FARMS has just published a new edition of the long out-of-print book, The Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri. While I’m sure a lot has changed since Nibley wrote it (and since I read it long ago), it’s a fascinating book for the many glimpses it gives into the complex world of the ancient Egyptians. Many possible parallels exist to divine temple worship in Biblical times and in the Restoration. Let me know what you think about the book.
Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri
I LOVE that book! I used to read it all the time at the Institute’s library. I’ll have to set aside some money and pick-up a newly minted copy.
Thanks for the heads-up!
I glanced over it at Deseret Book, reading John Gee’s introduction to the second edition, which I found fascinating. As I recall, there were color reprints of the papyri, all the drawings were redone, and I noticed the drawing of the diptych of Christ’s ascension (p.253 in the first edition) was replaced with a photo of the ivory original.
So far, what I think of the book is that it’s very expensive…
That’s about all I’ll be able to conclude unless someone gives me a copy.
I received mine in the mail last week. It’s very large, almost binder-sized. I asked a friend who knows John Gee about it he forwarded Gee’s response to me, which indicated that it’s the same as the first edition except 1) they touched up the photographs, 2) they added material that Nibley didn’t publish in the original; this new material is on the atonement, 3) the Egyptian transliterations are all correct now (wasn’t as standardized when the 1st ed. was published, I guess).
I’m excited about it, frankly.
Isn’t there supposed to be a multi-volume set coming out by Nibley (which he wrote during the last years of his life) called “One Eternal Round”?
I believe One Eternal Round will be published after One Eternal Wait.