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The Life of ChristEvent 13 / 23
Section 018 · The Galilean Ministry Begins

The First Disciples

John points two of his own to the Lamb of God; they follow, and the call passes hand to hand — Andrew to Simon, Jesus to Philip, Philip to Nathanael — each invitation a “come and see.”

John 1:35–512 of 5 accountsReading: RE

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Study — reading text with parallel accounts; changes available.
? How to read this edition

The reading is the Restoration Edition — the Joseph Smith Translation reading — carried beside each Gospel and set against the King James baseline. Headers give both numbering systems: the RE chapter and verse, and the traditional KJV reference.

JST
Green — Joseph Smith Translation. Where the Restoration 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,” “you” for “thou”) is not marked.
RE
Burgundy — Restoration Edition. Where the RE’s reading departs from the King James but the change is not in the Joseph Smith Translation — the RE’s own editorial reading (e.g. “this day I have begotten you” at the baptism).
DS
Plum — Testimony of St. John. The TSJ (a separate scripture text) and Denver Snuffer’s later commentary share the plum mark.
JohnJohn 1:35–51RE John 1:6–7

35Again the next day after, John stood, and two of his disciples, 36and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he said, Behold the Lamb of God. 37And the two disciples heard him speak and they followed Jesus. 38Then Jesus turned and saw them following him and said unto them, What do you seek? They said unto him, Rabbi — which is to say (being interpreted), Master — where do you dwell? 39He says unto them, Come and see. And they came and saw where he dwelled, and abided with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40One of the two who heard John and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41He first finds his own brother Simon, and said unto him, We have found the Messiah — which is (being interpreted) the Christ. 42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas — which is (by interpretation) a seer, or a stone. And they were fishermen. And they immediately left all and followed Jesus.

43The day following, Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and found Philip, and said unto him, Follow me. 44Now Philip was at Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45Philip found Nathanael, and said unto him, We have found him of whom Moses, in the law and the prophets, did write — Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

46And Nathaniel said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip said unto him, Come and see. 47Jesus saw Nathaniel coming unto him and said of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile. 48Nathaniel said unto him, From where do you know me? Jesus answering said unto him, Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. 49Nathaniel answered and said unto him, Rabbi, you are the Son of God. You are the king of Israel. 50Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto you, I saw you under the fig tree, you believe? You shall see greater things than these. 51And he said unto him, Truly, truly I say unto you, Hereafter you shall see Heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.

Testimony of St. JohnJohn 1:35–51T&C 171 · TSJ 1:12–14

35On the next day after, John stood beside two of his followers, 36and noticing Jesus as he walked nearby, he said to the two others, Behold the Sacrificial Lamb of God! 37And these two who had followed John, when they heard that testimony, followed after Jesus. 38Then Jesus turned, and saw them following him, and asked, What do you want? They called him, Rabbi (which means acknowledged teacher), and asked, How can we understand the truth and advance? He replied, All men move upward by gaining light. If you advance you will learn to be like me. 39And these two went with him and were taught, and were his companions through that day, for it was mid-afternoon. 40One of the two who heard the testimony of John and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41That evening he went to his brother Simon and said to him, We have found the Messiah! 42And he brought Peter to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, You are Simon, the son of Jonah. You will be called Cephas, which is, by interpretation, a seer, or a stone. And these men were fishermen, but they immediately left every thing else behind to follow Jesus.

43The day following Jesus went to Galilee, and encountered Philip, and said to him, Follow me. 44Now Philip was at Bethsaida, the residence also of Andrew and Peter. 45Philip found Nathanael and said to him, We have found the Prophet that Moses foretold in the law, and who the prophets promised would come, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

46And Nathanael asked him, Can the promised Messiah come from Nazareth? Philip said to him, Come and see. 47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to meet him, and said of him, Behold a pure Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48Nathanael asked him, How do you know anything about me? Jesus answered him, Before Philip called you, when you were praying under the fig tree, I heard your prayer. 49Nathanael responded, Rabbi, you must be the Son of God. You are the King of Israel. 50Jesus responded to him, You believe in me because I said to you that I heard your prayer under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these. 51And he said to him, In the name of Father Ahman I promise you, Hereafter you shall see the fiery ascent to Heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending to visit the Son of Man.

Hugh Nibley on the name Cephas

A Seer, or a Stone

When Jesus renamed Simon “Cephas — a seer, or a stone,” the Restoration’s reading puzzled commentators. Nibley found ancient support: the stone of Peter was anciently the “Jewel of Discernment.”

The Message of the Joseph Smith PapyriCollected Works, Vol. 16
J. Massingberd Ford calls the stone of Peter and Abraham “the Jewel of Discernment,” thus lending belated support to Joseph Smith’s interpretation of John 1:42 JST: “Thou shalt be called Cephas, which is, by interpretation, a seer, or a stone.”
Points to Ponder
  • The first disciples come by a chain of invitation — John to two, Andrew to Simon, Philip to Nathanael — each simply “come and see.” What does it say that the kingdom spreads person to person, never by compulsion?
  • The JST and the TSJ both call Cephas “a seer, or a stone.” How do seeing (a seer) and steadfastness (a stone) belong together in what Peter was called to become?
  • Jesus tells Nathanael he saw him under the fig tree before Philip ever called him — the TSJ says he “heard your prayer.” What does it mean to be already known and heard by the Lord before we go looking for him?