:
We may not know, we cannot tell,
What pains he had to bear,
But we believe it was for us
He hung and suffered there.
(There Is a Green Hill Far Away, hymn #194, verse 2.)
His precious blood he freely spilt;
His life he freely gave,
A sinless sacrifice for guilt,
A dying world to save.
(How Great the Wisdom and the Love, hymn #195, verse 2.)
(5) [SLIDE 14] President Boyd K. Packer taught:
We all make mistakes. Sometimes we harm ourselves and seriously injure
others in ways that we alone cannot repair. We break things that we alone
cannot fix. It is then in our nature to feel guilt and humiliation and suffering,
which we alone cannot cure. That is when the healing power of the Atonement
will help. If Christ had not made His Atonement, the penalties for mistakes
would be added one on the other. Life would be hopeless. But He willingly
sacrificed in order that we may be redeemed.
25

ii) [SLIDE 15] Expression #2:
(1) Scriptures: Jeremiah 31:11; Matthew 20:28 (cf. Mark 10:45); 1 Timothy 2:5
6; 2 Nephi 9:812.
(2) In these passages the atonement is described as a ransom: All souls, through sin,
are in Satans power. God offers his Son as the devils price to regain those souls.
But Satan is tricked because the sinless Christ cannot be subject to the devil, and
mankind is set free.

24
The material is this section has been adapted from a handout by Michael Hicks, professor in the School of Music at
Brigham Young University. I am grateful for his kind permission to do so. For a summary of Hicks material, see Kevin Barney,
Atonement Stew, ByCommonConsent.com, 28 March 2009 (http://bycommonconsent.com/2009/03/28/atonement-stew).
25
Boyd K. Packer, The Touch of the Masters Hand, General Conference, April 2001 (https://www.lds.org/general-
conference/2001/04/the-touch-of-the-masters-hand).
Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class New Testament: Introduction Week 1, Page 9
2014, Mike Parker http://bit.ly/ldsarc For personal use only. Not a Church publication.
(a) This is what it means to be redeemed: Satan owns us because of our sins, but
Jesus has bought us with his blood (Hebrews 9:12; 1 Peter 1:1819).
26

(3) [SLIDE 16] From our hymns:
For Jesus died on Calvary,
That all through him might ransomed be.
Then sing hosannas to his name;
Let heavn and earth his love proclaim.
(Tis Sweet to Sing the Matchless Love, hymn #176, verse 4; hymn #177,
chorus.)
When Jesus, the Anointed, descended from above
And gave himself a ransom to win our souls with love
With no apparent beauty, that man should him desire
He was the promised Savior, to purify with fire.
(O God the Eternal Father, hymn #175, verse 3.)
(4) [SLIDE 17] Elder D. Todd Christofferson recently taught:
Among the most significant of Jesus Christs descriptive titles is Redeemer.
The word redeem means to pay off an obligation or a debt. Redeem can also
mean to rescue or set free as by paying a ransom. If someone commits a
mistake and then corrects it or makes amends, we say he has redeemed
himself. Each of these meanings suggests different facets of the great
Redemption accomplished by Jesus Christ through His Atonement, which
includes, in the words of the dictionary, to deliver from sin and its penalties,
as by a sacrifice made for the sinner.
27

iii) [SLIDE 18] Expression #3:
(1) Scriptures: 2 Nephi 9:2526; Mosiah 15:89; Alma 34:1417; 42:1315
(1126).
(2) The idea here is one of satisfaction: The principles of justice and mercy in Gods
nature have conflicting claims: Man must die because God is just, yet must not
die because God is merciful. Through Christ, God reconciles both principles by
mercifully offering himself to receive the just punishment.
(3) [SLIDE 19] Our hymns proclaim:
The law was broken; Jesus died
That justice might be satisfied,
That man might not remain a slave
Of death, of hell, or of the grave.
(While of These Emblems We Partake, hymn #173, verse 3.)
Behold the great Redeemer die,
A broken law to satisfy.
He dies a sacrifice for sin,
That man may live and glory win.
(Behold the Great Redeemer Die, hymn #191, verse 1.)

26
In the King James Version of 1 Peter 1:18, vain conversation, would be better translated futile ways (NRSV) or
empty way of life (NET, NIV). In the KJV, conversation never refers to communication between two or more people; it
usually refers to manner of life, conduct, or behavior (see, for example, 1 Timothy 4:12; James 3:13; 1 Peter 3:1).
27
D. Todd Christofferson, Redemption, General Conference, April 2013 (https://www.lds.org/general-
conference/2013/04/redemption).
Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class New Testament: Introduction Week 1, Page 10
2014, Mike Parker http://bit.ly/ldsarc For personal use only. Not a Church publication.
(a) (The second hymn actually combines the ideas of satisfaction and
substitution into a single verse.)
(4) [SLIDE 20] Elder Richard G. Scott has taught:
Our Master lived a perfect, sinless life and therefore was free from the
demands of justice. He is perfect in every attribute, including love,
compassion, patience, obedience, forgiveness, and humility. His mercy pays
our debt to justice when we repent and obey Him. Since with even our best
efforts to obey His teachings we will still fall short, because of His grace we
will be saved, after all we can do.
28

iv) [SLIDE 21] Expression #4:
(1) Scriptures: John 6:44; 12:32; 2 Nephi 26:24; D&C 18:11.
(2) In this explanation, the atonement results in a moral imperative: Without
repentance men will die in their sins; Christ offers his life to motivate mankind to
repentance, thus bringing individuals to God and saving them.
(3) [SLIDE 22] And so we sing:
I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!
Such mercy, such love, and devotion can I forget?
No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,
Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.
(I Stand All Amazed, hymn #193, verse 3.)
Oh, love effulgent, love divine!
What debt of gratitude is mine,
That in his offring I have part
And hold a place within his heart.
(God Loved Us So He Sent His Son, hymn #187, verse 3.)
29

(4) [SLIDE 23] Elder Neal L. Andersen taught:
We proclaim our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. All that we areall that
we will ever bewe owe to Him. While we gaze in awe at His majesty, He does
not ask us to stay our distance but bids us to come unto Him. I stand at the
door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in
to him.
30

e) [SLIDE 24] Which of these best explains the nature of the atonement? All of them.
i) The atonement of Jesus Christ is beyond the capability of mortals to fully
comprehend, and yet, through the scriptures and witness of the Holy Spirit, we can
grasp its essential nature and importance: The Father has infinite love for each of his
children, and, through the death and resurrection of his Son, has made a way for us
to return to his presence, and become like him.
ii) In the end, how the atonement works is less important than the fact that it does
work.

28
Richard G. Scott, The Atonement Can Secure Your Peace and Happiness, General Conference, October 2006;
http://bit.ly/GC2006OctScott
29
See also There Is a Green Hill Far Away, hymn #194, verse 4.
30
Neal L. Andersen, Come unto Him, General Conference, April 2009 (https://www.lds.org/general-
conference/2009/04/come-unto-him).
Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class New Testament: Introduction Week 1, Page 11
2014, Mike Parker http://bit.ly/ldsarc For personal use only. Not a Church publication.
f) [SLIDE 25] Modern apostles have witnessed:
We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostlesthat Jesus is the Living Christ, the
immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right
hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the
path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be
thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.
31

9) [SLIDE 26] Next week:
a) The origin, development, and translation of the New Testament.
i) There is no specific reading for next week.
ii) Please take a look at the class web site where youll find my notes and PowerPoint
presentation, as well as some links for additional reading.

31
The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1 January 2000
(http://jesuschrist.lds.org/SonOfGod/eng/testimonies-of-him/articles/the-living-christ-the-testimony-of-the-apostles-of-the-
church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints).