Does The Bible Say That The Earth Is Round?
For centuries, the shape of the earth has been a topic of debate, with a variety of religions offering different opinions on the matter. One religion that has been often neglected in this debate is Christianity – namely, what does the bible say about the shape of the earth?
Some believe that the bible implies that the earth is actually flat. Genesis 1:6-8 states “God made the expanse and separated the waters…And God called the expanse Heaven”. This implies the existence of a flat expanse that divides the waters, which many interpret as meaning a flat surface. Others point to verses like Isaiah 40:22 which speaks of God sitting “above the circle of the earth”, implying that the earth is round.
In an effort to settle the debate, theologians and bible scholars have closely examined the scripture. Many experts agree that the bible does not actually give a definitive answer to this question. It is important to note that the bible was written in ancient times, with conceptions of the world as flat and round existing in various cultures around the same time. Therefore, it is not surprising that various passages in the bible can be interpreted as implying that the earth is either flat or round.
Despite this ambiguity, some Christian scholars and theologians have still constructed arguments from biblical sources that point to a round earth. In a closely-argued essay, David Geller argues that the bibles descriptions of the earth imply a round shape. He points to passages such as Isaiah 11:12 and Job 26:10 which speaks of God “stretching out the north and south that he might establish the earth” and “measuring out the waters in the hollow of his hand”. Geller interprets these passages as implying a round shape and thus refuting the idea of a flat earth.
It is also interesting to note that, despite the ambiguity of scripture, early Christian teachers and Church fathers such as Augustine of Hippo and Bede the Venerable accepted the idea of a round earth. Therefore, it is possible that the bible’s authors, who were deeply rooted in their own cultural and religious traditions, were aware of the notion of a round earth.
It is important to remember that, regardless of what the bible does or does not say about the shape of the earth, Christianity is a religion based on faith and not science. The bible never intended to give an answer to this question, as scientific understanding was not needed for people to understand the biblical message. Therefore, the debate of whether the bible implies a flat or a round earth is ultimately academic, as the bible does not provide an answer to this question.
Biblical Sources that Imply a Flat Earth
Although many scholars argue that the bible implies a round earth, there are some biblical sources that can be interpreted as implying a flat earth. For example, both Isaiah and Job make reference to the “edges” of the earth. This implies a flat surface and a limited area of land.
In addition, Ezekiel 5:5 states that “neither mountains nor hills will be seen again”, implying a flat surface that is devoid of mountains and hills. This passages has been interpreted by some to imply a flat earth in which the land is separated by an expanse of water.
Furthermore, some argue that Ecclesiastes 1:5 states that the earth is “circle in the void”, implying a flat circular shape. This interpretation is further supported by other passages in the bible, such as Isaiah 11:12 which speaks of God “stretching out the north and south”. This implies a limited area of flat land with boundaries in four directions.
Finally, some biblical scholars posit that the story of the earth’s creation in Genesis 1 implies a flat earth. They argue that Genesis 1:6-8 states that God created an expanse that “separated the waters” and then placed the firmament “above the waters”. This implies a flat expanse that separates the waters and is “measured out” by an edge.
Christian Thinkers who Believed the Earth Was Round
Despite the ambivalence of scripture, some early Christian thinkers believed that the earth was round. Augustine of Hippo was one of the first thinkers to suggest that the earth was round. He argued that the bible passages which described the earth as flat should be interpreted as metaphorical, while also pointing to other passages which imply a round earth.
In the 8th century, Bede the Venerable also argued that the earth was round. He based this argument on passages such as Isaiah 40:22 which speaks of God sitting “above the circle of the earth” and Job 26:10 which speaks of God “measuring out the waters in the hollow of his hand”. Bede argued that these passages implied a round earth, rather than a flat one.
Subsequent theologians and bible scholars have also argued in favour of a round earth. One example is Martin Luther, the famous 16th century theologian and leader of the Protestant Reformation. He argued in favour of a round earth, citing passages such as Isaiah 11:12 and Job 26:10. He even went as far as to claim that those who still believed in a flat earth were “fools”.
The belief in a round earth has since become almost universal amongst theologians and bible scholars. More recently, modern theologians such as Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer have argued for a round earth. They point to passages such as Isaiah 40:22 and Ecclesiastes 1:5 which they interpret as implying a round earth.
Scientific Arguments in Support of a Round Earth
Since the bible doesn’t provide a definitive answer on the shape of the earth, some theologians and bible scholars have turned to science in order to settle the question. Many scientific arguments point towards the earth being round, although the exact shape of the earth is more complicated than a simple sphere.
The most obvious argument in favour of a round earth is the observation that the Sun appears to travel across the sky and set in the same spot each night. This implies that the earth is round, as an observer on a flat earth would observe the Sun travelling in a straight line across the sky.
In addition, early seafarers were able to navigate the seas thanks to their knowledge of the earth’s curvature. This clearly implies that the earth is round, as a sailor would be unable to calculate their location on a flat surface.
Moreover, it is now known that the earth’s gravity is consistent regardless of the location on the surface of the globe. This implies that the earth is not flat, as the gravity would be inconsistent on a flat earth.
Finally, photographs of the Earth taken from space show a curved surface, further supporting the idea of a round earth.
Conclusion
Although the bible does not provide a definitive answer to the question of the shape of the earth, religious theologians and bible scholars have interpreted various passages as implying a round earth. Furthermore, several scientific arguments point to the earth being round, and modern observations of the earth clearly show its curved shape. Therefore, although the bible does not provide an answer to this question, the evidence points to a round earth.
