Evidences of the Book of Abraham: Facsimiles

The Book of Abraham in unique in the scriptural canon of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because it is the only book in that canon that has pictures. The three facsimiles of the Book of Abraham have attracted attention (and controversy) ever since they were first published along with the text in 1842. Many have asked how well Joseph Smith’s interpretations of the facsimiles align with those offered by Egyptologists.
The answer to this question is actually more complicated than it might initially seem. Besides considering some of the methodological issues that need to be kept in mind when answering this question, this video highlights some of the noteworthy instances where Joseph Smith’s interpretations of the facsimiles converge with modern scholarship, or where they otherwise accurately convey ancient concepts.
Documentation for the claims made in this video can be found in the accompanying blog post (link below). Additional evidence for the historicity of the Book of Abraham and other study resources (including an extensive bibliography) can be read at Pearl of Great Price Central (link below).

[howardfairbanks]

At 4:08 it says "this scene depicts Abraham fastened upon the altar before some idolatrous gods. An Idolatrous priest is about to sacrifice Abraham who is protected the angel of the Lord."

How does your subsequent discussion of Gee suggesting scenes of ritual violence have anything to do with supporting that statement? Your video doesn't provide any evidence that shows egyptologists have found out that the scene really does say it's Abraham, that Abraham is about to be sacrificed on an altar before idolatrous gods (or any god other than the god Jehovah), nor that there is an idolatrous priest about to sacrifice Abraham, nor that there is a protecting angel of the god Jehovah. Saying ritual violence is depicted doesn't get anyone closer to that at all.

Can you describe how that suggests that the scene described by Joseph Smith is accurate?

[IITaDHGdALToNII]

So why did he replace Anubis head with a human head? Is it because Anubis head was torn off and he had nothing else to go by so gave an educated guess that it was human? There are at least eight surviving colour copies of the artwork used for facsimile 1 which are more complete than the one Joseph Smith bought from the trader.

He gave it a good guess and he guessed wrong. This was the ultimate test and Joseph passed at the time because no one had ever seen the image before and had literally no way to dispute this. As time has passed now though, we have rediscovered the original (thankfully) and can see as bright as day that the Anubis head was not on the document. The skin of the character is ink black even in Smith's version. It is so clear that the original artwork depicted Anubis.

Please google Facsimile 1 and scroll down until you see the eight images of an almost identical scene (the mormonhandbook image). This is literally some of the best evidence of a crime I have ever seen in my life. If you have the truth then it cannot be harmed by investigation. If we have not the truth then it ought to be harmed.

[Glen.Danielsen]

I am thankful that the Lord has not made things easy and fool proof. Otherwise we might have a church full of shallow, insincere people who are there only because of museum evidence. God will require faith (spiritual evidence), and that reality exists with Book of Abraham authenticity. He knows exactly what He's doing. Also thankful for scholar faithful's like Kerry Muhlestein, Alexander L. Baugh, John Gee, and Andrew H. Hedges.

[mjbalbo]

None of this solves the msin criticism: Smith's translation has nothing to do with the actual translation Egyptologists have provided.

[bgardunia]

Could you list all the things that he translated incorrectly?

[adambeck]

0:45 It's really not complicated though

A. Joseph said he could translate a text by divine means
B. If the translation is accurate, 1. he probably did translate it by divine means, if not he was 2. either lying or confused
C. We have a clear example of what he claimed to translate in which he says "this symbol means this, this symbol means that etc."
D. The overwhelming majority of these translations are wrong.
E. Therefore option 2. "he was either lying or confused" is the best explanation.

If there are any flaws in this logic I would be glad to hear them

[TheTruthPlease]

Was facsimile 2 hand drawn or was it fully casted or a cloth put on and a pencil scribbled on top to get a complete etching of it? Because it looks like some parts of things may be missing which may effect translation.

[chuckkv]

One name: Robert Ritner, teacher and debunker of John Gee. Ritner is clear on the facsimiles, book of Abraham "translation", and the first to show how Smith was copy-pasting missing pieces of the facsimiles as he (Ritner) was researching them early on. Smith was messing up badly (completely) with such things as the word "lake", which is made of two symbols, that Smith treats as two separate paragraphs of text completely unrelated to "lake" or even "water", not even one word. He also credits one facsimile as a copy of a missing/damaged temple wall painting (and has published on it), but that it still has nothing to do with the books of Abraham or Jacob. He also has debunked Gee many times and shown him not only to be a plagiarist of Ritner's own words and work, but that he has made fraudulent and misleading statements that no egyptologist could possibly make in good faith. His book and his looong youtube interviews about the subject are worth a read or listen, if only to understand the actual argument against the book of Abraham; but gird up your loins first. It will break the honest and the weak.

[HoratioIsHere]

You leave out mentioning that Gee’s more senior Egyptologists completely reject his writings on this topic. This is not a complete presentation of the current academic understanding

[joeshawcroft]

If Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, then the Book of Abraham is true, regardless of whether it can be reconciled to the learning of the world that we have today or any historical evidence that we have found to date. Many will use that to "disprove" the Book of Abraham or to "prove" that Joseph Smith wasn't a prophet of God. Well, as in most cases, prophets were never proven by their alignment with the world view. Those who followed the prophets in the old days and in these days have the promise of the Holy Ghost to testify of the truth. I can't prove the Book of Mormon but I know its true. Every time I read it and ask I get an answer. And if in the end, it turns out to be not true, well, I'll be proud of the life I tried to live following its teachings of the Savior. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet also. I've received answers to that or to the confirmations I've received that our current prophet President Nelson is a prophet of God today. I'm grateful for that.

[DeborahMark-oj]

I believe the book of Mormon to be true...whether you not want to believe that's your choice...JS is a True prophet ..please don't put down the church...this is our belief and we stand by it...

[redfightblue]

The scroll was found with an Egyptian mummy and is a common scroll buried with Egyptians. It speaks about the mans life, death, and resurrection. The notion that it would have anything to do with Abraham would have to be supported by an overwhelming amount of evidence that would only increase with the advancements in Egyptology. We have less than zero here.

[noncthibodeaux]

There is no way to compare what you’re claiming to the correct, historical, scholarly, or Biblical understanding of anything remotely connected to this.

[tkstats]

The Egyptian environment artwork is amazing. Who did the artwork? A studio or artist in UT?

[coltonwilding]

The thing is how would one man just come up with all this stuff by himself and especially during this time it doesn’t make sense that it would be made up or fraud.

[RilesWoolner]

Whats so sad and pathetic is that this comment section is filled with folks that have no respect for religion. Its one thing to find the Book of Abraham to be false, and go about your day. It's another to publically and pathetically attempt to tear it and those who believe it to be authentic down.

I dont believe in Islam, but I and any other respectful person wouldn't get on the comment section of a video about Muhammed and try and tear it down.

[maryelms]

Im so grateful for Joseph Smith a true prophet

[TheoRem-yh]

As someone who is particularly well versed in the subject of the religion of the ancient Egyptians, it seems obvious to me that an apologetic attempt is being made here to adapt the religion of the ancient Egyptians to Joseph Smith's portrayal.

[RichardHolmes-llii]

You're supposed to compare the facsimiles to the Book of Abraham, not the facsimiles to the explanation. You're supposed to compare the facsimiles to the Book of Abraham to show contrast between God and Satan. This is proper interpretation. This proper interpretation is what debunked the arrogant Egyptologist opinions against Joseph Smith.

[zyzzyz]

You do know that book was proved to be something totally different, right?