Vernon wrote:
<< In my experience, no translation of the Hebrew of Gn.1:6,7 confronts one
with the notion of a solid firmament. It follows that, unless one is a
Hebrew scholar and aware of Ez.1:22, the problems you pose simply don't
arise. >>
I think this statement shows how prone we are to read Gen 1 through our
glasses of modern scientific understanding rather than in its own ancient
Near Eastern context. For I have no doubt that you have read the translation
FIRMament. You just never thought about it.
<<But, in any case, surely the information conveyed by the Creator
to Moses would have been the truth - as it is known by us today. >>
Why? Surely God could have employed the science of the times to reveal
himself as the Creator. He sometimes accommodated his revelation even to
sinful cultural views of the times (Matt 19:8); so, he surely could have
accommodated his revelation to the scientific cultural views of the times.
Ezek 1:22 in conjunction with Rev 4:6 shows that the firmament in Gen 1 is
solid. The sky is presented as a solid object in Gen 1 just like other
peoples of the time believed. There is no evidence that the firmament in Gen
1 is not solid; so, we must conclude that it is solid. And, that means it is
not the truth "as it is known by us today."
<<What really mattered was
the truth that 'up there' was a gigantic reservoir of water - supported
in some way - which would later descend as torrential rain to flood the
earth.>>
But, in the biblical account this water is _above_ the firmament. And, since
the sun, moon and stars are _in_ the firmament (Gen 1:14-17), this water is
described as being above the sun, moon and stars. According to ancient
science this would not pose any problem for having it later descend as rain
because they did not think the sun, moon and stars were anywhere near as far
away as we do. But, water above the sun much less the stars could never
descend as rain from our understanding of the universe. So, again it is not
the truth "as it is known to us today." Bear in mind also that only part of
that water came down at the Flood (Gen 8:2; Psa 148:4); so, it is still there
today according to the Bible. Again, an idea that matches the science of the
times perfectly but is not the truth "as it is known to us today."
<<Of course, the 'separation of waters' in Moses' experience would,
necessarily, have involved the use of solid containers, so his choice of
'raqia' is simply explained - and, in the circumstances, may be
forgiven.>>
I like this. Of course, we can forgive the ancient science for it was not the
point or purpose of the revelation.
Paul
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