Evolutionary Creation: Biblical Accounts of Origins—Ancient Science
Genesis 1–11 features an ancient science of the structure, operation, and origin of the universe and life. The included image presents the world as conceived by ancient Near Eastern peoples, including God’s chosen people, the Hebrews (Lamoureux, 2008; Seely, 1989; Walton, 2006). It may come as a surprise to most Bible-reading Christians, but a three-tier universe is found in the Word of God. A few of these ancient conceptions of the natural world include:
A Flat Earth
The earth is flat. The word “earth” appears over 2,500 times in the Old Testament (Hebrew: ‘eres) and 250 times in the New Tes- tament (Greek: ge). Never once is this word referred to as spherical or round. Instead, the universe in the Scripture is compared to a tent with the earth as its floor (Ps 19:4, Ps 104:2, Is 40:22).
A Circumferential Sea
A circumferential sea borders a circular earth. Proverbs 8:22–31 and Job 26:7–14 describe the creation of the world. The former states, “God inscribed a circle on the face of the deep” (v. 27); and the latter, “God has inscribed a circle on the surface of the waters” (v. 10). The Bible also asserts that the earth is circular. Isaiah writes, “God sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heav- ens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in” (Isa 40:22).
A Stationary Earth
The earth is immovable. The Bible records three times that “the world is firmly established; it cannot move” (1 Chr 16:30, Ps 93:1, Ps 96:10). The stability of the earth is understood to be like that of a building set on the solid foundations. The biblical writers frequently refer to this solid base as “the foundations of earth” (Job 38:4–6, Prov 8:29, Jer 31:37). For example, “God set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved” (Ps 104:5).
The Firmament
A solid domed structure holds up a body of water over the earth. Created on the second day of creation, the firmament separated the “waters above” from the “waters below” (Gen 1:6–8). No- tably, this heavenly dome and body of water did not collapse during Noah’s Flood. As the psalms of David’s day reveal, “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament proclaims the work of His hands” (Ps 19:1); and God “stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of His upper chambers on their waters” (Ps 104:2–3).
A Mobile Sun
The sun moves across the sky. Created and placed in the firmament on the fourth day of creation, the daily movement of sun is found in King Solomon’s observation: “The sun rises and the sun goes down, and hurries to the place where it rises” (Eccl 1:5).
These concepts are explained further in my book, The Bible & Ancient Science: Principles of Interpretation.
About Denis Lamoureux
Denis O. Lamoureux is a professor of Science & Religion at St. Joseph’s College in the University of Alberta. He holds three earned doctoral degrees — dentistry, theology, and biology — and has written several books on the relationship between Christian faith and modern science. Denis worships at a Pentecostal church.
Click on the links to purchase his latest books from McGahan Publishing House, The Bible & Ancient Science: Principles of Interpretation and Beyond the Evolution vs. Creation Debate / Click HERE for his webpage.
