Informed Saints Why the Old Testament Is the Most Misunderstood Scripture | Dr. Joshua Sears
Latter-day Saints have relied on the King James Version for generations—but the Church recently updated the handbook to clarify that other Bible translations may be helpful for personal study. So what does that mean for your Old Testament, Come, Follow Me year?
In this episode, BYU professor Joshua Sears (author of A Modern Guide to an Old Testament) walks through why comparing translations can change your study overnight, especially in difficult books like Isaiah, and how modern manuscript discoveries (like the Dead Sea Scrolls) affect what you see on the page.
What you’ll learn:
•Why the Church still prefers the KJV in classes, but encourages helpful study tools for individuals
•The best “starter” translations to compare side-by-side (ESV/NRSV, NIV/NLT, etc.)
•Why “missing verses” in modern Bibles often reflect better manuscript evidence, not “tampering”
•How covenants in the Old Testament are about relationship—not contracts
•Key covenant terms to watch for (like ḥesed, often translated “lovingkindness”)
===Informed Saints Credits===
Produced by The Ancient America Foundation
Producer: Spencer Clark
Hosts: Stephen Smoot, Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye
Get the book: A Modern Guide to an Old Testament — https://amzn.to/4rarPWh
Favorite takeaway? Comment your go-to Bible translation and why.
Further Readings:
https://rsc.byu.edu/vol-20-no-3-2019/study-bibles
“Why Bible Translations Differ: A Guide for the Perplexed” (Ben Spackman, BYU Religious Studies Center): https://rsc.byu.edu/vol-15-no-1-2014/why-bible-translations-differ-guide-perplexed
“How Excellent Is Thy Lovingkindness”: the principle of ḥesed (RSC, BYU): https://rsc.byu.edu/gospel-jesus-christ-old-testament/how-excellent-thy-lovingkindness
“The Divine Council” (BYU Studies): https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/the-divine-council
“The Textual Problem in 1 John 5:7–8” (the “Johannine Comma” topic you mention): https://bible.org/article/textual-problem-1-john-57-8
===Discover===
If any of our thoughts resonated with you, consider learning more about the single most influential book in our lives.
https://www.discoverbookofmormon.org/
===Content Disclaimer===
The views expressed represent ours alone and do not necessarily reflect the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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