Jacob 4

Christ

Christ — Greek Christos, "the Anointed One" (Hebrew Messiah)

For, for this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us. Jacob 4:4

Jacob engraves his witness on metal so future readers will know the Nephites knew Christ by name hundreds of years before He came. Every holy prophet before them also looked forward to Him.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Jacob 1:6 — "we knew of Christ and his kingdom, which should come."
• alluded to by Jacob 7:11 — Jacob to Sherem: none of the prophets have written or prophesied "save they have spoken concerning this Christ."
• alluded to by Acts 10:43 — Peter: "To him give all the prophets witness."

Worship in the Name of Christ

Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name. And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness to be obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son. Jacob 4:5

The ancient prophets and the Nephites alike believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in Christ's name. Worship has always gone to the Father through the Son.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Moses 5:8 — Adam was commanded to "do all that thou doest in the name of the Son."
• alludes to 2 Nephi 33:12 — Nephi: "I pray the Father in the name of Christ."

Isaac — Similitude of the Only Begotten

Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name. And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness to be obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son. Jacob 4:5

Jacob gives the interpretive key to Genesis 22: Abraham offering his son Isaac is a similitude of Heavenly Father offering His Only Begotten Son. Abraham felt a small portion of what the Father would feel at Calvary.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• interprets Genesis 22:1-14 — Abraham is commanded to offer "thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest"; God provides a ram in his place.
• a type of what is in John 3:16 — The Father "gave his only begotten Son" — the reality the offering of Isaac pictured.
• the same event in Hebrews 11:17-19 — Paul's account of Abraham offering up "his only begotten son," receiving him back "in a figure."

Only Begotten Son

Only Begotten — the only child of the Father in the flesh

Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name. And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness to be obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son. Jacob 4:5

Jacob uses the title Only Begotten Son, marking Christ as the one Son of God the Father in the flesh — which is why Isaac, Abraham's promised only son, is such a fitting type.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in Jacob 4:11 — "the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son."
• the same title in John 1:14 — "the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

Law of Moses Pointing to Christ

Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name. And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness to be obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son. Jacob 4:5

Jacob says plainly why the Nephites kept the law of Moses: its sacrifices and ordinances pointed their souls to Christ. The law was a teacher leading to Him, not an end in itself.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to 2 Nephi 25:24-25 — Nephi: we keep the law of Moses and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ until the law is fulfilled.
• alluded to by Mosiah 13:30-31 — Abinadi: the ordinances were "types of things to come."
• alluded to by Alma 34:14 — Amulek: the whole meaning of the law points to that great and last sacrifice, the Son of God.
• alluded to by Galatians 3:24 — Paul: "the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ."

Jesus

Jesus — Greek form of Joshua/Yeshua, "Jehovah saves"

Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea. Jacob 4:6

Through scriptures, revelation, and the spirit of prophecy, the Nephites' faith became unshaken, and they could perform miracles by commanding in the name of Jesus — before He was born.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alluded to by Matthew 17:20 — Jesus: faith as a grain of mustard seed can say to a mountain, "Remove hence."
• alluded to by Luke 17:6 — Jesus: faith could command a sycamine tree to be plucked up and it would obey.
• alluded to by Ether 12:30 — The brother of Jared said to the mountain Zerin, "Remove," and it was removed.

Grace

Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things. Jacob 4:7

Even miracle-working prophets are shown their weakness so they remember their power comes from the Lord's grace and condescension. The Lord later teaches Moroni the same thing in His own voice: He gives weakness so we will come to Him and find His grace sufficient.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alluded to by Ether 12:27 — The Lord: "I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men."
• alludes to 1 Nephi 11:16-21 — "Knowest thou the condescension of God?" — answered by the birth of the Son of God.

Creation by Christ

Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. How unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him; and it is impossible that man should find out all his ways. And no man knoweth of his ways save it be revealed unto him; wherefore, brethren, despise not the revelations of God. Jacob 4:8–10

Jacob testifies the earth and man were created by the power of God's word, so God can surely command the earth. Restored scripture reveals that the "word of my power" by which all was created is the Only Begotten Son.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• interpreted by Moses 1:32-33 — "By the word of my power, have I created them, which is mine Only Begotten Son."
• interpreted by John 1:1-3 — "In the beginning was the Word ... All things were made by him."

Atonement of Christ

Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him through the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ, and be presented as the first-fruits of Christ unto God, having faith, and obtained a good hope of glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the flesh. Jacob 4:11

Jacob invites everyone to be reconciled — brought back into harmony — with God, and says this happens only through the Atonement of Christ, God's Only Begotten Son.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to 2 Nephi 10:24 — Jacob's earlier plea: "reconcile yourselves to the will of God ... it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved."
• alluded to by 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 — Paul: God "hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ ... be ye reconciled to God."

Resurrection

Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him through the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ, and be presented as the first-fruits of Christ unto God, having faith, and obtained a good hope of glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the flesh. Jacob 4:11

The power of resurrection is in Christ. Those reconciled through Him will rise and be presented to God as the first-fruits of Christ — the first harvest He brings home.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to 2 Nephi 2:8 — The Holy Messiah lays down His life and takes it again to bring to pass the resurrection, "being the first that should rise."
• alluded to by 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 — "Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming."
• alluded to by D&C 88:98 — Those caught up to meet Him "are Christ's, the first fruits."

Birth (Christ Manifest in the Flesh)

Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him through the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ, and be presented as the first-fruits of Christ unto God, having faith, and obtained a good hope of glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the flesh. Jacob 4:11

Jacob prophesies that Christ will manifest Himself in the flesh — be born as a mortal — and teaches that people can have faith and hope in Him even before He comes.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Mosiah 3:5-8 — King Benjamin's angel: the Lord Omnipotent shall come down and dwell in a tabernacle of clay.
• fulfilled by John 1:14 — "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us."

Atonement of Christ

And now, beloved, marvel not that I tell you these things; for why not speak of the atonement of Christ, and attain to a perfect knowledge of him, as to attain to the knowledge of a resurrection and the world to come? Jacob 4:12

Jacob asks why anyone should wonder that he talks about Christ's Atonement. If we can seek knowledge of the resurrection and the world to come, we should seek to know Christ Himself.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to 2 Nephi 25:26 — "we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ."
• alluded to by John 17:3 — "This is life eternal, that they might know thee ... and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

The Stone of Stumbling (the Mark)

But behold, the Jews were a stiffnecked people; and they despised the words of plainness, and killed the prophets, and sought for things that they could not understand. Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall; for God hath taken away his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they cannot understand, because they desired it. And because they desired it God hath done it, that they may stumble. Jacob 4:14

The "mark" the Jews looked beyond is Christ, the plain center of the gospel; verse 15 shows they stumble over Him, the stone. Seeking complicated things, they missed the Savior standing in front of them.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Isaiah 8:14 — The Lord of hosts shall be "for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel."
• alluded to by 1 Peter 2:7-8 — Christ is "a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word."

The Stone / Sure Foundation

And now I, Jacob, am led on by the Spirit unto prophesying; for I perceive by the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that by the stumbling of the Jews they will reject the stone upon which they might build and have safe foundation. Jacob 4:15–16

Jacob prophesies by the Spirit that the Jews will reject Christ, the stone, yet He will become the great, last, and only sure foundation on which they can ever build.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Isaiah 28:16 — "I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation."
• alluded to by Helaman 5:12 — "upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation."
• alluded to by 1 Corinthians 3:11 — "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
• fulfilled by Acts 4:10-12 — Peter: Jesus is the stone set at nought by the builders, become the head of the corner.

Head of the Corner

Head of the corner — the chief cornerstone that sets and holds the whole building

And now, my beloved, how is it possible that these, after having rejected the sure foundation, can ever build upon it, that it may become the head of their corner? Jacob 4:17

Jacob asks how a people who rejected the foundation can later build on it and make it the head of their corner — a question he answers with the allegory of the olive tree, showing the Lord will gather Israel back to Christ.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Psalm 118:22 — "The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner."
• interpreted by Matthew 21:42 — Jesus applies Psalm 118:22 to Himself before the chief priests.
• the same title in Ephesians 2:20 — "Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone."