The Biblical Flat Earth Examined
March 28, 2017
G.D.O'Bradovich III
introduction
The thorough researcher into the topic of the flat earth will uncover many sources that reference the Bible. We have been reluctant to discover what Biblical references are put forth to support the idea of the flat earth.
Our reluctance is due to our discovery of the flat earth model independent both of our religion and our religious opinions. Also, it seems to us that anything that fundamental protestant Christians take as their own, whether history, chronology, symbolism, the immortal soul, the salvation of the immortal soul, the Fall, the Incarnation, the Gospel, the writings of Saint Paul, philology, veneration of saints, or eschatology, becomes corrupted, tainted, and transformed by their always changing opinions.
However, it was inevitable that our curiosity would prevail over our caution regarding what Biblical references indicate as the shape of the earth.
We remind the Gentle Reader that our position concerning the shape of the earth is due entirely based on evidence that we can observe and reasonable deductions from these observations. Our position is not based on presumptions, nor external authority, nor music videos, however entertaining and thought provoking.
There is a persistent claim from many corners that the Bible is incredibly ancient. Protestants never tire of reiterating this supposition as evidence for their Bible's authority: misplaced reverence for supposed antiquity.
Firstly, Protestants have no doubt what books constitute their Bible. Secondly, the Council of Trent authorizes the Roman Church to correct various, and undefined, scribal errors in the universally recognized Vulgate Bible and, to date, this decree remains unfulfilled, indicating that no universal Bible existed in the Roman Church. Finally, the Orthodox Church has no dogma to guide the faithful regarding a specific Bible. From the these facts, at least two conclusions must be drawn; the Bible is a product of the western church, generally, and the origins of the Bible must be dated to the Reformation, specifically. If the Bible does support the flat earth model of the earth, then it may be said that the Bible and the heliocentric model of Tycho Brahe are contemporary.
Our reluctance is due to our discovery of the flat earth model independent both of our religion and our religious opinions. Also, it seems to us that anything that fundamental protestant Christians take as their own, whether history, chronology, symbolism, the immortal soul, the salvation of the immortal soul, the Fall, the Incarnation, the Gospel, the writings of Saint Paul, philology, veneration of saints, or eschatology, becomes corrupted, tainted, and transformed by their always changing opinions.
However, it was inevitable that our curiosity would prevail over our caution regarding what Biblical references indicate as the shape of the earth.
We remind the Gentle Reader that our position concerning the shape of the earth is due entirely based on evidence that we can observe and reasonable deductions from these observations. Our position is not based on presumptions, nor external authority, nor music videos, however entertaining and thought provoking.
There is a persistent claim from many corners that the Bible is incredibly ancient. Protestants never tire of reiterating this supposition as evidence for their Bible's authority: misplaced reverence for supposed antiquity.
Firstly, Protestants have no doubt what books constitute their Bible. Secondly, the Council of Trent authorizes the Roman Church to correct various, and undefined, scribal errors in the universally recognized Vulgate Bible and, to date, this decree remains unfulfilled, indicating that no universal Bible existed in the Roman Church. Finally, the Orthodox Church has no dogma to guide the faithful regarding a specific Bible. From the these facts, at least two conclusions must be drawn; the Bible is a product of the western church, generally, and the origins of the Bible must be dated to the Reformation, specifically. If the Bible does support the flat earth model of the earth, then it may be said that the Bible and the heliocentric model of Tycho Brahe are contemporary.
methods
References to the creation accounts in Genesis are omitted, as they do not indicate a specific shape for the earth.
References to phenomena that are observable to man, as man, have also been omitted. The suggestion that multiple Biblical references of the natural world are the product of divine revelation, and not of human observation, is disingenuous to the conscientious researcher and misleading to the less critically minded reader.
References to the created world, e.g., the earth and the heavens, are also omitted, as there is little doubt that the various, if not all, Biblical authors attribute the existence of the material world to the creator, or to God, or to the Lord God.
References to the authority of God are omitted, since they are not pertinent to the nature of the world as it currently exists.
References to God abiding in the heavens are also omitted as this is an almost universal belief and not unique to the peoples of the Old Testament.
References that lack reasoning for the statement are omitted, as such statement are not subject to review, and are properly the domain of belief, not of free inquiry.
References to the “four corners” of the earth are ambiguous and may be poetic licence alluding to the four cardinal points. However, we have retained references to a single “end” of the earth, as these references cannot be understood as pertaining to the four directions, and retained references to an undefined number of “ends” of the earth, as these may or may not imply the cardinal points, and we err on the side of caution.
Therefore, any references that remain from the original sixty will provide the basis for the acceptance or the denial of the proposition that the Bible promotes a flat earth model. Of course, since the fact that the Bible is ambiguous on certain topics, a definite conclusion regarding the shape of the earth may not present itself.
References to phenomena that are observable to man, as man, have also been omitted. The suggestion that multiple Biblical references of the natural world are the product of divine revelation, and not of human observation, is disingenuous to the conscientious researcher and misleading to the less critically minded reader.
References to the created world, e.g., the earth and the heavens, are also omitted, as there is little doubt that the various, if not all, Biblical authors attribute the existence of the material world to the creator, or to God, or to the Lord God.
References to the authority of God are omitted, since they are not pertinent to the nature of the world as it currently exists.
References to God abiding in the heavens are also omitted as this is an almost universal belief and not unique to the peoples of the Old Testament.
References that lack reasoning for the statement are omitted, as such statement are not subject to review, and are properly the domain of belief, not of free inquiry.
References to the “four corners” of the earth are ambiguous and may be poetic licence alluding to the four cardinal points. However, we have retained references to a single “end” of the earth, as these references cannot be understood as pertaining to the four directions, and retained references to an undefined number of “ends” of the earth, as these may or may not imply the cardinal points, and we err on the side of caution.
Therefore, any references that remain from the original sixty will provide the basis for the acceptance or the denial of the proposition that the Bible promotes a flat earth model. Of course, since the fact that the Bible is ambiguous on certain topics, a definite conclusion regarding the shape of the earth may not present itself.
commentary
When He established the heavens, I was there, When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep. Proverbs 8:27 (ESV)
Unlike all further citations, this verse is not from the King James Bible and has been retained as an example of “cherry picking” or that suspect behavior of choosing specific data to support one's position. While Machiavelli would approve of the ends justifying the means, we are not amused at this attempt.
He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.
Job 26:7
This verse is clear that the earth is unsupported and it is explicitly contradicted by other verses that mention the “pillars of the earth”, thereby promoting the opinion that the earth is supported.
For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven…Job 28:24
He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth. Job 37:3
That it might take hold of the ends (H3671) of the earth... Job 38:13
H3671 is translated as “end” 108 times.
[The] world also shall be stable, that it be not moved. 1 Chronicles 16:30
[The] world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. Psalm 93:1
[The] world also shall be established that it shall not be moved... Psalm 96:10
Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. Psalm 104:5
Although the above verses describes the world as we experience it and the verses should be omitted, we have retained them.
And he shall ... gather together ... Judah from the four corners (H3671) of the earth.
Isaiah 11:12
H3671 is found 108 times and is translated as wings 74 times. The four “corners” are the four cardinal directions.
It is he that sitteth upon the circle (H2329) of the earth... Isaiah 40:22
H2329 is found in three examples and is translated as circle, circuit, and compass. Clearly, this is a rarely used word and difficult to translate.
I’ll say ... Bring my sons … and my daughters from the ends (H7097) of the earth-- Isaiah 43:6
H7097 is found 96 times and translated as “end” 56 times.
Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end (H8622) of the world.
Psalm 19:4
H8622 is found four times and translated as “end” twice.
[T]he devil taketh him [Jesus] up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world... Matthew 4:8
This verse has been retained to demonstrate the belief that such a mountain could exist. Of course, this mountain would presumably be visible from ground level throughout the world. The assumption that the author is unaware of a larger inhabited area beyond the eastern Mediterranean Sea is not unwarranted.
We are uncertain as to the reason the following verse was included among possible references for a flat earth. However, since we have enjoyed the juvenile imagery of the Sequence since our youth, it has been retained.
We are uncertain as to the reason the following verse was included among possible references for a flat earth. However, since we have enjoyed the juvenile imagery of the Sequence since our youth, it has been retained.
Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger... Isaiah 13:9
conclusion
Of the sixty initial references, only six remain that suggest either a world with edges or a circular description:
The ends of the earth: Job 28:24, 37:3, 38:13 and Isaiah 43:6.
Circle of the earth: Isaiah 40:22.
The end of the earth: Psalm 19:4.
As far as we are aware, the Holy Spirit has not revealed to the Orthodox Church any dogma relating to the size, shape, or age of our world, the year of Jesus’ birth, or the year of his crucifixion. Therefore, any personal opinions on these subjects are beyond the traditions of the Orthodox Church.
The six remaining verses can be understood as reasonable deductions from the premise of a flat earth and, as derived positions, cannot be considered as primary evidence for Biblical support for a flat earth. As always, the only primary evidence for the flat earth model remains the natural world. Therefore, properly speaking, there are no references to the flat earth model found in the Bible.
In conclusion, appeals both to Biblical authority and R.E.M. music videos to support the opinion of a flat earth model are similar; the former seeks obedience to the spotlight of divine revelation, the latter seeks acknowledgement of unconfirmed conspiracies in corners.
As always, the Gentle Reader will reach his own informed conclusions regarding the appropriateness of appeals to authority, whether ancient or modern, and, uniquely, the Gentle Researcher has the arduous, but rewarding task, after due consideration, of ranking three music videos (“Stand”, “Losing my Religion”, and “Man on the Moon”) that supposedly promote the flat earth model.
The ends of the earth: Job 28:24, 37:3, 38:13 and Isaiah 43:6.
Circle of the earth: Isaiah 40:22.
The end of the earth: Psalm 19:4.
As far as we are aware, the Holy Spirit has not revealed to the Orthodox Church any dogma relating to the size, shape, or age of our world, the year of Jesus’ birth, or the year of his crucifixion. Therefore, any personal opinions on these subjects are beyond the traditions of the Orthodox Church.
The six remaining verses can be understood as reasonable deductions from the premise of a flat earth and, as derived positions, cannot be considered as primary evidence for Biblical support for a flat earth. As always, the only primary evidence for the flat earth model remains the natural world. Therefore, properly speaking, there are no references to the flat earth model found in the Bible.
In conclusion, appeals both to Biblical authority and R.E.M. music videos to support the opinion of a flat earth model are similar; the former seeks obedience to the spotlight of divine revelation, the latter seeks acknowledgement of unconfirmed conspiracies in corners.
As always, the Gentle Reader will reach his own informed conclusions regarding the appropriateness of appeals to authority, whether ancient or modern, and, uniquely, the Gentle Researcher has the arduous, but rewarding task, after due consideration, of ranking three music videos (“Stand”, “Losing my Religion”, and “Man on the Moon”) that supposedly promote the flat earth model.