JESUS THE CHRIST
A Study of the Messiah and His Mission according to Holy Scriptures both Ancient and Modern
By
JAMES E. TALMAGE
One of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
PUBLISHED BY THE CHURCH SIXTH EDITION
TWENTY-EIGHTH TO THIRTIETH THOUSAND INCLUSIVE Salt Lake City, Utah
Deseret Book Company
1922 [Pg ii] Copyright
September 1915, December 1915, April 1916, and November 1916
By
JOSEPH F. SMITH
Trustee-in-Trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Copyright, October, 1922
By
HEBER J. GRANT
Trustee-in-Trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Printed in the United States of America [Pg iii] PREFACE.
The scope of the subject presented in this work is expressed on the title page. It will be readily seen that the author has departed from the course usually followed by writers on the Life of Jesus Christ, which course, as a rule, begins with the birth of Mary's Babe and ends with the ascension of the slain and risen Lord from Olivet. The treatment embodied in these pages, in addition to the narrative of the Lord's life in the flesh comprizes the antemortal existence and activities of the world's Redeemer, the revelations and personal manifestations of the glorified and exalted Son of God during the apostolic period of old and in modern times, the assured nearness of the Lord's second advent, and predicted events beyond--all so far as the Holy Scriptures make plain.
It is particularly congruous and appropriate that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--the only Church that affirms au-
thority based on specific revelation and commission to use the Lord's Holy Name as a distinctive designation--should set forth her
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doctrines concerning the Messiah and His mission.
The author of this volume entered upon his welcome service under request and appointment from the presiding authorities of the Church; and the completed work has been read to and is approved by the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve. It presents, however, the writer's personal belief and profoundest conviction as to the truth of[Pg iv] what he has written. The book is published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
A characteristic feature of the work is the guidance afforded by modern scriptures and the explication of the Holy Writ of olden times in the light of present day revelation, which, as a powerful and well directed beam, illumines many dark passages of ancient construction.
The spirit of the sacredness inherent in the subject has been a constant companion of the writer throughout his pleasing labor, and he reverently invokes the same as a minister to the readers of the volume.
JAMES E. TALMAGE. Salt Lake City, Utah,
September, 1915.
PREFACE TO THE SIXTH EDITION.
The second edition of this work appeared in December, 1915, and the third in March, 1916. The third edition presented several minor alterations in wording and contained additional notes and references. Succeeding issues, including the fifth which was printed on India paper, and the present edition are practically uniform with the third.
JAMES E. TALMAGE. Salt Lake City, Utah,
October, 1922.[Pg v]
CONTENTS. Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION.
Historicity of Jesus the Christ.--Scope and purpose of the present treatise
Chapter 2.
PREEXISTENCE AND FOREORDINATION OF THE CHRIST.
Antemortal existence of spirits.--Primeval council in heaven.--Rebellion of Lucifer.--His defeat and expulsion.--Free agency of man insured.--The Beloved Son chosen to be the Savior and Redeemer of mankind
Chapter 3.
THE NEED OF A REDEEMER.
Spirits of diverse capacities.--Entrance of sin into the world foreseen.--God's foreknowledge not a determining cause.--Creation
of man in the flesh.--Fall of man.--Atonement necessary.--Jesus Christ the only Being eligible as Redeemer and Savior.--Universal
resurrection provided
Chapter 4.
THE ANTEMORTAL GODSHIP OF CHRIST.
The Godhead.--Jesus Christ the Word of power.--Jesus Christ the Creator.--Jehovah.--The Eternal I AM.--Proclamations of
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Jesus Christ by the Father
Chapter 5.
EARTHLY ADVENT OF THE CHRIST PREDICTED.
Biblical prophecies.--Revelation to Enoch.--The Prophet predicted by Moses.--Sacrifices as prototypes.--Book of Mormon
predictions
Chapter 6.
THE MERIDIAN OF TIME.
Significance of the designation.--Epitome of Israel's history.--Jews in vassalage to Rome.--Scribes and rabbis.--Pharisees and Sadducees.--Other sects and parties
Chapter 7.
GABRIEL'S ANNUNCIATION OF JOHN AND OF JESUS.
Angelic visitation to Zacharias.--Birth of John the forerunner.--Annunciation to Mary the Virgin.--Mary and Joseph.--Their genealogies.--Jesus Christ heir to the throne of David[Pg vi]
Chapter 8.
THE BABE OF BETHLEHEM.
Birth of Jesus Christ.--His presentation in the temple.--Visit of the magi.--Herod's evil designs.--The Child taken into Egypt.-- Birth of Christ made known to Nephites.--Time of the birth
Chapter 9.
THE BOY OF NAZARETH.
Jesus to be called a Nazarene.--At the temple when twelve years of age.--Jesus and the doctors of the law.--Jesus of Nazareth
Chapter 10.
IN THE WILDERNESS OF JUDEA.
John the Baptist.--The voice in the wilderness.--Baptism of Jesus.--The Father's proclamation.--Descent of the Holy Ghost.-- Sign of the dove.--Temptations of Christ
Chapter 11.
FROM JUDEA TO GALILEE.
John Baptist's testimony of Christ.--First disciples.--The Son of Man, significance of title.--Miracle of transmuting water into
wine.--Miracles in general
Chapter 12.
EARLY INCIDENTS IN OUR LORD'S PUBLIC MINISTRY.
First clearing of the temple.--Jesus and Nicodemus.--John Baptist's disciples in disputation.--John's tribute to and repeated testimony of the Christ
Chapter 13.
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HONORED BY STRANGERS, REJECTED BY HIS OWN.
Jesus and the Samaritan woman.--Among the Samaritans.--While at Cana Christ heals a nobleman's son in Capernaum.--At Naza-
reth Christ preaches in synagog.--Nazarenes attempt to kill him.--Demons subdued in Capernaum.--Demoniacal possession
Chapter 14.
CONTINUATION OF OUR LORD'S MINISTRY IN GALILEE.
A leper healed.--Leprosy.--Palsied man healed and forgiven.--Imputation of blasphemy.--Publicans and sinners.--Old cloth, old bottles, and the new.--Preliminary call of disciples.--Fishers of men
Chapter 15.
LORD OF THE SABBATH.
Sabbath distinctively sacred to Israel.--Cripple healed on Sabbath day.--Accusations by the Jews and the Lord's