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Question: How did the authors of the Bible view the earth and the universe?: Difference between revisions
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==Question== | =={{Question label}}== | ||
What can you tell me about how Bible authors viewed the earth and the universe? | What can you tell me about how Bible authors viewed the earth and the universe? | ||
==Answer== | =={{Answer label}}== | ||
The standard reference work, the ''Anchor Bible Dictionary'' writes: | The standard reference work, the ''Anchor Bible Dictionary'' writes: | ||
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: The curving, solid structure which arches over the realm of humanity is sometimes called a "disk" or "vault" (hug; {{b||Isaiah|40|22}}, {{b||Proverbs|8|27}}). That which allows the heavenly abyss to water the earth are occasional interruptions in this solid structure, openings called variously windows, doors, or channels. In some texts, that which suspends the habitable earth above the underworld's waters (see {{b|1|Samuel|2|8}} for another reference to these rivers) are pillars or some such foundational structures. These seem envisioned in {{b||Job|38|4-5}}; {{B||Psalms|24|2}}; 104:5; {{b||Proverbs|8|29}}, and elsewhere. Finally, the realm beneath the arena of human activity is not only imagined as one of watery chaos but also given the specific designation "Sheol" (''she'ol''), usually translated "the underworld." In the different elaborations upon just what one should imagine Sheol as including, again there is little consistency. At times, Sheol is personified, with a belly or womb and a mouth ({{b||Jonah|2|3}}-Eng 2:2); {{b||Proverbs|1|23}}; {{B||Proverbs|30|16}}; and {{B||Psalms|141|7}}), while at others Sheol is rather more architecturally portrayed ({{b||Isaiah|38|10}}; {{b||Job|7|9-10}}; {{b||Job|14|20-22}}; {{b||Job|17|13}}; {{b||Job|18|17-18}}), as a dark and forgetful land or city (Stadlmann 1970: 1666-76).{{ref|anchor1}} | : The curving, solid structure which arches over the realm of humanity is sometimes called a "disk" or "vault" (hug; {{b||Isaiah|40|22}}, {{b||Proverbs|8|27}}). That which allows the heavenly abyss to water the earth are occasional interruptions in this solid structure, openings called variously windows, doors, or channels. In some texts, that which suspends the habitable earth above the underworld's waters (see {{b|1|Samuel|2|8}} for another reference to these rivers) are pillars or some such foundational structures. These seem envisioned in {{b||Job|38|4-5}}; {{B||Psalms|24|2}}; 104:5; {{b||Proverbs|8|29}}, and elsewhere. Finally, the realm beneath the arena of human activity is not only imagined as one of watery chaos but also given the specific designation "Sheol" (''she'ol''), usually translated "the underworld." In the different elaborations upon just what one should imagine Sheol as including, again there is little consistency. At times, Sheol is personified, with a belly or womb and a mouth ({{b||Jonah|2|3}}-Eng 2:2); {{b||Proverbs|1|23}}; {{B||Proverbs|30|16}}; and {{B||Psalms|141|7}}), while at others Sheol is rather more architecturally portrayed ({{b||Isaiah|38|10}}; {{b||Job|7|9-10}}; {{b||Job|14|20-22}}; {{b||Job|17|13}}; {{b||Job|18|17-18}}), as a dark and forgetful land or city (Stadlmann 1970: 1666-76).{{ref|anchor1}} | ||
==Endnotes== | =={{Endnotes label}}== | ||
#{{note|anchor1}} ''Anchor Bible Dictionary'', at 1:1167-68, s.v. "Cosmogony, Cosmology." | #{{note|anchor1}} ''Anchor Bible Dictionary'', at 1:1167-68, s.v. "Cosmogony, Cosmology." | ||
==Further reading== | =={{Further reading label}}== | ||
===FAIR wiki articles=== | ==={{FAIR wiki articles label}}=== | ||
{{BibleWiki}} | {{BibleWiki}} | ||
===FAIR web site=== | ==={{FAIR web site label}}=== | ||
{{BibleFAIR}} | {{BibleFAIR}} | ||
===External links=== | ==={{External links label}}=== | ||
*'''Bible cosmology illustrations:''' | *'''Bible cosmology illustrations:''' | ||
**[http://www.class.uidaho.edu/ngier/gre13.htm The Three-Story Universe] | **[http://www.class.uidaho.edu/ngier/gre13.htm The Three-Story Universe] | ||
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{{BibleLinks}} | {{BibleLinks}} | ||
===Printed material=== | ==={{Printed material label}}=== | ||
{{BiblePrint}} | {{BiblePrint}} | ||
[[fr:Bible/Cosmology]] | [[fr:Bible/Cosmology]] | ||
Revision as of 07:04, 4 May 2010
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This page is based on an answer to a question submitted to the FAIR web site, or a frequently asked question.
==
Questions
==
What can you tell me about how Bible authors viewed the earth and the universe?
Answer
The standard reference work, the Anchor Bible Dictionary writes:
- The variety in date, origin, and scope of the Hebrew Bible's cosmological materials means that achieving a single, uniform picture of the physical universe is hardly possible. Still, sufficient overlap does obtain between the many accounts of the universe, however these may vary in their details, to allow for a few generalizations. The earth on which humanity dwells is seen as a round, solid object, perhaps a disk, floating upon a limitless expanse of water. Paralleling this lower body of water is a second, similarly limitless, above, from which water descends in the form of rain through holes and channels piercing the heavenly reservoir. The moon, sun, and other luminaries are fixed in a curved structure which arches over the earth. This structure is the familiar "firmament" (raqiya) of the priestly account, perhaps envisioned as a solid but very thin substance on the analogy of beaten and stretched metal. Though some texts appear to convey a picture of a four-storied universe (Job 11:8-9 or Psalms 139:8-9), the great majority of biblical texts assume the three-storied universe so clearly assumed in other, ancient traditions. Thus, the Decalog's prohibition of images specifies "heaven above," "earth below," and "water under the earth" as the possible models for any such forbidden images (Exodus 20:4). If we understand the common term "earth" (erets) as designating at times the "underworld," then the combined references in Psalms 77:19 to heaven, the "world" (tebel), and the "earth" ('erets) are another appeal to the universe as a three-storied structure (for other texts where 'erets may refer to the underworld, see Stadelmann 1970: 128, n. 678). Clearer reference still to the same structure is to be found in Psalms 115:15-17, where we find grouped together "the heaven of heavens," "the earth," and the realm of "the dead" (cf. Psalms 33:6-8 snf Proverbs 8:27-29).
- The curving, solid structure which arches over the realm of humanity is sometimes called a "disk" or "vault" (hug; Isaiah 40:22, Proverbs 8:27). That which allows the heavenly abyss to water the earth are occasional interruptions in this solid structure, openings called variously windows, doors, or channels. In some texts, that which suspends the habitable earth above the underworld's waters (see 1 Samuel 2:8 for another reference to these rivers) are pillars or some such foundational structures. These seem envisioned in Job 38:4-5; Psalms 24:2; 104:5; Proverbs 8:29, and elsewhere. Finally, the realm beneath the arena of human activity is not only imagined as one of watery chaos but also given the specific designation "Sheol" (she'ol), usually translated "the underworld." In the different elaborations upon just what one should imagine Sheol as including, again there is little consistency. At times, Sheol is personified, with a belly or womb and a mouth (Jonah 2:3-Eng 2:2); Proverbs 1:23; Proverbs 30:16; and Psalms 141:7), while at others Sheol is rather more architecturally portrayed (Isaiah 38:10; Job 7:9-10; Job 14:20-22; Job 17:13; Job 18:17-18), as a dark and forgetful land or city (Stadlmann 1970: 1666-76).[1]
==
Notes (click to expand)
==
- [note] Anchor Bible Dictionary, at 1:1167-68, s.v. "Cosmogony, Cosmology."
Further reading
FairMormon Answers articles
FairMormon web site
| FAIR Holy Bible materials |
- John A. Tvedtnes, "The Bible Code and Biblical Inerrancy," (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR) FAIR link
External links
- Bible cosmology illustrations:
| On-line Holy Bible materials |
- Alma Allred, "Coin of the Realm: Beware of Specious Specie (Review of: "Scripture," In The Counterfeit Gospel of Mormonism)," FARMS Review of Books 12/1 (2000): 137–174. off-site
- Danel W. Bachman, "The Other Side of the Coin: A Source Review of Norman Geisler's Chapter (Review of: "Scripture," In The Counterfeit Gospel of Mormonism)," FARMS Review of Books 12/1 (2000): 175–214. off-site
- John Gee, "The Old Testament as Reliable History, Review of On the Reliability of the Old Testament by Kenneth A. Kitchen," FARMS Review 18/1 (2006): 425–430. off-site wiki
- William J. Hamblin and Daniel C. Peterson, "The Evangelical Is Our Brother (Review of How Wide the Divide? A Mormon and an Evangelical in Conversation)," FARMS Review of Books 11/2 (1999): 178–209. off-site
- Blake T. Ostler, "Bridging the Gulf (Review of How Wide the Divide? A Mormon and an Evangelical in Conversation)," FARMS Review of Books 11/2 (1999): 103–177. off-site
- Daniel C. Peterson and Stephen D. Ricks, "Comparing LDS Beliefs with First-Century Christianity, (Provo, Utah: FARMS, no date). off-site
- Stephen E. Robinson, Are Mormons Christians? (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Company, 1993). off-site FAIR linkoff-site
- John A. Tvedtnes and Matthew Roper, "'A Bible! A Bible!' The Canon and Ongoing Revelation (Review of Luke P. Wilson's "Lost Books & Latter-Day Revelation: A Response to Mormon Views of the New Testament Canon")off-site
Printed material
| Holy Bible print materials |
- Alan Denison & D.L. Barksdale, Guess Who Wants To Have You For Lunch?, 2nd edition, (Redding, California: FAIR, 2002[1999]), 37–57. ISBN 1893036057. FAIR link
- Emanuel Tov, Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible, 2nd Rev edition (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress Publishers, 2001[1999]), 1. ISBN {{{isbn}}}.
- Leon Vaganay and Christian-Bernard Amphoux, An Introduction to New Testament Criticism, 2nd ed. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991), 1. ISBN {{{isbn}}}.