Claim CH132:
Ancient people thought the earth had to be supported in space. The Bible,
on the other hand, says "He [God] suspends the earth over nothing" (Job
26:7). This shows divinely inspired accuracy.
Source:
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1985. Life--How Did It Get Here?
Brooklyn, NY, p. 200.
Response:
- Accuracy on one point does not show overall accuracy. Job 38:4-6
refers to earth having a foundation and footings, in direct
contradiction to the idea that it is unsupported. Job 26:11 says
heaven is supported by pillars. Many verses throughout the Bible refer
to a solid firmament.
- There is no reason to believe that any of these passages are intended
literally as representing Hebrew views of geography. A verse later in
the chapter (Job 26:12) refers to Babylonian mythology, saying that
God slew Rahab (= Tiamat). This is likely intended as no more than a
denial of Babylonian mythology, in which Marduk created the cosmos from
Tiamat's body. The reference to stretching the earth over nothing may
similarly be a denial of another religion's views common at the time.
created 2003-7-10
