flat earth?

Question

1 Samuel 2:8, Job 37:3, Isaiah 11:12, and Revelations 7:1
all say the Bible has edges and corners or that it is resting on pillars, if it was talking figuratively then it was doing so at a time period when people thought it was the truth this is not a very smart move on God's part, this also would mean that the Bible is not 100% literal, something creationists hate to say.
Daniel 4:10-11 and Matthew 6:13 wouL both be physicaLLy imposibLe unless the earth is either flat or clear

Answer 1

It sounds like a contradiction. But we must remember, God (I'm not saying that he does or does not exist) did not write the Bible (I'm not saying that it's true or false), so it is human error. There's the chance of things being lost in translation, for the Bible was not in English.

Answer 2

Every statement in the Bible is certainly not meant to be taken literally. There is a difference between taking a common saying and trying to make it literal, and taking a story like the creation literally. Jesus' lineage is taken back to Adam and Eve, something that would be impossible if it was to be taken figuratively.

However, phrases like the "ends of the earth," "the four corners of the earth," etc., do NOT show a belief in a flat earth. First, we STILL use these phrases today, and they still mean the same thing... There is NOWHERE unaffected. Actually, understanding that the earth is a globe makes the hyperbole in these statements stronger, not weaker.

The term "pillars" simply means support or strength. In the New Testament men are called "pillars of the church."

You have a scripture reference off with Matthew 6:13... might want to recheck that.

However, the idea of everyone on Earth looking up and seeing Jesus descend is most certainly NOT impossible. This will be a spiritual body that is returning, not a physical body, and we will all be able to see the return by looking up, whether in Maine, Australia, or on the Moon.

Answer 3

Isaiah 40:22 says; There is One who is dwelling above the circle of the earth. What shape can be viewed as a circle from any direction? A globe. Daniel 4:10-11 is about Nebuchadnezzar's dream, the tree represented God's Kingdom in the earth. When standing at one point on the earth, you can say the four corners of the earth as represented by North,South,East, and West. there is no mention of pillars in my Bible at any of the cited scriptures and as far as corners of the earth, my Bible translates it as the extremities of the earth. 1 Samuel 2:8 talks about earth's supports, nobels that God raises up. Get with the program non believer!

Answer 4

My Bible has edges, and when I set it on a table, it's supported by pillars.

I assume from your last sentence that you meant to refer to the earth, not the Bible. If so, then Isa 40:22 refers to the "circle of the earth", indicating that the earth is round.

The Hebrew word translated "earth" is the same word translated "land", referring to either Israel itself or an area of land, it could refer to a continent.

Continents have coasts, and nations have borders so the word "edge" selected by the English translator may be the problem here.

Are you going to base your eternal destiny on an issue that you are intellectually unable to resolve?

Before you answer this question, read Psalm 14:1.

Another issue is your deductive Bible study technique. Your intention for opening the Bible seems to be to generate rationalizations to support your disbelief.

Have you ever read the Bible with the intention of genuinely tring to understand what it says? Where it's relating historical events, take them as literal history, where it's communicating using symbolism, take it symbolically, when it's utilizing poetic language, appreciate both the poetry as well as the meaning the author is attempting to convey?

In other words, are you a sincere seeker of truth, or a disingenuous scoffer walking after your own lusts who desparately needs to disprove the Bible so you can reassure yourself that you will never stand before He that will judge the living as well as the dead?

You should be warned, however; Gal 6:7 says "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." KJV

Answer 5

Space is curved?

I think this demonstrates a good point: no matter how right god is, man is fearful and doesn't want to look stupid. So man would have changed the bible over the centuries so that it didn't have weird things like "Hey, the earth is round" because its SOOO obvious that the earth isn't, so then the religion would be dismissed as insane.

So: two choices. 1.) Humanity altered the bible early on in order to make it more appealing, but in doing such made parts of it false 2.) God himself screwed up.

Well, you have the third choice of what bibleman says being "OMFGEARTHSTILLFLAT!" but that's unreasonable, because to do that we essentially have to eschew observational science (or, I guess, create a series of conspiracy theories). So, Christians can take their pick: The bible isn't flawless because man changed it, or the bible isn't flawless because Jesus/god lied to us.

And quite frankly, I wouldn't have a problem with either of those, except that it kills the "Christianity is right because the bible says so" arguement (not that it needed to be any deader... is that a real word?)

Answer 6

What makes you think the earth is not flat?

I know we have been in space and have photos of the world as a round ball. That if you fly along the equator in a strait line you will arrive back at the same point. from our perspective the world must be round.

But what from a different dimension the earth appears flat, with corners!
what we perceive may not be what it is.

Read Flatland by Edwin Abbott Abbott

Answer 7

no it doesn't mean anything of the sort. My bibles all have corners, does that mean I think the world is flat? The bible also says the heaven will roll up like a scroll, you know what? I believe Him, the One who knows all the answers.

Answer 8

http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/firmament People of the Old Testament hadn't been near the water. The Bible is Physical as well as Spiritual.

Answer 9

If someone cant tell the difference between a figure of speach, especially when we use the same figures of speach today, then they have the problem, not the Bible.

Answer 10

what itscarolj said was pretty dumb. She said unless Christianity IS your faith and you are NOT biased only then do you have a right to talk about the bible. She would get the Darwin award for that, and 10 points to rub her ilogic in her face.