Posted on 03/09/2009 3:50:09 PM PDT by GodGunsGuts
Critics of the Bible have often said that the writings of Genesis reflect an “unscientific view” of the universe—one that reflected the cosmology of the ancient world. One of these criticisms centers on the Hebrew word raqia used in the creation account of Genesis 1. Several Bible versions, such as the New King James, translate this word as firmament:
Genesis 1:6–8, NJKV
Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day. [Emphasis added.]
The argument from these Bible critics is that the ancient Hebrews believed in a solid dome with the stars embedded in the dome. They say that the word firmament reflects the idea of firmness, and this reflects erroneous cosmology. Therefore, the Bible is not the inspired Word of God, and we don’t need to listen to its teaching.
However, other versions of the Bible, such as the New American Standard, translate raqia as expanse:
Genesis 1:6–8, NASB
Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. God called the expanse heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day. [Emphasis added.]
But which is the correct term to use?...
(Excerpt) Read more at answersingenesis.org ...
Does not matter what they believed....it ain’t solid....
The heavens used to be called the spheres and it was thought that they were solid. So this makes sense that the people writing the Bible thought the sky was solid.
It may not matter to you, but it matters a whole heck of a lot to both Christians —and— militant atheists.
Jeepers! I hope not, for then we’ll then have to figure out how many angels can dance on it.
God created Heaven and Earth
Other that that, nothing else matters. Those who try to present the Bible as literal historic or scientific work, in all Books, in all arguments, actually harm the Christian Faith.
How in the world would you explain, to a largely illiterate, totally scientifically ignorant population concepts like DNA, Astronomy, Nuclear Physics and everything else you would need to know, to understand Creation?
Those who are offended that we might have come “from monkeys” have no problem believing that we came from “Humus” or dirt, formed from decayed plants, animals and MONKEYs?
Again, do not use the Bible for purposes it was not intended to serve.
The answer is “yes”... wait, what was the question? ;)
Anyone here recall how to use a concordance? I’d do it, but I don’t recall where mine is packed away..... these types of questions are rather easily resolved by looking at other instances where the same word was used, by looking especially at the FIRST such instance and you can normally discern from the context which is the right translation of the original word
Never compared the density of nuclear matter to the planck density of 'empty space' consisting of planck particle pairs?
So what is the objection to Theistic Evolution theory?
No...and the sky still ain’t solid...
I only posted an excerpt. The rest of the article answers the question. Having said that, it’s never a bad idea to consult a concordance to make sure the author himself is correctly translating the Greek and Hebrew words.
Another point, we have defined the term “day” to mean the rotation of the Earth in relation to the sun; how, then, could there be any “day” (much less multiple ones) before God created the sun?
Answer: The Hebrew term translated as “day” was simply a period of time. In fact, we have a similar usage for the word “day”. Does the phrase “back in my day” mean a SPECIFIC day in your past? Or a general time-period?
Capacity: 1000 angels. By order of the fire marshall.
Planck density is 5.1 × 10^96 kg/m³ vs the density of an atomic nucleus at 2 × 10^17 kg/m³.
That's *solid* even if you don't think so.
==The Hebrew term translated as “day” was simply a period of time. In fact, we have a similar usage for the word “day”. Does the phrase “back in my day” mean a SPECIFIC day in your past? Or a general time-period?
I don’t have time to get into it right now, but the following may change your mind on that. All the best—GGG
http://creation.com/images/pdfs/cabook/chapter2.pdf
the genesis story is pretty interesting how closely it matches scientific theory.
everything comes from nothing, everything is formless but then given form. New life forms are introduced to the world in stages (plants, fish, land animals, humans)
Paul, in 2 Corinthians 12:2, refers to the third, heaven, which is the abode of God. " I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven... "
1st - atmosphere
2nd - outer space
3rd - God's abode
ping
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