Hermeneutics 13A: The Earth & Ancient Geography

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Science & Religion 101

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University of Alberta

Science & Religion 101

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This course examines the nature of both science and religion and attempts to explore the possible relationships between them. The primary purpose is to dispel the popular myth that science and religion are entrenched in a never-ending conflict. As a result, this course argues that if the limits of both science and religion are respected, then their relationship can be complementary. Topics include: Science and Religion Categories and Foundational Principles, Definitions of Science and Religion, Science-Religion Models and Relationships, Intelligent Design and Natural Revelation, the Galileo Affair, Geology and Noah’s Flood, Evolution and Darwin’s Religious Beliefs, the Modern “Evolution” vs. “Creation” Debate, the Problem of Evil, and Interpretations of the Biblical Accounts of Origins in Genesis 1-11. The course employs a Constructive Teaching Style in order that students can develop their personal views on the relationship between science and religion and on each of the topics listed above. St. Joseph's College is a Catholic, undergraduate, liberal arts college on the University of Alberta campus. It is an independent institution that is affiliated with the University of Alberta.

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Astronomy & the Galileo Affair

This is the first of three weeks examining historical events related to Science and Religion in order to draw lessons for today. Beginning with the famed astronomer Galileo, we will discover that he was a devout Christian and that he fully embraced the Two Divine Books (Book of God’s Word & Book of God’s Works) relationship of Science and Religion. His “Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina” (1615) is a rich source of insights on how to interpret Scripture and how to relate science and Christianity. We will then apply lessons from the Galileo Affair to the debate over biological evolution in ordered to assist people struggling with this science today. This week also begins an extensive series of Hermeneutical Principles demonstrating that the Bible has an ancient understanding of the structure of the world known as the “3-tier universe.”

Episode 98: Key Thoughts. Brief History of Astronomy5:12

Episode 99: Brief History of Astronomy (Continued)4:34

Episode 100: Copernicus. On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres (1543)5:14

Episode 101: Conclusion: Brief History of Astronomy. Brief History of Galileo Galilei (1564-1585)5:09

Episode 102: Brief History of Galileo Galilei (1589-1609)4:28

Episode 103: Brief History of Galileo Galilei (1610-1613)4:34

Episode 104: Brief History of Galileo Galilei (1615-1624)4:06

Episode 105: Brief History of Galileo Galilei (1631-1642)3:42

Episode 106: Conclusion: Brief History of Galileo Galilei3:54

Episode 107: Galileo’s Hermeneutics and Science & Religion Relationship. (1) Foundational Principle: The Two Divine Books5:47

Episode 108: (2) Nature: The Book of God’s Works4:43

Episode 109: (3) Scripture: The Book of God’s Words4:07

Episode 110: Scripture: The Book of God’s Words (Continued). (4) Conflict between Galileo & His Critics5:19

Episode 111: Conflict between Galileo & His Critics (Continued)4:25

Episode 112: Conclusion: Galileo’s Hermeneutics and Science & Religion Relationship3:32

Episode 113: Galileo’s Hermeneutical Gaffe: Literalism & Concordism5:09

Episode 114: The “Apology to Galileo”4:36

Episode 115: Conclusion: Astronomy & the Galileo Affair3:29

Episode 116: Conclusion: Astronomy & the Galileo Affair (Continued)2:45

Hermeneutics 12: St. Augustine's Pastoral Perspective regarding Science & Religion3:53

Hermeneutics 13: Phenomenological Perspective of Nature: The 3-Tier Universe3:13

Hermeneutics 13A: The Earth & Ancient Geography14:06

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Denis Lamoureux
Associate Professor
St. Joseph's College

In the next four episodes of Hermeneutical Principles,

we will examine evidence from the Bible.

That suggests that the inspired authors of scripture viewed the structure and

operation of the universe.

From an ancient phenomenological prospective.

To be more specific, the Bible features a three tier universe.

In this episode, we will focus on seven features

as understood from the perspective of ancient geography.

Ancient geographical feature number one,

ancient people believed that the Earth is immovable.

As we've noted earlier, this was the issue in the Galileo affair.

Three verses in the Old Testament state directly, "The world is firmly

established; it cannot move." Feature number two, according to the Bible,

the Earth is set on foundations and this is stated about 20 times.

For example we read in Ps 104:5,

God set the earth on its foundations, it can never be moved.

These foundations can be pictured like the legs of a table,

and in this way it implies a flat Earth.

The next ancient feature regarding the structure of the Earth is one that's quite

unusual for us today.

People in the ancient Near East believed the Earth was surrounded

by a circumferential sea.

However, this is a very logical notion from an ancient phenomenological

perspective.

This idea emerged because of two phenomena.

First the visual impact of the horizon gave

the impression that the boundary of the world was circular.

Second, travelers in the ancient Near East eventually came to a body of water.

If we consider the geography of the ancient Near East.

We can appreciate how ancient people in this region believed the end of the Earth

was at a shoreline.

In the west, there was the Mediterranean Sea, to the north,

the Black and Caspian Seas.

East, the Persian Gulf, and to the south, the Arabian and Red Seas.

It's worth mentioning that there are other creation accounts in the Bible outside

of Genesis 1 and 2.

For example the Prov 8 creation account refers

to the creation of the circumferential sea.

In verse 27 it states, God inscribed a circle on the surface of the deep.

In other words this is the outer boundary of the circumferential sea at the horizon.

Similarly, in the Job 26 creation account verse 10 states,

God inscribed a circle on the surface of the waters.

As we noted in hermeneutical principle number nine.

Historical criticism refers to the use of ancient Near Eastern literature

to understand the Bible within its historical context.

For example, the circumferential sea was the geography of the day 2,500 years ago.

As seen in the Babylonian World map from the 6th century BC, BC/E.

You will note that the Babylonians thought that

Babylon was at the center of the World.

If we examine the Greek World Map from the same period of the 6th century BC/BCE.

We can see that the Greeks also believed in a circumferential sea.

But, in contrast to the Babylonians,

the Greeks thought they were at the center of the world.

Of course this is due to their ancient phenomenological perspective.

They looked up at the sky and experienced the phenomenon

that they were directly below the apex of the dome of heaven.

In the light of this ancient Greek map of the world,

we can appreciate why this body of water is called the Mediterranean Sea.

The Latin medius is the word for middle and terra is earth.

Therefore, the Mediterranean Sea is the sea at the middle of the earth and

this term reflects an ancient geography.

Ancient geographical feature number 4.

Since people in the ancient Near East believed in a circumferential sea.

It made perfect sense for them to assume that the Earth is circular.

This is explicitly stated in the scripture in Is 40: 22.

God sits enthroned above the circle of the earth.

However, I must point out that this is a classic proof-text.

Christians often claim that this verse refers

to the spherical outline of the Earth from the perspective of outer space.

In this way, it's used as proof that the Bible has modern science.

But we need to read the entire verse and not just part of it.

And here it is, God sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and

its people are like grasshoppers.

He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and

spreads them out like a tent to live in.

So for Isaiah, the universe is like a tent with a domed canopy overhead and

a flat floor below.

And this is characteristic of a three tier universe.

The circle of the earth is also implicit in scripture.

In Daniel 4, the king of Babylon describes a dream he had.

"There was a tree at the centre of the earth, and its height was great.

The tree grew great and strong, and its top reached to heaven and

it was visible to the ends of the whole earth."

This passage in Daniel 4 only makes sense in a 3-tier universe.

First, the tree reaches heaven,

because heaven is an actual physical structure just above the earth.

Second, with a flat earth, one could see the tree from the ends of the whole earth.

That is the shoreline of the circumferential sea.

This is impossible with a spherical earth.

Finally Babylon was called the center of the belly button of the earth.

Here is the actual Babylonian world map.

And you can see the circumfrential sea and in particular

a hole at the center of the earth representing Babylon like a belly button.

Obviously the tree and Babylon are not at the center of the spherical Earth,

which is 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Instead, the center of the Earth is the center of the flat and circular Earth.

Ancient geographical feature number five, the earth has ends.

This is stated about 50 times in scripture,

as seen with the expression, the ends of the earth.

For example, In Isaiah 41, God states, but you, Israel...

Descendant of Abraham my friend, you whom I have taken from

the ends of the earth, and called from its remotest parts.

And the context here is referring to Ur.

We know from Genesis 11:31 that

Abraham came from Ur which is southern Mesopotamia.

And indeed Ur is the remotest parts from Israel for ancient Near Eastern people.

In that Ur and

Israel are at the opposite ends of the shoreline of the circumferential sea.

Here is another biblical verse referring to the ends of the earth.

In Matthew 12:42, Jesus states, the Queen of the South, that is the Queen of Sheba.

Will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for

she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom.

The Kingdom of Sheba is in the Southwest corner of the Arabian Peninsula.

So for the Queen of Sheba to come to Israel was indeed coming from the ends of

the Earth.

According to an ancient phenomenological perspective.

A very fascinating aspect of ancient geography

is that ancient people believed that the Earth has an underworld.

In the Old Testament this region is called Sheol 65 times.

And it is often translated as the grave and the place of the dead.

For example, in Amos 9:2, God states,

though they dig down to the depths of sheol, from there my hand will take them.

Though they climb up to the heavens, from there I will bring them down.

Clearly, the reference to digging down to sheol, is indicative that sheol,

is below the surface of the Earth deep inside it.

In the New Testament, the underworld is called hades 20 times.

In Luke 10, Jesus charges, and

you the town of Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven?

No, you will go down to hades.

Again, this verse makes perfect sense in a 3-tier universe.

And as we've noted earlier a number of times in this course, the underworld and

subterranean world is also called katachthonios.

In Philippians 2:10, the apostle Paul writes.

At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, [1] in heaven and

[2] on earth and [3] in the katachthonios.

In other words, in the underworld.

We also saw previously that the Greek term katachthonios is made up of

the preposition kata, meaning down.

And chtonios, which refers to the chthonic realm.

Here is the Greek English interlinear of Philippians 2:10.

And specifically [FOREIGN] in a form referring to the beings of the underworld.

The underworld is also referred to as under the earth in the New Testament.

For example, Revelation 5:3 records.

No one [1] in heaven, or [2] on the earth, or

[3] hupokatṑ gḗ was found worthy to open the book or look into it.

Hupo means under, katṑ down, and gḗ is earth.

Our seventh and final ancient geographical feature understood from an ancient

phenomenological perspective, is that the earth is flat.

It's important to qualify that there is no passage in scripture

that directly states the earth is flat.

The notion of a flat earth was the implicit scientific concept

of ancient people.

In other words, they simply assumed the earth was flat without stating it.

For example, today, how often do we refer to a spherical Earth?

We simply use the word Earth,

assuming it is spherical without specifically saying so.

For example, the flat Earth is clearly implied in scripture.

Matthew 4:8 states that "The devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and

showed him ALL the kingdoms of the world." Could one see the Chinese or

Aztecs from a mountain in the Middle East?

No, this verse only makes sense if the world is flat.

The closer examination of the earth from an ancient phenomenological perspective.

Let me introduce what I term is the Earth Dearth Argument.

Dearth means a lack of something.

So, here's my argument.

If Scientific Concordism were true, and

if God intended to reveal scientific facts ahead of time.

Then I think it's reasonable to expect God to reveal the shape of the Earth our home.

For example, comparing the Earth to an orange or a ball.

However, here's the biblical evidence regarding the word Earth.

The Greek noun [FOREIGN] referring to earth and

land appears 250 times in the New Testament.

And it is never referred to as a sphere or ball.

Similarly, the Hebrew noun [FOREIGN], meaning earth and land,

is found 2,500 times in the Old Testament.

And it is never referred to as a sphere or a ball.

Therefore is a death or

lack of verses in the Bible referring to the Earth as being spherical.

And for me this indicates that God never intended to

reveal scientific facts in scripture ahead of time.

Please turn to page 66 in the class handouts.

So you can see how the Greek word for

earth appears in the first verse of the Bible, Genesis 1:1.

[FOREIGN] is the conjunction and.

The Greek language is very inflected,

which means it has a lot of different endings.

The similar endings show which words are together.

For example, [FOREIGN] is the definite article the.

And it's connected to [FOREIGN] which is a form of [FOREIGN], the word for earth.

Still on page 66 in the handouts,

we have Genesis 1:1 in Hebrew from the Hebrew Old Testament.

Articles and

conjunctions are often attached to words they qualify in the Hebrew language.

For example, the w or the letter [FOREIGN] is the conjunction and.

It's connected to what is called the direct object marker

which we don't translate in English.

The h or letter [FOREIGN] is the definite article the.

And it is attached to the noun which as

we've just seen is the word for earth in Hebrew.

End of episode.

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