Reading guide · the conventions
How to Read this Edition
The reading is the Joseph Smith Translation, in the text of the Covenant Christian Edition, carried beside each Gospel and set against the King James baseline. A few conventions govern every section.
The text, and what is marked
The reading text is the Covenant Christian Edition, but the verse numbering is the traditional one (the chapter and verse you will find in an ordinary King James or standard Bible), so you can follow along in any Bible you have. Each section heads its columns with the traditional reference first; the Covenant Christian Edition numbering is shown beneath it, muted, for those who want it. Only substantive Joseph Smith Translation changes are marked, shown as a green insertion or a struck deletion, with no label. English that is only modernized (“Listen” for “Hearken,” “has” for “hath,” “you” for “thou,” spelling and punctuation) is folded into the reading and not marked.
Joseph Smith on the Bible
Why a translation at all? In Joseph’s own words, from the records made at the time. Each is quoted as its recorder wrote it, with a link to the page.
From sundry revelations which had been received, it was apparent that many important points, touching the Salvation of man, had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled.
Joseph Smith’s History, on resuming the translation in February 1832 · Joseph Smith Papers ↗
We believe the bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
“Church History” (the Wentworth letter), Times and Seasons, 1 March 1842, the eighth article of faith · Joseph Smith Papers ↗
what is the rule of interpretati[o]n? Just no interpretati[o]n at all. understand precisely as it read.— I have Key by whi[c]h I understa[n]d the scripture —— I enqire what was the question whi[c]h drew out the answer.
Discourse, 29 January 1843, Nauvoo · Willard Richards, in Joseph Smith’s journal · Joseph Smith Papers ↗
I will turn linguist. ma[n]y things in the bible. whi[c]h do not. as th[e]y now stand. accord with the revelati[o]n of th[e] holy Gho[s]t to me.
Discourse, 11 June 1843, Nauvoo · Willard Richards · Joseph Smith Papers ↗
I beli[e]ve the bible, as it ought to be, as it came from the pen of the original writers.
Discourse, 15 October 1843, Nauvoo · Willard Richards, in Joseph Smith’s journal · Joseph Smith Papers ↗
I have an old book in the Latin Greek Hebrew & German & I have been read[in]g. the Germ[an]: I find it to be the most corect that I have found & it corespends the nearest to the rev[elatio]ns. that I have given the last 14 y[ea]rs … thank God I have got this book & I thank him more for the gift of the H G.
Discourse, 7 April 1844, Nauvoo (the King Follett sermon) · Thomas Bullock · Joseph Smith Papers ↗
A line often quoted with the October 15, 1843, saying, “Ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests have committed many errors,” is not in Willard Richards’s record of that day. It first appears in the later History of the Church, so it is not quoted here.
The marks in the text
- JST Green: Joseph Smith Translation
- Where the Covenant Christian Edition departs in substance from the King James text and the change is in the JST (confirmed against the parallel-column edition). Modernized English (“has” for “hath”) is not marked.
- CCE Burgundy: Covenant Christian Edition
- Where the CCE’s reading departs from the King James but the change is not in the Joseph Smith Translation manuscript (for example, “this day I have begotten you” at the baptism). Some of these readings are Joseph’s own, from his sermons rather than his translation (“In my Father’s kingdom are many mansions”); where that is so, the section’s Joseph Smith commentary gives the sermon.
The three modes
- Study: the reading text with the parallel Gospel accounts; changes available on toggle, inline or side-by-side.
- JST: the text and its attributed changes only; parallels and cross-references hidden.
- Read: scripture alone, with the change apparatus hidden for distraction-free, read-aloud sittings.
The order of commentary
Below the scripture, commentary always renders in the same order, themed to its author: revelations first (chronological), then Joseph Smith's letters, journals, and publications.
Cross-references
Each section's cross-references lead with the traditional reference and give the Covenant Christian Edition reference in parentheses, as in Micah 5:2 (CCE 1:11). The Gospel & Messiah Harmonies supply the "Other Works" links, which are added to, never substituted for, a section's own references.