Presented at
2025 Abraham and His Family Conference
Saturday, May 3 and Saturday, May 10, 2025
Sponsored by The Interpreter Foundation, Brigham Young University Religious Education,
Scripture Central, and FAIR Latter-day Saints
Abraham 3 discusses the stars and planets — including the enigmatic Kolob — before revealing that Abraham was part of the divine council. Some have read Abraham 3 Christologically, arguing that Kolob is identified with Jesus. We hold that this identification is sound and bridges the two halves of the chapter. The other celestial bodies should also be identified with the “noble and great ones.” There are numerous Jewish traditions of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as cosmic rulers identified with or divinely appointed over physical stars/planets. The continuity and prominence of these traditions from the 2nd Temple Era to the Middle Ages is striking. We will show how these traditions should inform our reading of the Book of Abraham, shedding light on the divine council, the Abrahamic covenant, and the use of astronomy to teach divine truths.
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Allen Hansen
Allen Hansen is an independent researcher born and raised in northern Israel. He served a mission in Russia, and married Kateryna from Ukraine. They are parents to a daughter. His research interests include the Bible, ancient, medieval and early modern Jewish literature, Book of Mormon translation, and the meeting points between the Church, Judaism, and the history of Israel.
Spencer Kraus
Spencer Kraus graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, modern Hebrew, and Ancient Near Eastern Studies. When this was written, he worked with Scripture Central as a researcher. He is currently working with Lincoln Blumell on topics relating to early Christianity and the New Testament.
