By Sam Shamoun (Original article 1, 2, 3)
As we were browsing through the net, we discovered the following article on a Muslim site trying to establish the point that the Holy Bible teaches a flat earth. We felt that it was our duty as Christians to expose some of the shallow argumentation and poor scholarship contained throughout the article. The article is attributed to one Robert J. Schadewald and can be found in its entirety at: this site.
In this article, we will only be quoting the relevant portions and respond to them.
1. Misunderstanding the Term “Earth” (Eretz) in Scripture
Author:
Except among Biblical inerrantists, it is generally agreed that the Bible describes an immovable earth. At the 1984 National Bible-Science Conference in Cleveland, geocentrist James N. Hanson told me there are hundreds of scriptures that suggest the earth is immovable. I suspect some must be a bit vague, but here are a few obvious texts:
I Chronicles 16:30: “He has fixed the earth firm, immovable.”
Psalm 93:1: “Thou hast fixed the earth immovable and firm…”
Psalm 96:10: “He has fixed the earth firm, immovable…”
Psalm 104:5: “Thou didst fix the earth on its foundation so that it never can be shaken.”
Isaiah 45:18: “…who made the earth and fashioned it, and himself fixed it fast…”
Suffice to say that the earth envisioned by flat-earthers is as immovable as any geocentrist could desire. Most (perhaps all) scriptures commonly cited by geocentrists have also been cited by flat-earthers. The flat-earth view is geocentricity with further restrictions.
Like geocentrists, flat-earth advocates often give long lists of texts. Samuel Birley Rowbotham, founder of the modern flat-earth movement, cited 76 scriptures in the last chapter of his monumental second edition of Earth not a Globe. Apostle Anton Darms, assistant to the Reverend Wilbur Glenn Voliva, America’s best known flat-earther, compiled 50 questions about the creation and the shape of the earth, bolstering his answers with up to 20 scriptures each. Rather than presenting an exhaustive compendium of flat-earth scriptures, I focus on those which seem to me the strongest….
Response:
Actually, what the author and those he sites as his authorities have failed to do is to take into consideration that the Hebrew term for earth, eretz, does not always refer to the earth as a globe per se. The term has different meanings in different contexts. Hence, the author has committed a word fallacy, also known as the etymological fallacy, attributing the root meaning to a word as opposed to allowing the context to define what the word means.
For instance, the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew lexicon defines eretz as:
Strong’s No. 776 : ‘erets {eh’-rets}
Word Usage in KJV:
land 1543, earth 712, country 140, ground 98, world 4, way 3, common 1, field 1, nations 1, wilderness 1;
Definition(s)
1) land, earth
a) earth
1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)
2) earth (as opposed to heaven)
3) earth (inhabitants)
b) land
1) country, territory
2) district, region
3) tribal territory
4) piece of ground
5) land of Canaan, Israel
6) inhabitants of land
7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world
8) city (-state)
c) ground, surface of the earth
1) ground
2) soil
d) (in phrases)
1) people of the land
2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)
3) level or plain country
4) land of the living
5) end(s) of the earth
e) (almost wholly late in usage)
1) lands, countries
a) often in contrast to Canaan
(Source: Blue Letter Bible)
Examples of the different ways the Bible uses the term include:
“And God said let the waters under heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let dry land (eretz) appear; and it was so. And called the dry land (eretz) Earth (eretz); and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas and God saw that it was goo.” Genesis 1:9-10 KJV
The Holy Bible clearly states that God specifically named the dry land “earth”. This strongly implies that when a Bible writer speaks of the earth’s foundations or that the earth is fixed it does not necessarily imply that the global structure of the earth is in view. As noted Christian Scientist Dr. Henry Morris states in his commentary on Psalm 104:5, a verse cited by the author above:
“foundations of the earth. The earth’s ‘matter,’ the ‘dust of the earth’ or its physical elements, was created on the first day of the creation week, evidently suspended in the pervasive waters. The earth’s foundations, solid, continental blocks of material, were not laid until the third day, rising out of the waters. Once formed, this planet earth was destined to continue forever.” (Morris, The Defenders Study Bible-King James Version [Word Publishing, Grand Rapids MI, 1995], p. 649)
Hence, we see that the verses which the author sites in his article do not necessarily refer to the planet as being a fixed object, but rather to the earth’s physical elements which cannot be shaken except by God Almighty himself. Another time where eretz is used to refer to something other than the globe is Genesis 38:9:
“And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground (eretz), lest that he should give seed to his brother.” KJV
2. Misinterpretation of Biblical Cosmology Consistency
Author:
The Bible is a composite work, so there is no a priori reason why the cosmology assumed by its various writers should be relatively consistent, but it is. The Bible is, from Genesis to Revelation, a flat-earth book.
Response:
We agree in principle that the Bible writers did not necessarily need to hold to a consistent view of the earth, but in fact they did. And it was not a flat-earth, as we will demonstrate shortly.
3. The Firmament (Raqiya) and Its True Meaning
The Order of Creation
The Genesis creation story provides the first key to the Hebrew cosmology. The order of creation makes no sense from a conventional perspective but is perfectly logical from a flat-earth viewpoint. The earth was created on the first day, and it was “without form and void (Genesis 1:2).” On the second day, a vault, the “firmament” of the King James version, was created to divide the waters, some being above and some below the vault. Only on the fourth day were the sun, moon, and stars created,and they were placed “in” (not “above”) the vault.
Response:
The author is operating on several fallacies. He first assumes that the earth is flat and then proceeds to interpret every passage in light of his presupposition. Secondly, he again commits the word-fallacy since he assumes that the word “firmament” can only mean a vault above the earth. We will shortly demonstrate the error in this assertion. Finally, the author must assume that the term “heavens” refers to the sky above as opposed to the universe. The author presupposes that the biblical writers believed that the sky was a metal dome, and therefore could not have believed that the sun and moon are located “in” space. We will shortly prove that the term heavens, shamayim, does not refer to a metal dome above the earth but that in certain contexts it can only refer to the universe.
The Vault of Heaven
The vault of heaven is a crucial concept. The word “firmament” appears in the King James version of the Old Testament 17 times, and in each case it is translated from the Hebrew word raqiya, which meant the visible vault of the sky. The word raqiya comes from riqqua, meaning “beaten out.” In ancient times, brass objects were either cast in the form required or beaten into shape on an anvil. A good craftsman could beat a lump of cast brass into a thin bowl. Thus, Elihu asks Job, “Can you beat out (raqa) the vault of the skies, as he does, hard as a mirror of cast metal (Job 37:18)?”
Elihu’s question shows that the Hebrews considered the vault of heaven a solid, physical object. Such a large dome would be a tremendous feat of engineering.
Response:
The author refuses to allow the possibility that words can have different meanings. Instead, he insists on attributing the root meaning to every word in the Holy Bible. Noted Christian apologists Norm Geisler and Thomas Howe comment on Job 37:18:
“It is true that the origin of the Hebrew word raqia meant a solid object. However, meaning is not determined by origin (etymology), but by usage. Originally, the English word ‘board’ referred to a wooden plank. But when we speak of a church board member, the word no longer has that meaning. When used of the atmosphere above the earth, “firmament” clearly does not mean something solid. This is evident for several reasons. First, the related word raqa (beat out, spread out) is correctly rendered “expanse” by many recent translations. Just as metal spreads out when beaten (cf. Ex. 39:3; Isa. 40:19), so the firmament is a thinned out area.
“Second the root meaning ‘spread out’ can be used independently of “beat out”, as it is in several passages (cf. Ps. 136:6; Isa. 42:5; 44:24). Isaiah wrote, ‘So says Jehovah God, He who created the heavens and stretched them out, spreading out the earth and its offspring (Isa. 42:5, MKJV). This same verb is used of extending curtains or tents in which to dwell, which would make no sense if there was no empty space there in which to live. Isaiah, for example, spoke of the Lord ‘who sits on the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in…’
“Third, the Bible speaks of rain falling through the sky (Job 36:27-28). But this makes no sense if the sky is a metal dome. Nowhere does the Bible refer to little holes in a metal dome through which the drops fall. It does speak figuratively of the ‘windows of heaven’ opening for the Flood (Gen. 7:11). But this should probably not be taken any more literally than our idiom, ‘It is raining cats and dogs.’
“Fourth, the Genesis creation account speaks of birds that ‘fly above the earth across the face of the firmament’ (Gen. 1:20). But this would be impossible if the sky was solid. Thus, it is more appropriate to translate raqia by the word ‘expanse’ (as the NASB and NIV do). And in this sense there is no conflict with the concept of space in modern science.
“Fifth, even taken literally, Job’s statement (37:18) does not affirm that the ‘skies’ are a ‘metal mirror,’ but simply that they are ‘as [like] a mirror. In other words, it is not a comparison that need to be taken literally, any more than God is really a ‘strong tower’ (cf. Prov. 18:10). Further, the point of comparison in Job is not the solidity of the ‘skies’ and mirror, but their durability (cf. word ‘strong’ [chazaq]; v. 18). So, when all is considered, there is no evidence that the Bible affirms that the firmament of the sky is a metallic dome. And thus there is no conflict with modern science.” (Geisler & Howe, When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook On Bible Difficulties [Victor Books, USA 1992], pp. 229-230)
Since the author in his paper alludes to his usage of Strong’s concordance, let us see how Strong’s defines the term used for strong in Job 37:18, chazaq:
Strongs’ No. 2389 : chazaq {khaw-zawk’} qz’j
Word Usage in KJV:
strong 26, mighty 20, sore 3, stronger 2, harder 1, hottest 1, impudent 1, loud 1, stiffhearted 1
Definition(s)
1) strong, stout, mighty
a) strong
1) severe, sharp, hot
2) firm, hard
b) a strong one (subst)
(Source: Blue Letter Bible)
Hence, Geisler & Howe were correct when stating that the term can mean hard or firm and therefore refers to the heavens enduring throughout the ages much like a metal mirror endures. The comparison is on durability, not solidity.
4. The Biblical “Heavens”: Misinterpreting Shamayim and Ignoring Context
Author:
The Hebrews (and supposedly Yahweh Himself) considered it exactly that, and this point is hammered home by five scriptures:
Job 9:8, “…who by himself spread out the heavens (shamayim)…”
Psalm 19:1, “The heavens (shamayim) tell out the glory of God, the vault of heaven (raqiya) reveals his handiwork.”
Psalm 102:25, “…the heavens (shamayim) were thy handiwork.”
Isaiah 45:12, “I, with my own hands, stretched out the heavens (shamayim) and caused all their host to shine…”
Isaiah 48:13, “…with my right hand I formed the expanse of the sky (shamayim)…”
If these verses are about a mere illusion of a vault, they are surely much ado about nothing. Shamayim comes from shameh, a root meaning to be lofty. It literally means the sky. Other passages complete the picture of the sky as a lofty, physical dome.
Response:
It is not the Hebrews or Yahweh, but the author who presupposes that the Holy Bible teaches that the sky is a metal vault. Once again the author attributes the root meaning to the word as opposed to seeing how the word is used in different contexts. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew lexicon gives several different definitions for the word shamayim:
Strongs’ No. 8064 : shamayim {shaw-mah’-yim dual of an unused singular shameh}
Word Origin:
From an unused root meaning to be lofty. A noun masculine
Word Usage in KJV:
heaven 398, air 21, astrologers + # 1895 1
Definition(s)
1) heaven, heavens, sky
a) visible heavens, sky
1) as abode of the stars
2) as the visible universe, the sky, atmosphere, etc
b) Heaven (as the abode of God)
(Source: Blue Letter Bible)
Amazingly, the author claims to have consulted Strong’s for the meaning of the words. Yet, he seemingly refuses to accept or at least does not acknowledge the fact that the very source he uses affirms the diversity in meanings of the specific words he alludes to throughout his paper, such as shamayim.
Furthermore, the Holy Bible does not teach that the heavens above are a metal dome since it clearly states that there are a plurality of heavens:
`Lo, to Jehovah thy God [are] the heavens and the heavens of the heavens, the earth and all that [is] in it;” Deuteronomy 10:14 Young’s Literal Translation
But, is it true? — God dwelleth on the earth! lo, the heavens, and the heavens of the heavens do not contain Thee, how much less this house which I have builded! 1 Kings 8:27 YLT
Both Moses and Solomon affirm that the vastness of the heavens and the heaven of heavens cannot contain the presence of God who created them. This proves that these writers had no concept of heaven being a metallic dome above the earth.
Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago- whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows – such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man — whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 2 Corinthians 12:1-4
The apostle Paul clearly indicates that there are at least three heavens and that the third heaven is the spiritual abode of God. Presumably, the first would be the sky with the second being the universe above.
Finally, scientists tell us that the universe is expanding. Hence, the biblical statements that God stretches out the heavens are not unscientific, but are in complete agreement with what today’s scientists claim about the expansion of the universe! So much for the author’s arguments on the Bible’s supposed unscientific views of the universe.
5. Circular Reasoning: Misinterpreting “Chug” to Support a Flat Earth
Author:
God “sits throned on the vaulted roof of earth (chuwg), whose inhabitants are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the skies (shamayim) like a curtain, he spreads them out like a tent to live in…” (Isaiah 40:22). Chuwg literally means “circle” or “encompassed.” By extension, it can mean roundness, as in a rounded dome or vault. Job 22:14 says God “walks to and fro on the vault of heaven (chuwg).” In both verses, the use of chuwg implies a physical object, on which one can sit and walk. Likewise, the context in both cases requires elevation. In Isaiah, the elevation causes the people below to look small as grasshoppers. In Job, God’s eyes must penetrate the clouds to view the doings of humans below. Elevation is also implied by Job 22:12: “Surely God is at the zenith of the heavens (shamayim) and looks down on all the stars, high as they are.”
Response:
We deliberately highlighted the author’s statements to show that he himself admits that the term chug has the meaning of circle, roundness, compass. Knowing this, he still tries to prove that the earth and sky are a flat surface! This implies that no matter what evidence is set before him, the author has already made up his mind that the Bible cannot teach a round earth.
6. Misunderstanding Biblical Hyperbole: Addressing Claims of Flat Earth in Scripture
The Shape of the Earth
Disregarding the dome, the essential flatness of the earth’s surface is required by verses like Daniel 4:10-11. In Daniel, the king “saw a tree of great height at the centre of the earth … reaching with its top to the sky and visible to the earth’s farthest bounds.”
If the earth were flat, a sufficiently tall tree would be visible to “the earth’s farthest bounds,” but this is impossible on a spherical earth. Likewise, in describing the temptation of Jesus by Satan, Matthew 4:8 says, “Once again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world (cosmos) in their glory.” Obviously, this would be possible only if the earth were flat. The same is true of Revelation 1:7: “Behold, he is coming with the clouds! Every eye shall see him…”
Response:
Actually the only thing that is required is for one to presuppose that the Bible teaches a flat earth and therefore passages such as Daniel can only mean that the earth is flat. It seems to have never dawned on the author that the Holy Bible is steeped in Semitic thought and idiom. Hence, the Bible writers employ literary techniques that were common in their day such as allegory, metaphor and hyperbole. Hence, Daniel’s statement that the tree stood at the earth’s center is a hyperbolic expression used to describe the extent of Nebuchadnezzar’s rule which included all the then known world. In fact, had the author bothered to read the context of Daniel he would have seen that this is precisely the meaning given by Daniel to the king:
“… Belteshazzar answered, ‘My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you, and its interpretation for your enemies! The tree that you saw, which grew great and strong, so that its top reached to heaven and was visible to the end of the whole earth, whose foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundnat, and which provided food for all, under which animals of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air had nests- It is you O king! You have grown great and strong. Your greatness has increased and reaches to heaven, and your sovereignty to the ends of the earth…” Daniel 4:19b-22 NRSV
Obviously, neither Nebuchadnezzar nor his kingdom had literally reached the heavens which means that the phrase “the center of the earth” is also hyperbolic, not to be taken literally.
Matthew 4:8 does not prove that the earth is flat. Had the author read carefully he would have seen that Satan showing Christ all the kingdoms of the earth was something that occurred instantly, implying that this was something experienced in a vision. This point is brought out in Luke:
“Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.” Luke 4:5 NRSV
The fact that Satan showed Christ all the kingdoms in an instant strongly supports the view that this was something that occurred miraculously in a vision. Even if the earth had been flat, it would still have been impossible for Christ and Satan to see the extent of the earth from Jerusalem especially in light of the fact that the Gospel writer was clearly aware that Rome was in control of Jerusalem. Yet, Rome’s capital was thousands of miles away in Europe and could not possibly be seen from a mountaintop located in Jerusalem!
Finally, in relation to Revelation 1:7 the author again does not allow for the fact that the writer was obviously using hyperbole. This can be seen by the fact that the book of Revelation is apocalyptic literature. This kind of literature heavily employs symbolism, imagery, metaphor, hyperbole etc. To then interpret this kind of writing literally is unscholarly since each piece of literature must be interpreted in light of its genre.
Furthermore, the Bible often employs the terms “every” and “all” in contexts where clearly not every single individual or thing is intended. Note the following examples:
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs– we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Acts 2:5-11
Luke could say that Jews from every nation had come to Jerusalem on Pentecost even though the list he gives only extended throughout the Roman Empire.
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. Romans 1:8
Obviously, not all the world had heard of the faith of these Christians Paul was writing to.
“… that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth.” Colossians 1:6
Clearly, not everyone has heard the gospel and therefore cannot be bearing fruit in places where the message has not been proclaimed.
Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. 1 Timothy 3:16
We obviously know that the whole world has not believed in Jesus. This is obviously hyperbole.
You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 2 Timothy 1:15-16
Paul can say that everyone had abandoned him despite the fact that Onesiphorus was at his side.
Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 2 Timothy 4:9-17
Again, no one supported Paul since everyone had abandoned him even though Luke was still with him.
Therefore, in light of the evidence the fact that every eye will see Jesus at his second-coming is hyperbole and does not prove that the earth is flat.
7. Phenomenological Language: Understanding Joshua’s “Sun Stood Still” Account
The Celestial Bodies
The Hebrews considered the celestial bodies relatively small. The Genesis creation story indicates the size and importance of the earth relative to the celestial bodies in two ways, first by their order of creation, and second by their positional relationships.
They had to be small to fit inside the vault of heaven. Small size is also implied by Joshua 10:12, which says that the sun stood still “in Gibeon” and the moon “in the Vale of Aijalon.”
Response:
Since we will respond later to the statement of Joshua that the sun and moon literally stood in the earth, we will just briefly comment here. The fact that Joshua could say that the sun or moon stood still is no more unscientific than today’s meteorologists that speak of the sunrise or sunset. This is not unscientific, but a metaphorical description that everyone uses even to this day. Joshua 10:12-13 is simply describing how the sun and moon appeared to the vantage point of one looking at it from the earth after God had miraculously slowed down the earth’s rotation. From that vantage point, the sun and moon did indeed remain motionless in the horizon above. There is no scientific error, but the author’s reluctance to allow the biblical writers to speak in phenomenological language, expressions and metaphors used everyday by everyone even to this day.
8. Stars and Metaphor: Misunderstanding Poetic Imagery in Scripture
Author:
Further, the Bible frequently presents celestial bodies as exotic living beings. For example, “In them [the heavens], a tent is fixed for the sun, who comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, rejoicing like a strong man to run his race. His rising is at one end of the heavens, his circuit touches their farthest ends; and nothing is hidden from his heat” (Psalm 19:4-6). The stars are anthropomorphic demigods. When the earth’s cornerstone was laid “the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted aloud (Job 38:7).” The morning star is censured for trying to set his throne above that of other stars:
You thought in your own mind, I will scale the heavens; I will set my throne high above the stars of God, I will sit on the mountain where the gods meet in the far recesses of the north. I will rise high above the cloud-banks and make myself like the most high (Isaiah 14:13-14).
Deuteronomy 4:15-19 recognizes the god-like status of stars, noting that they were created for other peoples to worship
Response:
Had the author read scripture carefully, he would have seen that the term stars is used metaphorically to refer to angels:
“In his right hand he held seven stars, and from his mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining with full force… As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the seven angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.” Revelation 1:16, 20
“The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss… They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon.” Revelation 9:1, 11
The star that fell is identified as an angel, corresponding to the morning star of Isaiah 14:13-14.
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” Revelation 22:16
Using the author’s logic we would be forced to conclude that there is an actual star named Jesus in the universe. In fact resurrected believers are likened to shining stars in the Holy Bible:
“Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” Daniel 12:2-3
Again, if the author’s logic is correct we would have to conclude that the Holy Bible teaches that believers shall one day become literal stars adorning the heavens.
Finally, the author attacks Psalm 19:4-6’s poetic description of the sun running like a groom without mentioning the fact that Psalms is a book of poetry. As such, it often employs poetic imagery such as trees clapping, God having feathers etc. Furthermore, in his zealousness to find fault with the Holy Bible the author failed to appreciate the stunning accuracy of the Psalm’s poetic description that the sun travels. Let us quote the relevant portion of the Psalm:
“His (the sun) going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.” Psalm 19:6 KJV
Even though the Psalms mainly consist of poetic imagery and allegory, this imagery of the sun traveling is scientifically accurate, something which the author cared not to mention. Dr. Henry Morris states:
“As a matter of fact, however, the words of the psalmist may be even more scientific than he could have known. Studies of modern galactic astronomy have indicated that the sun is indeed moving around a center in the Milky Way galaxy in a gigantic orbit that would require two million centuries to complete, even at the tremendous tangential speed of 600,000 miles per hour. Furthermore, it is well known that our own galaxy is moving with respect to other galaxies. The sun’s circuit is from one end of the heavens to the other… Consequently, the psalmist – instead of using pre-scientific language – was using the most scientific language he could have used in describing the motion of the sun relative to the earth.” (Dr. Morris, Science and The Bible [Moody Press, Chicago 1986], p. 13)
We again discover that the author’s points crumble entirely upon closer analysis.
9. Biblical Astronomy: Refuting Flat Earth and Affirming Scripture’s Scientific Accuracy
Author:
Stars can fall from the skies according to Daniel 8:10 and Matthew 24:29. The same idea is found in the following extracts from Revelation 6:13-16:
… the stars in the sky fell to the earth, like figs shaken down by a gale; the sky vanished, as a scroll is rolled up … they called out to the mountains and the crags, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One who sits on the throne…”
This is consistent with the Hebrew cosmology previously described, but it is ludicrous in the light of modern astronomy. If one star let alone all the stars in the sky “fell” on the earth, no one would be hollering from any mountain or crag. The writer considered the stars small objects, all of which could fall to the earth without eradicating human life. He also viewed the sky as a physical object. The stars are inside the sky, and they fall before the sky opens. When it is whisked away, it reveals the One throned above (see Isaiah 40:22).
Response:
Actually, what we have discovered is the author’s misinterpretation, misquotation, and unproven assumptions operating throughout the article. Not one of his points stand in light of the syntax, grammar, culture and literary genre in which the Holy Bible was written in. Once these factors are taken into consideration, we find that none of his points are valid.
In response to the assertion that the authors of scriptures believed that stars could literally fall on the earth, once again it seems to have never dawned on the author that the term can also be referring to meteors. In a prescientific age where such terms as meteors or meteorites did not exist the closest term one could use for such objects is the term “stars”. Hence, falling stars need not be a reference to the constellations that adorn space, but to meteors crashing upon the earth.
Furthermore, in light of the fact that the verses which the author alludes to deal with the apocalypse, these statements need not be literal. Instead, they can be nothing more than a metaphorical way of describing the end of the age, an event which itself is beyond human description.
Finally, the fact is that the Holy Bible clearly teaches that the earth is round and that the earth is indeed rotating. Let us look at several verses and compare them with modern scientific facts.
“He stretches out Za’phon (the North) over the void, and hangs the earth upon nothing.” Job 26:7
Dr. Henry Morris comments:
“… Not only was the earth rotating, but it also began orbiting in space, suspended upon `nothing’ except the mysterious force of gravity, acting at a distance. This verse was written at 3500 years before Isaac Newton identified and described this force.” (Morris, The Defenders Study Bible-King James Version, p. 584)
“Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place. That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it? It is turned as clay to the seal, and they stand as a garment.” Job 38:12-14 KJV
Dr. Morris notes:
“turned. This figurative expression refers to God’s initiation of the earth’s rotation and the day-night cycle. Each night, like a rotating clay cylinder exposing the impressions of the seal, the earth turns to the sun (or `dayspring’), exposing the wicked and their works of the night.” (Ibid, p. 593)
“as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12
Dr. Morris claims:
“… Here is a second figure applied to the limitless scope of God’s forgiving grace. One can travel east (or west) forever without coming to its end. This perfectly fits the idea of a global earth.” (Ibid, p. 648)
“The wind blows to the south, and goes around to the north; round and round goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they continue to flow.” Ecclesiastes 1:6-7
Dr. Morris indicates:
“This is a remarkable anticipation of the modern discovery of the world’s great wind circuits, in the global circulation of the atmosphere.” (Ibid., 701)
Dr. Morris also comments on the statement in verse 7 on streams running into the sea:
“… Similarly, this is an excellent summary of the earth’s amazing hydrologic cycle, as confirmed scientifically only in modern times.” (Ibid, p. 702)
Thick clouds [are] a secret place to Him, And He doth not see;‘ And the circle (khug) of the heavens He walketh habitually, Job 22:14 YLT
“He has described a circle (Hebrew- khug) on the face of the waters, at the boundary between light and darkness.” Job 26:10
“When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle (khug) on the face of the deep.” Proverbs 8:27
“It is he who sits above the circle (khug) of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain and spreads them like a tent to live in.” Isaiah 40:22
Again, Dr. Morris’ comments on these last three passages:
“… `Compass’ (Hebrew khug) is the same as `circle’ in Isaiah 40:22, as well as `compassed’ in Job 26:10. All three clearly refer to the roundness of the earth, especially to the spherical nature of sea level defining the global shape of the earth. The Bible never teaches a flat earth, though the charge is frequently made.” (Ibid., p. 682)
And,
“… Hebrew khug is translated `compassed’ in Job 26:10 and “compass” on Proverbs 8:27. All three, in context, clearly refer to the sphericity of the earth.” (Ibid., 754)
Wesley’s Commentary states:
Isa 40:22 V. 22. Sitteth –Far above this round earth, even in the highest heavens; from whence he looketh down upon the earth, where men appear to him like grasshoppers. As here we have the circle of the earth, so elsewhere we read of the circle of heaven, (Job 22:14,) and of the circle of the deep, or sea, (Proverbs 8:27), because the form of the heaven, and earth and sea is circular. Spreadeth -For the benefit of the earth and of mankind, that all parts might partake of its comfortable influences.
In summary, there is not a single verse in the entire Bible where it explicitly states that the earth is flat. There are, however, several clear references stating that it is round.
Joshua And The Long Day
Earlier, the author mentioned Joshua 10:12-13 on the sun and moon standing still in the horizon. We have already addressed the points raised in the article. The reason why we repeat it here again is due to the fact that certain Muslims have attacked the validity of this event. For instance, Shabir Ally in his debate with Tony Costa Jr., Is the Qur’an the Word of God?, attacked this passage and used it to prove that the Holy Bible teaches that the earth is the center where the sun and moon travel around.
Amazingly, Shabir not only has misunderstood the passage, but has also failed to realize that his own Prophet believed in the validity of this account:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, “A prophet amongst the prophets carried out a holy military expedition, so he said to his followers, ‘Anyone who has married a woman and wants to consummate the marriage, and has not done so yet, should not accompany me; nor should a man who has built a house but has not completed its roof; nor a man who has sheep or shecamels and is waiting for the birth of their young ones.’ So, the prophet carried out the expedition and when he reached that town at the time or nearly at the time of the ‘Asr prayer, he said to the sun, ‘O sun! You are under Allah’s Order and I am under Allah’s Order O Allah! Stop it (i.e. the sun) from setting.’ It was stopped till Allah made him victorious.
Then he collected the booty and the fire came to burn it, but it did not burn it. He said (to his men), ‘Some of you have stolen something from the booty. So one man from every tribe should give me a pledge of allegiance by shaking hands with me.’ (They did so and) the hand of a man got stuck over the hand of their prophet. Then that prophet said (to the man), ‘The theft has been committed by your people. So all the persons of your tribe should give me the pledge of allegiance by shaking hands with me.’ The hands of two or three men got stuck over the hand of their prophet and he said, “You have committed the theft.’ Then they brought a head of gold like the head of a cow and put it there, and the fire came and consumed the booty. The Prophet added: Then Allah saw our weakness and disability, so he made booty legal for us.” (Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 53, Number 353)
If the sun standing still is an error in the Holy Bible then it also proves that Muhammad was wrong. We will leave it to Shabir to answer the fact of how can he attack the validity of Joshua 10:12-13 seeing that his own Prophet wholeheartedly believed it?
In conclusion, there are no convincing arguments that Muslims can bring up against the authority and validity of the Holy Bible, God’s written word.
