One of the first posts on this blog was about an online conversation I had about past belief in a flat earth. Since then I have learned more about ancient middle-eastern cosmology, and how it affected the way things were presented in the Old Testament. I have recently re-read the original post, and while I stand by much of the things I said, there is a need to update it to reflect what I have learned since then.
Thanks to my friend Herman I have looked into this issue from a different perspective and have changed my mind on certain aspects, but not on others. Though I now think that the ancient Hebrews had a flat earth cosmology, I’m not convinced that was the case in the New Testament. After all, Eratosthenes of Cyrene had measured the circumference of the earth rather accurately some 200 years before Christ, and Rome had spread Greek philosophies throughout its empire. I haven’t found anything in the New Testament to suggest otherwise.
In the past year or two I have been studying some of Michael Heiser’s books, podcasts, and YouTube videos. I find some of his work rather far-fetched, though interesting. Since he writes for Logos Bible software I tend trust his Hebrew scholarship. It seems like he has pretty solid credentials for knowing the language, background, and mindset of people at that time and place.
This image, posted by Heiser, shows their cosmology model;
So, it appears that they did believe in a flat earth. Does that mean that we can’t trust anything in the Bible? Since their cosmology was wrong does that mean that we shouldn’t believe their historical writings, or their philosophy, or theology? Since God spoke to them on their level, in a way they could understand, does that mean he didn’t know any better himself?
Let’s assume you answered yes to any or all of these questions. Let’s also apply that reasoning to other aspects of history.
Sir Isaac Newton was one of the greatest minds in history. His work on understanding gravity, the laws of motion, optics and mathematics were revolutionary and advanced science in ways unheard of. Much of modern science can trace its foundation back to his work. Did you know that Newton also studied alchemy? In fact, it is thought he wrote more on that subject than on any other. He spent much effort in attempting to discover the Philosopher’s Stone and the Elixir of Life, things that would get him laughed out of any society of scientists nowadays, but were completely acceptable areas of research in his day. Since we are so much more enlightened today should we dismiss his entire body of work because a good portion of it would be considered fantasy?
Did you know that the death of the father of our country, George Washington, is thought to have been, at least partially, attributed to the practice of bloodletting? That he became ill and insisted on the procedure himself? At that time bloodletting was an accepted way of curing disease. It is likely that Thomas Jefferson, the writer of our Constitution, also accepted the practice. Does that mean that the Declaration of Independence is suspect and should not be trusted, now that we know more about medicine?
Of course not. You judge their work on the merits of the work itself. What does alchemy have to do with gravity? What do leeches have to do with the Constitution? Nothing. On that same standard what does cosmology have to do with the Bible? Is it a book of physics or mathematics? Does it present the scientific method?
The Bible is a collection of books on theology, history, philosophy, wisdom, morality. It teaches about the human condition and our place in the world. It doesn’t teach any particular cosmology, though it does reference common beliefs of the time in order to present other types of truths. If God would have mentioned aspects of quantum mechanics no one at the time would have had the foggiest notion what he was talking about. I actually find it encouraging that we do not have to reach any pinnacle of understanding before God can communicate to us. It is rather arrogant to assume that we have it all figured out now, that we don’t have any false assumptions today. It is comforting that he will meet us where we are in order to teach us what we need to know about him and our purpose.
The 2 Cent Apologist 