General Comments on 2 Nephi 31-33 As stated in 31:2, Nephi is closing off his time at writing on the plates with some final comments on the doctrine of Christ. As he is coming to the close of his mortal ministry and therefore the end to his portion of the written record, he wants to emphasize the purpose of the text. Comments on 2 Nephi 31 The main theme of this chapter is the Doctrine of Salvation. Nephi uses a series of Quotes from the Father and Son to discuss the requirements for Salvation. The quotation (v. 10-15) is bracketed by discussion setting up and explaining the quotes. Nephi sets up the quote by talking about obedience and the need to be baptized (v. 4-9), which is how the quote starts (v. 10- 11), and then explains the final point of the quote (v. 15) in what it means to "endure to the end" (v. 17-20). The quotes of the Father and the Son, taken alone, form a climax starting out with the simple start of "Follow thou me" and winding up with "He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved". However, the way Nephi has the quotes set up, interspersed with explanatory text, they form a parallelism centering on v. 13. I would assume the quote of the Father and Son was received by revelation at some point prior to this and Nephi is documenting it after the fact and providing explanatory text along with it. If it were being documented as it was revealed it seems unlikely Nephi would take time out to interject his own thoughts on the matter while it was being dictated. v1-3 Verse 1 closes off the ch. 25-30 block and verse 2 introduces the ch. 31-33 block. Verse 3 echoes Nephi's previous introductory statement in 25:4. v1 "end of my prophesying unto you", Nephi started in 24:4. v2 "a few words", i.e. the contents of ch. 31-33. v3 "my soul delighteth", this phrase is unique to Nephi in the BofM, but he probably got it from Isa. 42:1. Also cp. D&C 25:12 for the only other appearance of this phrase. v4-9 Nephi uses the example set by Christ of being baptized (v. 4, 7-8), even though he was sinless (v. 5), to demonstrate the necessity of humbling ourselves and keeping the commandments (v. 9). v10-16 are a series of quotes from the Father and Son combined with comments from Nephi. The quotes are presented as a dialogue with the Son and Father speaking and then Nephi interjecting, as follows: A - (v. 10a-b) Son says "Follow thou me" B - (v. 10c-e) Nephi says "How can we follow..." A - (v. 11-12) Father and Son say "Repent and be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost" B - (v. 13) Nephi says "I know that if you are baptized without hypocrisy you will receive the Holy Ghost" A - (v. 14-15) Father and Son say "You must endure to the end, you must not fall away after having entered in" B - (v. 16) Nephi says "I know you must follow Christ's example to the end in order to be saved" v13-14 "speak with the tongue of angels...speak with a new tongue, yea, even the tongue of angels", Nephi discusses this more in 32:2-3, but what he is referring to is being filled with the Spirit of prophecy, which he spoke of in 25:4. If you have the Spirit in you then you can perceive spiritual things and converse with others who are spiritual on these matters as one who is experienced in them, as opposed to one who simply fails to comprehend due to lack of experience. Also, note Nephi uses the image of feasting, or having your mouth stuffed with, the words of Christ in v. 20. This concept of having spiritual or pure language is a classic OT symbol having its source at the Tower of Babel (cf. Gen. 11:1-9). There, the rebellious were struck by the Lord such that their languages were confounded. Ever since, having incomprehensible speech has been the mark of the heathen (cf. Deut. 28:49, Isa. 28:11, Isa. 33:19), and those who worship the Lord do so with pure speech (cf. Isa. 19:18, Zeph. 3:9). This same symbolism is referred to in Matt. 15:10-20, and probably in 3 Ne. 19:32-34 as well. v14 "and after this should deny me...better for you that ye had not known me", this is referring to persons who slouch into simple apostasy, as described in Matt. 12:43-45, and not sons of perdition. This condition, that of being in denial of one's prior commitment to Christ, is held up in contrast to those who endure to the end. v16 The requirement to endure to the end in order to obtain salvation is not an LDS novelty, cf. Matt. 10:22. v17-20 Nephi follows up the quotes with a lengthy discussion on what it means to "endure to the end". He says that one must do all the things Jesus Christ did (v. 17) in order to be in the right path (v. 18). Then, once in the path, one must continue on in it by relying upon Christ (v. 19), and having love for God and all man, feasting on the words of Christ. If you endure in this manner, you will have eternal life (v. 20). v17 "then cometh a remission of sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost", the remission of sins, baptism of fire, and baptism of the Holy Spirit are all equated. As a matter of syntax and definition, such statements are very useful. v20 "feasting", the concept of eating the words of God in order to sustain spiritual life goes back to Deut. 8:3. Also, as Nephi is drawing on the imagery of the Tree of Life (cf. 1 Ne. 8, 1 Ne. 11) in v. 18-19 in pressing forward in the straight and narrow path, he is obviously alluding to feasting on the fruit of that same tree. The opposite case would be going astray in the mists of darkness after having begun on the straight and narrow path. v21 closes the section with Nephi emphatically stating the method he just detailed is the only means of being saved in the kingdom of God. He then defers and states the doctrine is not his own, but is that of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Copyright © 2001 by S. Kurt Neumiller . All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of the author. Digital or printed copies may be freely made and distributed for personal and public non-commercial use.