Reinforcing Jacob 4 with Jacob 7

After having found the parallels between Jacob 4 and Jacob 7 that I posted about recently, I started finding many more. I just have a hard time believing these came about by accident. Two seemingly unrelated chapters, but yet connected in so many ways. I'll just list what I found and you can judge for yourselves. To me, this is mind-blowing.

Searching and believing the scriptures

Jacob 4:6

Wherefore, we search the prophets

Jacob 7:23

they searched the scriptures

Those are just two examples, but both chapters focus on the prophets and the scriptures. Jacob 4 starts out with Jacob telling about the plates and his writings. He quotes the scriptures (Psalm 118) in verse 16 ("according to the scriptures"). The whole point of this connection seems to be that the scriptures testify of Christ. Jacob 4:4-5

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. Behold, they believed in Christ

Compare with the story of Sherem in Jacob 7:10-11

And I said unto him: Believest thou the scriptures? And he said, Yea. And I said unto him: Then ye do not understand them; for they truly testify of Christ. Behold, I say unto you that none of the prophets have written, nor prophesied, save they have spoken concerning this Christ. 

and 7:19

I have lied unto God; for I denied the Christ, and said that I believed the scriptures; and they truly testify of him.

 Labor diligently - hearts

Compare verse 3 in both of these chapters

3 Now in this thing we do rejoice; and we labor diligently to engraven these words upon plates, hoping that our beloved brethren and our children will receive them with thankful hearts (Jacob 4)

3 And he labored diligently that he might lead away the hearts of the people, insomuch that he did lead away many hearts (Jacob 7)

Another interesting parallel contrasting Jacob and Sherem.

The Jews looking beyond the mark

In Jacob 4, Jacob speaks about the Jews. In verse 14, he accuses them of killing the prophets (who testified of Christ) and looking beyond the mark. Sherem on the other hand speaks of Jacob and the Nephites and accuses them:

And ye have led away much of this people that they pervert the right way of God, and keep not the law of Moses which is the right way; and convert the law of Moses into the worship of a being which ye say shall come many hundred years hence (Jacob 7:7)

In other words, Sherem claims they should fix their eyes on the Law of Moses and that looking forward to Christ was "looking beyond the mark". But he is wrong. The stone (Christ) that Jacob talks about in chapter 4, that will be a stumbling stone for the Jews, will ultimately be a sure foundation and a corner stone.

With these parallels, it's as if Jacob sets up an interesting theological debate between the two, even though Sherem was not around in Jacob 4.

Looking forward to Christ

This might overlap a bit with the one about scriptures and the Jews/Law of Moses, but another illustration of the contrast between Jacob and Sherem is found here

we knew of Christ and had a hope of his glory (Jacob 4:4)

declare unto them that there should be no Christ (Jacob 7:2)

Knowing of things to come

Another major theme in both of these chapters is about the possibility to know anything about the future, particularly concerning the coming of Christ. In Jacob 4, Jacob argues that prophecy is real and the spirit can witness of things pertaining to the future. In verses 12-13

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? Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him prophesy to the understanding of men; for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be

In Jacob 7, Sherem argues the opposite in verse 7

...a being which ye say shall come many hundred years hence. And now behold, I, Sherem, declare unto you that this is blasphemy; for no man knoweth of such things; for he cannot tell of things to come.

Power

Another major theme in both of these chapters is power. It's a word repeated 13 times in total in these two chapters. In Jacob 4, it is all about God being the ultimate source of power.

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)

For behold, by the power of his word man came upon the face of the earth, which earth was created by the power of his word (Jacob 4:9)

In Jacob 7, Sherem is using his power that comes from a different source

he could use much flattery, and much power of speech, according to the power of the devil. (Jacob 7:4)

Later, he challenges the source of Jacob's power

13 And it came to pass that he said unto me: Show me a sign by this power of the Holy Ghost, in the which ye know so much.

14 And I said unto him: What am I that I should tempt God to show unto thee a sign in the thing which thou knowest to be true? Yet thou wilt deny it, because thou art of the devil. Nevertheless, not my will be done; but if God shall smite thee, let that be a sign unto thee that he has power, both in heaven and in earth; and also, that Christ shall come. And thy will, O Lord, be done, and not mine.

15 And it came to pass that when I, Jacob, had spoken these words, the power of the Lord came upon him, insomuch that he fell to the earth. And it came to pass that he was nourished for the space of many days.

 His failed challenge leads him to confess in verses 17-18

he spake plainly unto them and denied the things which he had taught them, and confessed the Christ, and the power of the Holy Ghost, and the ministering of angels. And he spake plainly unto them, that he had been deceived by the power of the devil.

The topic of power doesn't even end there. After the people have gathered and witnessed the death of Sherem (the ultimate proof that his source of power was nothing compared to Jacob's), we read the following in verse 21

And when the multitude had witnessed that he spake these things as he was about to give up the ghost, they were astonished exceedingly; insomuch that the power of God came down upon them, and they were overcome that they fell to the earth.

Unshaken faith

Just in case you missed the previous post about this, here is a repetition of the first parallel I found.

Compare Jacob 4:6

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

with Jacob 7:5

And he had hope to shake me from the faith, notwithstanding the many revelations and the many things which I had seen concerning these things; for I truly had seen angels, and they had ministered unto me. And also, I had heard the voice of the Lord speaking unto me in very word, from time to time; wherefore, I could not be shaken.

...followed by Jacob commanding and Sherem overcome by God's power.

Conclusion

I can't bring myself to believe that all these parallels are coincidental. This is brilliant authorship by Jacob. He brings up a lot of important doctrinal points in chapter 4 about the coming of Christ, the Jews, prophecy, power, scriptures, labor and unshaken faith. In chapter 7, Sherem comes along and challenges every single point. Jacob refutes them verbally, followed by a demonstration of God's power on him physically. By telling the story about Sherem, Jacob verifies and reinforces all the points he brought up in chapter 4.