"WRITTEN IN MY HEART"

Attributed to Valentinde Boulogne (1591-1632)

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Reading 2 Corinthians and Galatians.

It is believed Paul wrote 2 Corinthians from Macedonia about AD 57
(New Testament Student Manual, pp.392, 401)

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2 Corinthians 3:1–3. Written “in Fleshy Tables of the Heart”

Temple of Apollo at Corinth, built around 600 BC. This would have been one of the most imposing structures
in Corinth in Paul's day. Temples and shrines housing images of pagan deities were prevalent throughout the
Greco-Roman world.   (New Testament Student Manual, p. 362)

An ancient Roman fountain at Corinth 

Ruins of Ancient Corinth (New Testament Student Manual, p. 409)

In addition to 2 Corinthians 3:1–3, read Mosiah 12:27; 13:11; Jeremiah 31:33; 1 Nephi 19:23. Explain in writing your answers to the following questions:
 

Moses the LawGiver, by Ted Henninger, (New Testament Student Manual, p.395)

·      What does it mean to have a doctrine or a commandment written “in fleshy tables of the heart”?

This verse compares my heart (and therefore my desires, intents, and actions) to the tablets of stone containing the 10 commandments that God gave to Moses. To have a doctrine or commandment written “in fleshy tables of the hearts” means I have internalized it and it has become part of my every day thoughts and desires. I know it. It is part of me. It influences my choices to align with the will of God. 

·      How do others see what is written in our hearts?

Others will readily be able to discern what is written in my heart by my example and actions: the things I do and the things I say.

St. Paul preaching at Athens, Raphael, 1515-1516, London Victoria and Albert Museum

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·      According to John 7:17 and Moroni 7:48, what are two ways to have a commandment or doctrine of the Church written on the fleshy tables of our hearts? 

John 7:17  ”If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”

When we are obedient to the doctrine or commandment, and apply it in our lives, we will know it is true. For example if I want to know if paying tithing is a true doctrine, if I will pay tithing as specified, I will come to understand the blessing of it’s promises and the Holy Ghost will be able to testify to my heart and mind about it.

From the New Testament Student Manual (p.227), we read that “President James E. Faust (1920–2007) of the First Presidency taught that continued obedience to the Lord leads to knowledge of the truth and to freedom:

‘Obedience leads to true freedom. The more we obey revealed truth, the more we become liberated. … Freedom and liberty are precious gifts that come to us when we are obedient to the laws of God and the whisperings of the Spirit. … Obedience to [principles of revealed truth] (sic) makes us truly free to reach the potential and the glory which our Heavenly Father has in store for us’ (‘Obedience: The Path to Freedom,’ Ensign, May 1999, 45, 47).” 

Moroni 7:48, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.”

When we sincerely pray and ask God, our Father, for understanding of a principle or doctrine he will grant the blessing we ask for. We can come to know, through his spirit’s witness to our own spirit, an absolute assurance that of the veracity of that principle or doctrine. God does hear and answer prayer.

See commentary for 2 Corinthians 3:6-17 and Jeremiah below.

Paul preaching at Athens, Tapestry Vatican Museum

·      What is a doctrine that is written on the fleshy tables of your heart? What did you do to get it there?

I know that God is real, and is our loving Father in Heaven. Although I had been taught by faithful parents about gospel truths, for many years I did not adhere to the lifestyle or belief system they did. Soon after the birth of my first child, while pondering what I would teach my child about God, I gained a personal and sacred witness of the absolute reality of a supreme being, and that Jesus Christ is His son. I received that witness like a gift. I did not struggle for it, but to keep it I must be accountable for it every moment through obedience to His commandments, and the allegiance I give to Him, the prophets, and the quiet whispering . I know, and I know that God knows I know. I can not deny that I know. Our family have a joke about being certain of things that twists the words ‘absolute’ and ‘positive’ to become silly words that mean we know something. A few years ago a daughter asked me to begin a blog to share testimonies and memories. A testimony of knowing is titled ‘Abstively Posolutely.’ I testify of Jesus Christ, and how we can trust Him and Heavenly Father in ‘I Believe.’ My personal blog has become an easy way to share the feelings of my heart with my posterity (and others), even when they are far away.

 

Papyrus 46, one of the oldest New Testament papyri, showing 2 Cor 11:33-12:9

2 Corinthians 3:1–3,

1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?

 2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

 3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

Statue of the Apostle Paul, by Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen
(New Testament Student Manual, p.405)

Mosiah 12:27; Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore, ye have not been wise. Therefore, what teach ye this people?

Mosiah 13:11;  And now I read unto you the remainder of the commandments of God, for I perceive that they are not written in your hearts; I perceive that ye have studied and taught iniquity the most part of your lives.

Jeremiah 31:33;   But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

1 Nephi 19:23 And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.

New Testament Student Manual (p. 396):

The Greek word diathēkēs, translated in 2 Corinthians 3:6 and 14 as “testament,” carries the primary meaning of “covenant.” Thus, when Paul used this word, he was not referring specifically to the New Testament but to the new covenant of the gospel of Jesus Christ. When Paul referred to “the reading of the old testament” (2 Corinthians 3:14), he was referring to the old covenant—the Mosaic law contained in the pages of what Christians call the Old Testament.

When Paul taught that the new covenant would be written on people’s hearts (see 2 Corinthians 3:3), he was pointing to the fulfillment of a prophecy of Jeremiah: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel. … I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people” (Jeremiah 31:31, 33).

Paul also drew upon Old Testament imagery when discussing a “veil” over Moses’s face and a “veil” over the hearts of the people when they read from the scriptures (2 Corinthians 3:13–16; see also Exodus 34:29–35). Paul was teaching that in his day, Israel was “blinded” in its understanding of the law of Moses (2 Corinthians 3:14; see also Romans 11:7, 25).

Joseph Smith Translation, 2 Corinthians 3:16 states that when the “heart [of the children of Israel] shall turn to the Lord, the veil [of misunderstanding] shall be taken away.” This is true of everyone whose heart turns to the Lord, for the Spirit enables them to understand the scriptures and the gospel in fulness (see 2 Corinthians 3:16–17; Joseph Smith—History 1:73–74).