Did the bible say the sun revolves around the earth?

Question

To assert that the earth revolves around the sun is as erroneous as to claim that Jesus was not born of a virgin.

— Cardinal Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) Church Doctor and Inquisitor who, on biblical grounds, vehemently opposed the Copernican Theory and other forms of scientific scholarship

The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. The opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth.
— Niels Bohr (1885-1962)

Answer 1

no, the bible does not say that the sun revolves around the earth. the reason the church was in violent opposition to the heliocentric idea is because god would not create a universe that did not have at its center his ultimate creation, man. therefore, notions to the contrary were a direct threat to them...come to think of it, contrary notions are still a direct threat to the church...huh...it's nice to know some things never change.

Answer 2

Job 38:13 says the earth is flat. Job 38:4 says the earth is stationary, too. There is also a story about the sun not setting during a long day of battle in Joshua. It sounds like the earth stopped rotating, something I find hard to believe. I don't think the Old Testament writers were experts in Astronomy by any means. Modern Bible scholars have to come up with long rationalizations for such scientific errors.

Answer 3

The Bible says, the sun & moon & stars were lights, set in the firmament.
In other words, the stars appear to move in unison.
While the two great lights each have their own pattern.
Relative to the others, the sun rises in the east & sets in the west.
This was simple men just recording what they observed.
They were the scientists of their day, they had theories too.

St. Robert Bellamine is one of my patron saints.
The name Robert means Shining Fame.

Answer 4

Here is the long and short of the so called long drawn out "explanations"!!

Job 38:
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

Foundations> plans
The earth's foundation is gravity and the gravity of Sol. All of Terra is "fastened" by gravity and molecular bonding (simplified)

Measures > made the dimensions/ planned the dimensions

Cornerstone> science calls this the iron core

These are simple expressions of language but can be understood.

Job 38:13 states

That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

This would be the 'poles' 0° (degrees) N and 0° (degrees) S.

Answer 5

What does Cardinal Robert Bellarmine's error have to do with the accuracy of the Bible? He is a fallible human and so are you. Literally.

Answer 6

No, the Bible talks about the sun rising in the east, traveling across the sky and setting in the west.

You know, the same thing we say daily ... the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

Answer 7

the Bible my seem to imply so but remember the Bible is translated from Hebrew and Greek and those languages have many meanings that English doesnt have. the translators sometimes had a hard time deciphering what the authors meant

Answer 8

Here's a little hint for you:

The bible is not a science book. No one ever claimed too be and Christians do not believe God intended for it too be.

Answer 9

it doesn't say it doesn't, and Josh's long day seems to indicate that it does (since the only way to make it noon for a long period of time is to slow the rotation of the earth)

Answer 10

I don't recall that the sun is said to revolve around the earth.
If you have a specific reference to such a statement, I would like to read it.