As Iron Sharpens Iron: Listening to the Various Voices of Scripture

Our scripture study and reading often assume that the prophetic figures within the texts are in complete agreement with each other. Because of this we can fail to recognize that those authors and personalities frequently have different—and sometimes competing—views on some of the most important doctrines of the Gospel, including the nature of God, the roles of scripture and prophecy, and the Atonement.

In this unique volume, fictionalized dialogues between the various voices of scripture illustrate how these differences and disagreements are not flaws of the texts but are rather essential features of the canon. These creative dialogues include Abraham and Job debating the utility of suffering and our submission to God, Alma and Abinidi disagreeing on the place of justice in the Atonement, and the authors Mark and Luke discussing the role of women in Jesus’s ministry. It is by examining and embracing the different perspectives within the canon that readers are able to discover just how rich and invigorating the scriptures can be. The dialogues within this volume show how just as “iron sharpeneth iron,” so can we sharpen our own thoughts and beliefs as we engage not just the various voices in the scriptures but also the various voices within our community (Proverbs 27:17).


Praise for As Iron Sharpens Iron:

“A model for a new, Jewish-informed way of reading scriptures with rich potential for Latter-day Saint audiences. One that embraces complexity rather than fleeing from it; an approach that values nuance and richness over simplicity and closure. Highly recommended.” — Fiona Givens, co-author of The Crucible of Doubt: Reflections On the Quest for Faith and The God Who Weeps: How Mormonism Makes Sense of Life


Contributors to the Volume:
Julie M. Smith - Editor, Introduction, “Mark and Luke: Women’s Roles”
Michael Austin - “Abraham and Job: Suffering”
Mark T. Decker - “Jacob and Joseph Smith: Polygamy”
Nicholas J. Frederick - “John the Evangelist and John the Revelator: The Divinity of Jesus”
Heather Hardy - “Joseph and Nephi: Rivalry and Reconciliation”
Ronan James Head - “Job and John: The Satans”
James D. Holt - “Alma and Abinadi: The Worth of Souls”
Jason A. Kerr - “Tamar and David: Personal Morality”
Jared Ludlow - “Moses and Paul: The Law”
Steven L. Peck - “Abraham and Thomas: Doubt”
Benjamin Peters and John Durham Peters - “Master and Disciple: Communication”
Joseph M. Spencer - “Amulek and Alma: Atonement”
Walter E. A. van Beek - “Balaam and Daniel: Prophecy,” “Solomon and Josiah: Writing History,” “Jeremiah and Jonah: Prophets”
Miranda Wilcox - “Hannah and Sariah: Complaint”
Walker Wright - “Mormon and Israel: Wealth”


About the Editor:


Julie M. Smith graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a BA in English and from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA, with an MA in Biblical Studies. She is the author of Search, Ponder, and Pray: A Guide to the Gospels and is on the executive board of the Mormon Theology Seminar and the steering committee of the BYU New Testament Commentary series, for which she is writing the volume on the Gospel of Mark. She also writes for Times & Seasons.