I have a collection of religious texts on my bookshelf and I thought it might be fun to see how each begin and end. Do they begin in a way that grabs attention for a reader to keep going and do they end is a satisfactory manner? I will use just three books in my collection for now, but I'll expand over time. I don't have the Hindu Vedas (the Bagvadghita and the Upanishads are within the Vedas) or the Buddhist Tripitaka. If anyone here has read those, feel free to tell me what the first and last verses are. So let's start with the Bible/Torah (Jews and Christians use the same Scriptures): First verse in the Bible and Torah: In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, (NRSV) Last verse in the Torah (also within Bible. I'll add the previous verse for context): He was unequaled for all the signs and wonders that the Lord sent him to perform in the land of Egypt; against Pharaoh and all his servants and his entire land, and for all the mighty deeds and all the terrifying displays of power that Moses performed in the sight of all Israel (NRSV) Last verse in the whole Bible: The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen. (NRSV) Now let's look at Islam: First verse in the Qur'an: In the name of God, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. Last Surah in the Qur'an (I need to read the whole thing for context) : In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, the Sovereign of mankind, the God of mankind, from the evil of the retreating whisperer who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind from among the jinn and mankind." Next, let's take a look at the Book of Mormon: First verse: I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days. Last verse: And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead. Amen. Obviously not all "holy books" are chronological or meant to be read from cover to cover, so that's why sometimes it ends on something of an odd note like the Qur'an. Anyway, before I take out more cult literature from my bookshelf, any thoughts? Supplementary texts like the Hadith or Apocrypha are OK to mention, but my focus will be on the primary texts or for companion texts to the Bible from New Religious Movements like the Book of Mormon.
Not sure what you are getting at??? The Book of Revelations wasn't the last book John wrote. It just is placed there probably by Constantine. And, the first 116 pages of the Book of Mormon were lost when Joseph Smith gave them to Martin Harris to show his wife the money they were spending was well worth it. She destroyed it or gave it to someone who hid it or lost it or destroyed it. It's whereabouts are not known. So, 1Nephi1:1 isn't the beginning of the Book of Mormon. The Angel Mormon abridged some of what was written in the 116 pages but that's about it. So, what are you getting at?
