“The Convincing of the Jews”

Brant Gardner

The Title Page of the Book of Mormon states that this work is “to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations.” Writing nearly a thousand years later, Moroni2 neatly echoes Nephi’s stated purpose in this verse. Both Jew and Gentile need to know that “Jesus is the very Christ.”

Nephi’s exegesis begins by discussing the Jews and their future redemption as they accept the Messiah. In the context of the Jews’ salvation, Nephi discusses his own people, precisely because he includes himself and his people (and also the Lamanites, though only in the distant future) in the prophecies of the Jews’ redemption.

Having finished his explanation of why the Jews (and the Nephites and Lamanites) need to accept the Messiah, he then notes that Gentiles must also accept that “Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God.” This acceptance will be required from the entire world, although different groups will fulfill that requirement in different times and ways.

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 2

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