2 Nephi 33

2 Nephi 33:4 [Nephi’s Record] Speaketh of Jesus, and Persuadeth Them to Believe in Him:

According to Dean Garrett, Nephi wrote to communicate with the heart and the spirit of man, and persuaded his readers “to do good; [because his record] maketh known unto them of their fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe in him, and to endure to the end, which is life eternal” (2 Nephi 33:4). Those who read Nephi’s writings need to decide their effect: whether they encourage them to accept Christ and live a Christ-like life, or rather encourage them to do evil and reject Christ. No reader can miss the Christ-centered emphasis of Nephi’s record. As George Q. Cannon concluded after having read the book for the first time, “An evil-minded man could not have written it, and a good man would not have tried to write it with intent to deceive” (Evans and Cannon 35). ¹

2 Nephi 33:6 I Glory in Plainness; I Glory in Truth; I Glory in My Jesus:

Nephi wrote, “I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus” (2 Nephi 33:6). According to John Tvedtnes, this phrase contains an authentic parallelism (such as is found in typical biblical poetry), wherein the word “truth” parallels the name “Jesus,” making them synonymous. In support of the idea that “truth” is one of the titles of Jesus, we note that he is called “the true Messiah” (2 Nephi 25:18), “the true vine” (1 Nephi 15:15), and “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). The Lord is also called the “God of truth” (Isaiah 65:16, where the Hebrew reads elohe amen; Ether 3:12 [referring to Jesus]).

Now in order to more fully understand the linking of the term “plainness” to “truth” and “Jesus,” let us first turn to the Doctrine & Covenants. In D&C 93:24 we find the following definition of truth: “And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come.” In similar phrasing the Bible speaks of Jesus as he “which is, and which was, and which is to come” (Revelation 1:4, 8; 4:8; cf. John 1:1), thus defining him in the same manner as truth. Indeed, the title rendered in English as Jehovah means “he exists” and is the third person equivalent of the “I am” of Exodus 3:14 (cf. D&C 39:1). Thus it is with interest that we also find Jacob linking “Christ,” “truth” and “plainness” with a “perfect knowledge” of “things as they really are, and of things as they will be”:

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?

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; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls. (Jacob 4:12-13)²

2 Nephi 33:9 And . . . and . . . and . . . and (Polysyndeton–The Excessive Use of the Conjunction “And”):

Richardson, Richardson and Bentley note that the excessive use of the monotonous conjunction “and” in the Book of Mormon seems awkward and somewhat annoying to the western reader, however, it follows perfect Hebrew syntax. The word “and” often stands before each word (or phrase) in a series; possibly because there was no punctuation in the Hebrew language.

Notice the structure of 2 Nephi 33:9-10:

     I also have charity for the Gentiles. But behold, for none of these can I hope except they shall be reconciled unto Christ,

     and enter into the narrow gate,

     and walk in the strait path which leads to life,

     and continue in the path until the end of the day of probation.

     And now, my beloved brethren,

     and also Jew,

     and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words,

     and believe in Christ;

     and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ.

     And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ,

     and he hath given them unto me;

     and they teach all men that they should do good.

     And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye

Other uses of polysyndeton in the Book of Mormon are found in 1 Nephi 2:4; Enos 1:21; Alma 1:29; 7:27; 8:21-23; 9:21; Helaman 3:14; 3 Nephi 4:7; 11:19-20; 17:13-25; 4 Nephi 1:5-7; Mormon 8:37 and Ether 9:17-27. ³

2 Nephi 33:9 Walk in the Strait Path Which Leads to Life:

See the commentary on Moroni 10:8-17