Category Archives: Eye On Apologetics

Oct 29

October 2011 Update / Logos 4

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Hi everyone! This is not the first time I’ve had to apologize for dropping off the grid (and probably won’t be my last). It is one drawback when you do not have a team of writers/bloggers working with you. For better or for worse Eye on Apologetics is a one-man-band and I am the soloist. Life happens. Oh well.

I wanted to let you all know that I’m still here, alive. I also wanted to warn you that from this point onward things may be just a little bit different on EOA. Don’t worry, it is more of an improvement than a random change. Since my last blog (exactly 30 days ag0) I have purchased the Logos 4, Platinum Edition. Through my seminary (and the helpful people at Logos.com) I was able to get not only an amazing price but also a very generous payment plan – otherwise I couldn’t have afforded it!

The resources included in their top-notch software are fully integrated and make Bible study & research very easy. Not only that, but I can re-download it (for free) whenever I get a new computer and never have to worry about losing anything I’ve purchased through Logos.  This is is truly “industry standard” software for those in the field of theology, apologetics, preaching, Greek/Hebrew research, etc…

Having access to this poses some interesting questions. How will this impact the way I study the Bible? How will it impact my apologetic research? How will my blog/website be affected? This remains to be seen, but I am eager to find out.

Sep 03

Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., The Joseph Smith Translation, and John 1:18

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As I was preparing for today’s podcast I came across a page in Religious Truths Defined, by Joseph Fielding Smith Jr. (the 10th LDS prophet).  In this section of the chapter on the nature of the Father he is driving home the importance of the (Mormon) concept that God must have a body. To bolster this point JFS criticized the King James rendering and asserts what he considers to be a correct translation (he calls it an “interpretation” but in light of the use of the term “translation” earlier as well as the nature of the Joseph Smith’s “Inspired Version” it is clear that he means “translation”). Is it any surprise that the King James translators missed an exception to the statement that “no man hath seen God at any time”?

Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., Religious Truths Defined, Page 38

Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., Religious Truths Defined, Page 38

The Greek text of this verse has an interesting variant. Prior to the discoveries of P66 and P75 in 1952 the weight of the manuscripts available indicated that the original author had written about an “only begotten Son.” “Only begotten” is a poor rendering of μονογενὴς, as the term means “one and only,” or “unique.” The real word of interest is whether the term which follows μονογενὴς should be θεὸς or υἱὸς, God or Son. P66 (written about 200 AD) and P75 (175-225 AD) both have θεὸς (God) not υἱὸς (Son). Add to that the weight of Codex Siniaticus (א), Codex Vaticanus (B), Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (C), and a handful of other manuscripts and you have a very strong case for “the only God” (ESV, for example) being the correct translation.

While there are a larger number of extant  manuscripts which contain υἱὸς (Son) this is no good reason side with that translation. The υἱὸς (Son) reading is a distinctly byzantine reading which is found primarily in this text family with a few (late) exceptions (such as miniscule mss 579, an Alexandrian text from approx 1250). Since these texts have been copied from one another and can be traced back to a ‘parent’ text geographically and by textual features which make it distinct from other text families, the large number of manuscripts does not mean it is a better reading.

Below is the textual apparatus from the UBS Greek New Testament, 4th edition:

UBS Greek NT, John 1:18

UBS Greek NT, John 1:18

When you look at the Greek text it is interesting that, while there is a variant with the word “God” there is no variant which introduces an exception clause to tell the reader who can see God. The words in red below represent words in the Joseph Smith Translation which I can not find any textual support for:

And no man hath seen God at any time, except he hath borne record of the Son; for except it is through him no man can be saved. (Joseph Smith Translation, John 1:19 – The verse numbering is not the same as in normal Bibles)

In light of this evidence, I wonder what manuscripts Joseph Smith was using in his New Testament translation? Why are they nowhere to be found today? Why is JFS citing this faulty translation 170 years later to vindicate the current version of Joseph Smith’s 1st vision? Is he, as the LDS Prophet of that time, validating the Joseph Smith Translation? If so, and I ask this again, WHERE IS THE MANUSCRIPT EVIDENCE FOR THE CHANGES IN JOHN 1:18?

Apr 22

10,000 Visits!

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Greetings readers! I wanted to let you know that Eye On Apologetics (i.e. The Apologist) has reached a milestone, a landmark of sorts. In the last 15 or 20 minutes my little apologetics website has reached 10,000 visits within the span of a single month (March 23 – April 22). I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of you who have stopped by to see what I’m posing here, to watch a video or two, to check out an eBook or some interesting links. I’m honored that you have let me speak into your life (even if in a small way) and hope you will continue to frequent the site!

10,000 visits in 1 month on The Apologist Blog

~Glenn

Mar 22

VIDEO: Mormonism Monday! Episode 2 “Definitions”

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The second episode of Mormonism Monday! is live on the Eye On Apologetics YouTube Channel. I am still waiting for the ability to upload video files longer than 15 minutes, so please forgive me for chopping up the hour long episode into 6 sections. You can download the podcast here. The slides I used are available here (re-edited with better grammar).

Mormonism Monday! Episode 2 – Definitions – Part 1/6 (019)

Mormonism Monday! Episode 2 – Definitions – Part 2/6 (020)


Mormonism Monday! Episode 2 – Definitions – Part 3/6 (021)

Mormonism Monday! Episode 2 – Definitions – Part 4/6 (022)

Mormonism Monday! Episode 2 – Definitions – Part 5/6 (023)

Mormonism Monday! Episode 2 – Definitions – Part 6/6 (024)

Mar 22

Outline from Mormonism Monday, Episode 3 “Definitions – Polytheism in Mormonism”

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You can click the image below to download the PDF of my outline for the 3rd episode of Mormonism Monday! “Definitions – Polytheism in Mormonism”.

Subscribe to the EOA Podcast

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It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the Character of God. ~ Joseph Smith, Jr., 11 weeks before his death (History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 305)

And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. ~ Jesus Christ (Praying in John 17:3)

How Many Gods Exist?

Mormonism and biblical Christianity are at their core theistic systems. In this we agree that atheism is not true. Beyond this we depart down two dramatically different paths, never again to unite.

Since we agree on the basic tenant of theism, one might ask a Mormon and a Christian the simple question: How many gods exist?

Before answering this question I want to make an observation which will help avoid some common objections. Whereas atheism is the denial of the existence of God, monotheism is the belief in the existence of one God only, and polytheism is the belief in the existence of many gods. All humans worship something or someone, whether it is themselves, an activity, a spouse, their children, a god (whether real or perceived), or many gods, etc.

An atheist is not called an atheist because they don’t worship anything or anyone. They are called an atheist because they deny the existence of any and all gods (whether real or perceived). A monotheist is called a monotheist, not because they only worship one God (for at times, devout monotheists will place people or things higher than God), but because they consciously grant the existence of one true deity to the exclusion of all other (so-called) deities.

A polytheist, is not a polytheist because they worship every god or goddess which they assert truly exists. They are called polytheists because of the fact that they believe in the existence of many real deities. In the same way that a devout Hindu might believe in the existence of over 3 million gods without knowing each of their names, powers, characteristics and so on, a devout Mormon grants the existence of millions of deities. Polytheism does not require that you worship every god or goddess that exists, only that you believe in their existence as true, actual deities.

Assuming here (and throughout the rest of this presentation) that both the Christian and the Latter-day Saint (Mormon for short) are well read and able to accurately represent their religious leaders’ teachings, you would receive a reply:

In Mormonism, there exists a plurality of Gods. Joseph Smith preached the following words in a sermon 11 days before his death: Continue reading →

Mar 14

Mormonism Monday (Mar. 14, 2011)

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The Title Shot for Mormonism Monday!

Hey everyone! Today’s episode of Mormonism Monday has been recorded/filmed! I am in the process of editing the video file (which I hope to start uploading tomorrow morning). The title of today’s show is “Definitions” and the basic of premise of taking a word and examining how Mormons define it and comparing that with how Scripture defines it will lay the groundwork for the next 2 months or so for the show.
While the video will take some time to edit and upload, the podcast will be available tomorrow for sure. Thanks for your patience and please keep listening/watching!

~Glenn

PS – If you want to pray for me, pray that YouTube will allow me to start posting videos longer than 15 minutes. This show was an hour long and until they make that change I will have to continue to chop up the videos into smaller segments. Thanks!