Jacob 4:11 Textual Variants

The original text’s that introduces a conjunctive resultive clause (that is, “ye may obtain a resurrection ... and be presented as the firstfruits of Christ unto God”). The 1837 edition changed the subordinate conjunction that to and, perhaps because the editor did not want the reader to interpret the passage as saying that the resurrection was contingent upon being reconciled to God. But the original meaning is that we need to be reconciled to God so that we can be resurrected in the first resurrection (“and be presented as the firstfruits of Christ”). This interpretation is supported by language elsewhere that identifies Christ himself as the firstfruits unto God since he was the first one resurrected:

• 2 Nephi 2:8–9
  • that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead being the first that should rise wherefore he is the firstfruits unto God

This example from 2 Nephi 2 suggests that in Jacob 4:1 the original that extends beyond the initial reference to the resurrection to include the additional clause that refers to the firstfruits of the resurrection. The replacement of that with and weakens the logical connection between these two conjoined clauses. In accord with the reading in 𝓟, the 1908 RLDS edition restored the original that.

In addition to restoring the that, the commas separating off the intervening phrase “according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ” should probably be eliminated. (The commas were introduced in the 1830 edition and have been present in all subsequent editions.) Removing the commas might help the reader interpret the second clause as the result of being reconciled to God.