Seminar "Physical Science & Bible"                                                        Dr. Robert C.Newman

Nyack College, Jan 4, 1984                                                          BiblicalTheological Seminary

 

THE BIBLICALFIRMAMENT

 

The Problem

 

            Early Jews and Christians commonly saw sky as dome

                        e.g.,Talmud, Theophilus

            Modern liberals claim this is what Bible teaches

                        e.g.,Fosdick, Schiaparelli, Von Rad

 

Evidence Alleged for Dome View

 

            Resemblance to other ancient views

                        Egyptian,Babylonian, Greek

            Etymology of Hebrew word for firmament raqiyah

                        hammeror beat out; but Ps 136:6, Isa 40:19

            "Pillars of heaven" imply solid sky, Job26:11

                        butpillars of temple support nothing

            Sky pictured as heavy metal mirror, Job 37:18

                        translationproblem with "mirror"; "sky"

                        comparetwo alternative translations with context

            Building stories in heaven, Amos 9:6

                        anothertransl. problem, cp. context

 

Evidence for Atmosphere Firmament

 

            Nothing about existence ofspace between firmament and earth, nor of opening such a space at creation

            Bible's picture of 3 heavensfits atmosphere‑firmament rather than dome‑firmament, 2 Cor 12:2‑4

            Heaven of heavens not God's dwelling, 1 K8, Ps 148

            Heaven all around us, 2 K 6:17, Ex 20:21‑22

            Birds fly upon firmament rather than under it, Gen1:20

                        compareatm. and dome views

                        howdo bird fly "upon" atmosphere?

                        noteHeb use of prepositions with non‑solid objects

                       Isa17:13 carried "before" wind

                       Job26:8 clouds "under" water

                       Gen1:7 waters "upon" firmament

 

Conclusions

 

            Bible does not teach outmoded view here

            Translation tradition of Bible goes back to timewhen humans mistaken on this, though

            Can't expect liberal theologians to correcttranslation errors that favor their position

            Evangelicals withmultidisciplinary training needed in various academic areas plus Biblicalstudies

 

Forfurther reading:

 

See Robert C.Newman, ÒThe Biblical Teaching on the Firmament,Ó STM thesis, BiblicalTheological Seminary, 1972. Reprinted as The Biblical Firmament: Vault or Vapor? (Hatfield, PA: IBRI, 2000).