Mormons and the bible: Warnings of further gospels?

Question

The bible warns us clearly that others will come along trying to add more religious books to the word of God

1 Galatians: 8-12
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!

(NIV)

Joseph Smith met an angel called moroni who showed him a whole new gospel called the book of mormon which then disspaeared so no one else could see



Jesus warns us about this very thing happening, so when mormonism is established thosands of years later by the EXACT method Jesus warned us about why would you choose to beleive it?

And if you do, what do you think Jesus meant with the words of
1 Gal:8-12

If mormons beleive in the bible, why do they think the whole bible appiles apart from 1 Gal:8-12


Further in the book of revelations God lays out a penalty for anyone who tries to add and improve upon his word:

Rev 22 :18-19

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

He says do not add to the word of God

He says, if an angel or another man add to the word of God let them be accursed.

How is the account of Joseph Smith and the angel mornoi any different to this warning?

thanks for your answers

Catholics are commitingh exactly the same crime, infact many scholars point to the vatican built on the 7 hills of rome, as to being the 7 headed beast of the revelations, and how the wounded head that mircaulously recovered is actually John paul 2nd when he got shot in the head

Mormons, the passage does say

IF an Angel or a man give you another gospel

Gospel means good news, further teachings and revelations

An angel did just that

it could not be more clearer

I am just telling you wahts in the bible,
IT would not be important if it was not there

you can sit and argue whether the 20th century translation fo gospel is different from the 1st century

we all want to be right, but can we admit to being wrong?

Further Edit:

Thanks for your comments so far,

I have a last question for you

If we agree on the book of revelations,
and we agree that Gabriel Showed John the antichrist, the destrucxtion of the beast , and the saints entering paradise

then... What further revelation wasd there for moroni or the "so called gabriel" that visited muhammed to reveal?

Answer 1

This is one of the many 'elephants in the lounge room' for Mormons. It's just like asking them about DNA evidence regarding native Americans and about the lack of ancient Jewish civilizations in America. Of course they have some ridiculous excuse for logic to explain this. Their very religion is founded on absurdities so they can weasel their way out of just about any attempt to prove their religion false. And the fact that people try to prove them false just adds to their persecution complex just like in the first answer where he accuses you being a Mormon hater. They take nourishment from the persecution complex.

Answer 2

There are 2 angels spoken of in the Bible that one should be concerned with. One is discussed in Gal 8:12...But it doesn't apply to the Mormons because Moroni Restored the Gospel of Jesus Christ (IOW Restoration of all things) he didn't give any other Gospel other than that of Jesus Christ. So, the angel spoken of in Gal 8:12 wouldn't apply to him. It could easily apply to the angel that gave Muhammad the Koran though. Think about it.

The other angel spoken of can easily apply to Moroni. It is in Rev 14:6.

As for Rev 22:19, any reputable biblical scholar will tell you that it applies to the BOOK of REVELATION not the Bible as a whole. If it did, then so would Deut 4:2 which would negate everything after Deut including Revelation.

God has also told us that he will reveal NOTHING unless he reveals it through His servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7)

What does this mean to you? It means that God, though His prophets, can add whatever He wishes, whenever He wishes. Hence the Restoration.

Hope this clears a few things up for you.

Answer 3

First, many cite Rev. 22:18-19 as evidence that the Book of Mormon is false. When it was originally written, the Bible did not exist as one single book, but rather was a collection of books. The scripture at the end of the book of Revelation, which suggests that nothing should be added, is only referring to that book (the book of Revelation), not the entire Bible. The Bible did not even exist as a single book until centuries after Christ's death. In fact, most scholars agree that Revelation was not even the last book in the Bible to be written. Should we throw out the other books in the New Testament that were written after Revelation, then?

Second, many mistakenly cite Galatians 1:8 as proof that the Mormon Church is false. That verse states: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." Because the early history of the Mormon Church includes accounts of angelic visitations, many believe this scripture applies to Mormonism.

In reality, this scripture is warning the earliest Christians about false teachers who would mix false man-made doctrines with the divine doctrines Christ introduced to the world. Many other scriptures foretold this impending apostasy, including Matthew 24:4-12, Matthew 24:9-11, 2 Timothy 3:12-13, Acts 20:29-31, 2 Timothy 4:3-4, 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Galatians 1:6, etc, etc. Because the early Christian Church apostated from Christ's original teachings, Mormonism is actually a restoration of the SAME gospel (not "any other gospel") that was had by the earliest Christians.

In fact, another prophetic scripture states that in the last days an angel would visit the earth to help restore the original Christian church. According to Revelation 14:6-7: "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters."

http://www.allaboutmormons.com

Answer 4

Galatians is a terrible example for Mormon bashers to use. Paul wrote that those who taught the gospel differently than he did were cursed. This is the very reason the church needed to be restored to the earth. Through centuries of apostasy the truth Paul taught was lost to the earth.

What did Paul teach in Galatians?

11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

This words of Paul could have been echoed by Joseph Smith. Paul preached that the gospel had to be revealed by Christ and not a man or an angel. This is why we have additional scripture.

But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

You cite Revelation, but you seem to have removed a portion of that book which prophesies about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon delivered BY AN ANGEL.

Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

So if I were you, I would start sweating about the penalty you invoked.

Answer 5

If you read Galatians carefully, all of it, you see that the "other gospel" that Paul was speaking of was the gospel of circumcision vs. te gospel of uncircumcision, or, to follow the Law of Moses or not to follow the Law of Moses (that was te question). Some believers believed that Gentile converts must first convert to Judaism before becoming a believer/Saint (read also the 15th chapter of Acts).

Rev. 22:18 is saying taht MAN cannot add to the book of Revelation. It says nothing about GOD adding to the canon of scripture. In fact, the Bible says nothing about THE BIBLE. There was no Bible then.

If GOD inspires someone to add to His word, then who are we to say "No, God, can't do it, see? it says here in the Bible!"??

Answer 6

How utterly convenient that the anti-Mormon crowd continues to post Galatians 1:8, but always ignores verses 11 and 12 wherein they say:

"But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the REVELATION of Jesus Christ."

We in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the only church that rely on revelation from the Lord on a continual basis--that more scripture will come forth in these latter-days. While we will embrace such new revelations, the closed-minded and stiff-necked generation will condemn them.

Answer 7

Rev 22 is about the book of revelation only not the whole bible. The bible of today wasn't put together until 330 years after the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Gal 8-12 is your interpretation....
Since Protestants are a dead branch from a dead tree Catholics. Not one protestant had a revelation from God.
You are completely ignorant of the bible and how it got together.

Answer 8

You misunderstand the word gospel. Gospel does not mean book.
We feel we are not teaching "a gospel other than the one we preached to you". We feel we are preaching the same gospel as Christ preached.
In fact I feel that most of the other religions are preaching a gospel other than the one we ( the apostles and Christ) preached.

What do you think of all the various religious books that have written? Do they count for adding to the scriptures?

Answer 9

1. The Biblical Canon as it is found today was not decided upon at any one time. Bible comes from the Latin for Library, a collection of books. The Book of Revelation was written separate from all other books in the bible and as such it's warning is for Revelation alone.

2. Galatians says that if they should teach any other gospel than the one Paul preached, they should reject it. While introducing new scripture may seem like a new gospel to some, the Mormons believe that it is the same gospel as Paul preached and consistent with it. The verse says nothing about new scripture, merely about different teachings. As long as Mormons can match their beliefs to those of Paul it does not violate his warning.

Answer 10

VERY FAR be it from me to agree with the Mormons' distortion of Christianity, but YOUR ARGUMENTS are partially invalid and thus weaken your point under serious evaluation. Reinforce your statements with CLEAR AND CORRECT interpretations of scripture rather than weak misinterpretations.

About Galatians: 8-12: As Toadaly points out, "gospel" here DOES NOT MEAN a "book" in the Bible, rather, the word means "Good News" and refers to the entire message about Jesus and the life to which Christians are called.

You wrote: "He says, if an angel or another man add to the word of God let them be accursed."
-- No, rather he speaks of adding to "this book of prophecy," meaning Revelation itself, not all of scripture.

czekoskwigel writes: "We know for a fact that the catholic church has removed books from the bible." Again I find myself with unusual allies, but your statement is quite erroneous. The "removed books" of which you speak are mostly classed by document experts as "Pseudopigrapha," that is, "false author." These were NOT part of inspired scripture!

Danielle M: but Mormon beliefs DO violate the teaching of Paul and the other apostles in many points.

Answer 11

The word 'gospel' did not mean 'bible book' at the time those words were written. It refered to a particular set of religious beliefs. The reason those warnings are there, is because there were numerous early sects of Christianity all in competition with eachother.