POLL: Did the ancient Hebrews believe that the earth was flat?

[rakovsky]

On the OP:
No, "the" ancient Hebrews did NOT believe in a flat earth.
Not those who believed the Word of God is true from the beginning, but like any group, there are in that group some who would deny the Word of God is true from the beginning, and try to make up wisdom of men to 'splain it.
They fail -God wins, always!

You cannot make a flat earth out of Genesis 1, for from the beginning, the light and the darkness were circling the earth, making one day, from sunset to sunset.

Then, on day two of creation week, when the heavens were stretched out from the very center of the waters of creation, with half remaining below and half raised above the stretched out "Firmamanet" which was stretched out between the two waters [Hebrew Sha-Mayim], the light was stretched out with the stretched out heavens, and continued circling the earth below the heavens , making evenings and mornings by that circling of earth for the first four days of creation week.

That the light circled the globe is the doctrine of the Word of God, and continued to circle the globe when stretchd out with the heavens.

The sun itself was set in the circle of the earth -the heavens, with the moon, on the day they were made, which is day 4, to govern the stretched out light by day and by night.

Dear Y.S.M.,

I wish to invite you to a poll I made:

POLL: Which of these elements of the creation story do you believe?
http://www.christianforums.com/thre...of-the-creation-story-do-you-believe.7944644/

The Bible as Geocentrism side (I voted for that option too) needs some help.

Genesis 1 does not teach whether the earth is round or the center of the planetary rotations. However, Bible verses like those on the earth having foundations that do not move are consistent with the idea of a flat stationary earth and mobile sun.

I think that the Bible writers thought that 1. the earth was flat, that 2. the sun was mobile, and that 3. there were waters over the firm layer over the heavens. Nowadays, people commonly do not believe these things, including most of the participants on this thread. But in your case, you accept 2. and 3.

 

[Hoghead1]

Dear Hoghead1,
There is no pre-scientific culture, but only devolution since the flood of Noah, then again after the fall of the Tower of Bab-El.

And yes indeed, there is the Scripture of Truth written in heaven, as the messenger from heaven told Daniel in Daniel 10:21:
Daniel 10:21 literally states: "I will show you what is written/inscribed/noted in the Scripture of Truth, and one binds with me in these things, Michael your prince".

Then the messenger from heaven proceeds to show Daniel the things to befall his people in the latter days, which Michael "binds" with that messenger for those things to be upheld on earth that are written in heaven, and which Daniel repeated for us in chapters 11, 12.

Enoch the prophet, the seventh from Adam saw the "tablets written in heaven, written by God the Word for the angels to read and to know what would befall the Adam race from the beginning to the end.

Adam also was in heaven, in Paradise, in the third heaven, and set there to rule over earth with free going and coming between them, until he was cast down and out/divorced from the Spirit of Father of Glory -but with the promise of the Ransom to come.
Adam wrote what he had read about the creation that was written in God's "Codex" in the Book in heaven, and from that, Moses has copied for us the words God wrote in that book about what He did -and it is God's wisdom, wiser than the foolisness of men.

No, absolutely wrong. Ancient Israel was a prescientific culture. For example, where did they conduct any experiments? Where are the formulas? Did Moses bring down an additional tablet, with E=MC on it? Also, the Book of Daniel says that Nebuchadnezzar will conquer Tyre. He didn't, however; Alexander did.
I don't know where you came up with this stuff about tablets in heaven or Adam writing anything. That has never been part of Christianity.
Also, there are about 100 major contradictions in the Bible.
Bottom line: God may well have inspired Scripture , but certainly did not dictate it word for word.

 

[Hoghead1]

On the OP:
No, "the" ancient Hebrews did NOT believe in a flat earth.
Not those who believed the Word of God is true from the beginning, but like any group, there are in that group some who would deny the Word of God is true from the beginning, and try to make up wisdom of men to 'splain it.
They fail -God wins, always!

You cannot make a flat earth out of Genesis 1, for from the beginning, the light and the darkness were circling the earth, making one day, from sunset to sunset.

Then, on day two of creation week, when the heavens were stretched out from the very center of the waters of creation, with half remaining below and half raised above the stretched out "Firmamanet" which was stretched out between the two waters [Hebrew Sha-Mayim], the light was stretched out with the stretched out heavens, and continued circling the earth below the heavens , making evenings and mornings by that circling of earth for the first four days of creation week.

That the light circled the globe is the doctrine of the Word of God, and continued to circle the globe when stretchd out with the heavens.

The sun itself was set in the circle of the earth -the heavens, with the moon, on the day they were made, which is day 4, to govern the stretched out light by day and by night.

There are around 70 passages in the Bible that clearly speak of the earth as flat and the sun revolving around it. That was the basis for a popular 19th-century work "Earth Be Not Globe."

 

[rakovsky]

There are around 70 passages in the Bible that clearly speak of the earth as flat and the sun revolving around it. That was the basis for a popular 19th-century work "Earth Be Not Globe."

She agrees that the sun revolves around it, she just thinks it's round.

 

[Grandliseur]

A common view in ancient Mesopotamia was that the earth was flat. Abraham came from Ur, a major Sumerian city, before settling in Canaan. The Sumerians and Babylonians ruled in 2000-600 BC, when Moses and many other Biblical writers lived.

Sumerians and Babylonians

The Sumerians and Babylonians are considered some of the most advanced in their era in geology and cosmology:


Sumerian: Science & Technology

The American Federation of Teachers website explains that the Sumerians thought that the world was flat:

Babylonian map of earth




Cosmology: Did the ancient Sumerians know about our “solar system?”

"In this primeval sea was somehow engendered the universe the 'heaven-earth,' consisting of a vaulted heaven superimposed over a flat earth and united with it." (Kramer, Samuel Noah. History Begins at Sumer. Garden City: Doubleday Anchor Books, 1959. Pp 76-84.)

"... a vaulted heaven superimposed over a flat earth and united with it..." (Kramer, Samuel Noah. The Sacred Marriage Rite: Aspects of Faith, Myth, and Ritual in Ancient Sumer. Indiana University Press, Bloomington, 1969.


Was There Ever A Flat Earth Consensus?

This of course is not to say that automatically the Hebrews would accept all the beliefs of their neighbors. Their main difference, however, was in theology and religion rather than science. Major differences included Torah observance and their rejection of idols and of worship of other gods. Even in this area they were not always so different- Egyptians practiced circumcision and some Egyptians like Akhenaton were monotheists, while other Egyptians proposed that the gods were just faces or aspects of the one true God. Even in the Bible there are cases where Egyptians acknowledge God.

Thus, when it came to science, it might not be a surprise if they believed the other scientific teachings of the academics of their era.

Below are some verses that agree with belief in a flat earth:

The earth's circle
A circle (hug) is flat, a ball(dur) is round. eg. Isaiah 22:18 uses the word ball (dur).

Isaiah 40:22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle (hug) of the earth,

Proverbs 8:27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass (hug) upon the face of the depth:

The earth's ends
Job 37:3 He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.

Job 37:33 He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth.

Job 38:13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth

Isaiah 43:6 I'll say to the north, 'Give them up'! and to the south, 'Don't keep them back!' Bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the ends of the earth

Jeremiah 51:16 He brings up the mist from the ends of the earth

Zechariah 9:10 And He will speak peace to the nations; And His dominion will be from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.

The East and the West at the opposite ends of the earth
Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our offences from us.

Seeing all the earth's land from a single point in space
Job 28:24 For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;

Daniel 4:10-11 [The king] saw a tree of great height at the centre of the earth...reaching with its top to the sky and visible to the earth's farthest bounds.

Matthew 4:8 “Once again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world [cosmos] in their glory.”

The earth's corners
One explanation has been that "corners" is a designation for directions.
Isaiah 11:12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

Rev 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

The earth's foundations
Job 9:6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

Job 38:4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?

Job 38:6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof

1 Samuel 2:8 for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them.

2 Samuel 22:16 And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered

Psalm 104:5 Thou didst fix the earth on its foundation so that it never can be shaken.

The earth's stretching out
Something that is stretched out is flat.

Psalm 136:6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Stretching a line across the eartth, rather than around it
Job 38:44 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?

The earth's stretching over nothing
Something that is suspended over nothing would have an underside.
Job 26:7 He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing [beliymah].

The earth's form is like clay under a seal.
A seal is a two dimensional object that stamps another two dimensional one on clay.
Job 38:13-14
That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?
It takes on form like clay under a seal, And stands out like a garment.

Since it is accepted by most Christians, and most certainly by me, that the Bible is inspired by God himself so that people wrote under inspiration - it is also therefore assured that the Bible does not teach a flat earth dogma. These views are misinterpretations of prosaic language, and the fact that even today, we have four cardinal directions on the compass.

So, whatever influence Sumerians, Babylonians, and Egyptians may have had on individuals, this did not affect the Bible's content even though atheists and their scholars want it to seem so. Please remember and think about what the following means for the Bible:

Daniel 1: 17 As for these four boys, God gave them knowledge and skill in all writing and wisdom. And Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
. . .
. 20 And in any matter of wisdom and understanding that the king asked from them, he found them ten times better than. all the horoscopists and the conjurers who were in all his kingdom. 21 And Daniel continued to the first year of king Cyrus.​

Bible -- its superior scientific content
I would submit the following things as evidence for the Bible's superior scientific presentation:

The earth hangs on nothing, it is not standing on some mythical beasts!

Job 26: 7 He stretched out the north over the empty place; and He hung the earth on nothing. 8 He binds up the waters in His thick clouds; and the cloud does not burst under them. 9 He covers the face of His throne, spreading His cloud over it. 10 He has described a circle on the surface of the waters to the boundary of light with darkness.
​

Just fairly recently in the news, scientists began to postulate that there would be rogue planets, suns in the universe not attached to any solar system going without set course. The Bible taught us that about 2000 years ago.

Jude:
12 These are sunken rocks in your love feasts, feasting together with you, feeding themselves without fear, waterless clouds being carried about by winds, fruitless autumn trees, having died twice, having been plucked up by the roots; 13 wild waves of the sea foaming up their shames, wandering stars for whom blackness of darkness has been kept forever. 14 And "the seventh from Adam," Enoch, also prophesied to these men, saying, Behold, "the Lord came with" myriads "of His saints,"
​

Scientists also within the last few decades discovered that the universe is expanding. Again, perhaps some 3000 years ago, the Bible told us this.
But first, how could this be known in antiquity, the viewpoint from space:

Isaiah 40: 22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a gauze curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in;​

Here someone may say that the word circle indicates a flat earth. I do not accept this based on the fact that the Bible is inspired by God.

Now for the fact that the Bible tells us of the expanding universe and of its end, an end that coincides exactly with what some scientists postulate will happen:

Isaiah 51:6 6 “Raise YOUR eyes to the heavens themselves, and look at the earth beneath. For the very heavens must be dispersed in fragments just like smoke, and like a garment the earth itself will wear out, and its inhabitants themselves will die like a mere gnat. . . .​

Other planets are inhabited far away in space, and from those who live there, God is sending some of them to assist in Armageddon:

Isaiah 13: 4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, as of a great people! the noise of a tumult of the kingdoms of the nations gathered together! Jehovah of hosts is mustering the host for the battle. 5 They come from a far country, from the uttermost part of heaven, even Jehovah, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.
​

Please do not forget that the Bible is inspired by God no matter what other nations believed back then.

​

​

 

[SkyWriting]

A common view in ancient Mesopotamia was that the earth was flat. Abraham came from Ur, a major Sumerian city, before settling in Canaan. The Sumerians and Babylonians ruled in 2000-600 BC, when Moses and many other Biblical writers lived.

The earth is over 99% flat. Flatter than anything you can manufacture. If you try to make a flat piece of steel, it will bend to fit the earth anyway. And you'll still find it flatter than anything you know of. Stretch an I beam from horizon to horizon and it'll be very flat.

 

[hiwaystar]

Well...they had better believe the Earth is flat. Otherwise, somebody would've fled to the other side of the globe to hide from God.

 

[FEZZILLA]

A) Proverbs 8:27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass/circle ("khug"-circle) upon the face of the depth:
The writer thinks that Wisdom was a spirit who was actually there when God prepared the heavens, so it seems that in this verse he would be saying that the spirit was actually there when God actually was there when God put a circle on the abyss to mark off the earth in the form of a circle (a flat object as drawn by a compass). The author believed that the heavens and earth were actually made by God, and in this verse Solomon is alluding to Genesis 1, the story of creating the heavens and earth. Putting a circle on the earth was the preparatory step of making the earth, just like preparing the heavens was the preparatory step for making the heavens.

Why would God tell a lie? The earth is a sphere which is clearly taught in Scripture. Why would Proverbs 8:27 say the earth is flat while Proverbs 8:31 says its a globe?

"As for the rounde compase of his worlde, I make it ioyfull: for my delyte is to be among the chyldren of men" (1537 Matthew's Bible).

The word is Strong's H8398 תֵּבֵל têbêl which means "the habitable globe."

Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon

Here is 4th century Bishop Ambrose reading from Isaiah 40:22.

"And further on: 'Who sitteth upon the globe of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as locusts, who stretcheth out the heavens as an arch?' Who, then, ventures to put his knowledge in the same plane with that of God?” (St.Ambrose, "Hexameron" The Fathers Of The Church series translated by John J. Savage, p.231).

So why would chuwg mean flat earth in Proverbs 8:27 but globe in Isaiah 40:22?

Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon

B) Jeremiah 51 16 says:
When He utters His voice— [Figurative?: God does not have voice of any kind?]
There is a multitude of waters in the heavens: [Figurative?: there are not waters in the heavens?]
“He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; [Figurative?, the earth does not have ends and vapors don't come from it?]
He makes lightnings for the rain; [Figurative: there are not lightnings for the rain?]
He brings the wind out of His treasuries.”[Figurative?: God has in no sense treasuries and doesn't bring wind from them?]

The "ends of the earth" is an ancient expression which means the far reaches of the earth and its extremities. Jeremiah 51:15 says the earth is a globe and contextually reads the same as Isaiah 40:22.

"Yea euen the Lorde of hostes, that wyth his power made the earthe, with hys wysedome prepared the rounde worlde, and with his discrecyon spred oute the heauens" (1537 Matthew's Bible).

1 Samuel 2:8 for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them.

What is the point of using the expressions of pillars and foundations if the authors think the earth is a ball without foundations? I understand metaphor, but what is even the point of using a metaphor, if even metaphorically the expression is correct. Metaphorically, the "pillars" refer to what holds up the earth, but in a round earth model, there is nothing holding up the earth, its foundations close in on themselves in all directions.

"He reyseth vp the poore out of the duste, and lyfteth vp the begger from the dong hill: to set them among princes, and to enheret them with the seate of glory. For the pyllers of the earth are the Lordes, and he hath set the rounde worlde vpon them" (1537 Matthew-Tyndale Bible).

"Raising up the weak from the dust, he will raise up the needy from the dung-hill to sit with the noble, and he will cause them to inherit a throne of glory, for to Jehovah the castings of the earth, and he will put the habitable globe upon them" (1876 Julia E. Smith Bible).

Here again the word tebel is used which means "the habitable globe." The pillars of the earth in this verse means saints.

"And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen" (Revelation 1:6).

F) Job 26:7 He stretcheth out the north over the empty place,

What is the point of using this expression as a metaphor if the earth being flat and stretched out over emptiness is absolutely foreign to your worldview and incomprehensible? The world does not even look that way; even as a figure of speech it only works in a scientific concept of the world as flat.
In other words, I accept allegories and poetry in the Bible and in common speech like saying the sun rises because it looks that way when you watch the dawn. But how does this poetry about the north being stretched out over emptiness work if the world is round?

Job 26:7 נטה צפון על תהו תלה ארץ על בלי מה׃

"He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing" (KJV).

Corpus of Translations:

"Which God stretchith forth the north on voide thing, and hangith the erthe on nouyt" (1382 Wycliffe Bible).

"He stretcheth out ye north ouer the emptie, & hageth ye earth vpo nothinge" (1535 Coverdale Bible).

"He stretched oute the north ouer the emptie, & hangeth the earth vpon nothinge" (1537 Matthew's Bible).

"He stretcheth out the north ouer the emptie, and hangeth the earth vpon nothing" (1539 Great Bible).

"He stretcheth out the noorth ouer the emptie place, and hangeth the earth vpon nothing" (1568 Bishop's Bible).

"He stretches out the North over empty space,
and suspends the earth over nothing at all" (NAB).

"He stretches out the north over the void
and hangs the earth on nothing" (ESV).

"He stretched out the north over the empty space, and hangeth the earth upon nothing" (Douay-Rheims Bible).

"He stretches out the north over empty space
And hangs the earth on nothing" (NASB).

"He stretches out the north over empty space,
He hangs the earth upon nothing" (MEV).

"He spreads out the northern skies over empty space;
he suspends the earth over nothing" (NIV).

"He stretches out the north over empty space;
He hangs the earth on nothing" (NKJV).

"God stretches the northern sky over empty space
and hangs the earth on nothing" (NLT).

"He stretches out the north over the void,
and hangs the earth upon nothing" (RSV).

"Stretching out the north over desolation, Hanging the earth upon nothing" (YLT).

"He stretches the north over chaos
and suspends the earth on nothing" (Complete Jewish Bible).
=================================================
Hebrew Lexicons:

The word "hangeth" found in the KJV is the Hebrew word תָּלָה.

The New Strong's Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible:

"H8518. תָּלָה tâlâh, taw-law'; a primitive root; to suspend (especially to gibbet):—hang [25x], hang up [3x]. See: TWOT -- 2512; BDB -- 1067d"

Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament:

TWOT: "2512 תָּלָה (tâlâh) hang. (ASV and RSV similar.)
". . . The verb means basically "to hand," whether a utensil on a peg (Isa 22:24; Ezk 15:3), weapons on a wall ((Ezk 27:10f., both Piel: Song 4:4), or a lyre on a tree (Ps 137:2). Job 26:7 strikingly pictures the then-known world as suspended in space, thereby anticipating future scientific discovery, when it states that God "hangs the earth upon nothing." Other (more grisly) examples of the verb may be seen in Lam 5:12 (Niphal); 11 Sam 4:12; 18:10."

New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology & Exegesis, Vol.4: תָּלָה (tlh), hang (#9434),

". . . 5. Hanging or suspending other objects. These include harps, which are hung on poplars by the disconsolate exiles (Ps 137:2), a variety of things that can be hung on a wooden peg (yated, --> # 3845; Ezk 15:3), and the earth, which is hung by God "over nothing" (Job 26:7).

Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon

============================================
Bible Commentaries On Job 26:7

Believer's Bible Commentary:

"26:5-13 The rest of the chapter gives a marvelous description of God's power in the universe: the evaporation/precipitation cycle; the density of the clouds; the cycle of light and darkness; the storm at sea; and the stars and constellations by which His Spirit has adorned the heavens.
While Bildad stressed God's glory in the heavens, Job here dwells on His power in the depths: under the waters, Sheol, and Destruction.
Job desccribes--centuries before science taught it--that God hangs the earth on nothing (which is a poetic depiction of the earth's position and movement in the solar system).
How immeasurably above the cosmogonies of the heathen philosophers are these few grand words! In them we have as in germ the discoveries of a Newton and a Keppler. It is a great mistake to think Scripture does not teach scientific truth. It teaches all needed truth, even if not in scientific language. yet with scientific accuracy" [Ridout, Job, pp.133, 134].

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary on the Whole Bible,

"7. Hint of the true theory of the earth. Its suspension in empty space is stated in the second clause. The north in particular is specified in the first, being believed to be the highest part of the earth ( Isaiah 14:13 ). The northern hemisphere or vault of heaven is included; often compared to a stretched-out canopy ( Psalms 104:2 ). The chambers of the south are mentioned ( Job 9:9 ), that is, the southern hemisphere, consistently with the earth's globular form."

Matthew Henry's Commentary,

"(1.) He hangs the earth upon nothing, v. 7. The vast terraqueous globe neither rests upon any pillars nor hangs upon any axle-tree, and yet, by the almighty power of God, is firmly fixed in its place, poised with its own weight. The art of man could not hang a feather upon nothing, yet the divine wisdom hangs the whole earth so. It is ponderibus librata suis—poised by its own weight, so says the poet; it is upheld by the word of God’s power, so says the apostle. What is hung upon nothing may serve us to set our feet on, and bear the weight of our bodies, but it will never serve us to set our hearts on, nor bear the weight of our souls."

The Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition),

“7-8 The word “skies” is a justifiable insertion in v.7. Although Saphon means “north” (GK 7600), the verb “spreads out” is never used of the earth but if often used in reference to the heavens (cf.9:8). This imagery is continued by the words “over empty space.” It is not difficult to postulate what “empty space” might be intended by Job if he were referring to a northern region of the earth where the majestic mountains rise.
Job was pointing to God’s power as incomprehensible. The heavens are visible yet, they do not fall to earth; there is no visible means of support. Even the earth itself can be said to hang on nothing. That God spread out the heavens over empty space, hang the earth on nothing, and fill the clouds with water without bursting is intended to make us stand in awe. Job was boldly expressing in poetic terms the marvelous and majestic power of God.”

Ancient Christian Commentary On Scripture: Old Testament XI -- Job,

"26:7-9 God Suspends the World on Nothing
Rain Useful To The Whole Created Order. Olympiodorus [ the Deacon ]: "He stretches out the north wind upon nothing, and he upon nothing hangs the earth." Indeed the support of the earth is nothing but an understructure, but it is suspended and is sustained by Divine will. . . . " (brackets mine).
================================================
† St.Ambrose (340 – 397),

Here is a lengthy quote which answers criticism from flat earthers. Ambrose quotes from Job 26:7 as well as explains it when he says "Let others hold approvingly that the earth never will fall, because it keeps its position in the midst of the world in accordance with nature."

"“How the disposition of the earth therefore depends upon the power of God, you may learn also where it is written: ‘He looketh upon the earth and maketh it tremble,’ and elsewhere: ‘One again I move the earth.’ Therefore, the earth remains immovable not by its balances, but is moved frequently by the nod and free will of God, as Job, too, says: ‘The Lord shaketh it from its foundations, and the pillars thereof tremble.’ And elsewhere: ‘Hell is naked before him and there is no covering for death. He stretched out the north over the empty space and hangeth the earth upon nothing. He bindeth up the waters in his clouds. The pillars of heaven fled away and are in dread at his rebuke. By his power the seas are calmed, by his wisdom is struck down the sea-monster, and the gates of heaven fear him.’
By the will of God, therefore, the earth remains immovable. ‘The earth standeth for ever,’ according to Ecclesiastes, yet is moved and nods according to the will of God. It does not therefore continue to exist because based on its own foundation. It does not stay stable because based on its own props. The Lord established it by the support of His will, because ‘in his hand are all the ends of the earth.’ The simplicity of this faith is worth all the proffered proofs.
Let others hold approvingly that the earth never will fall, because it keeps its position in the midst of the world in accordance with nature. They maintain that it is from necessity that the earth remains in its place and is not inclined in another direction, as long as it does not move contrary to nature but in accordance with it. Let them take occasion to magnify the excellence of their divine Artist and eternal Craftsman. What artist is not indebted to Him? ‘Who gave to women the knowledge of weaving or the understanding of embroidery?’ However, I who am unable to comprehend the excellence of His majesty and His art do not entrust myself to theoretical weights and measures. Rather, I believe that all things depend on His will, which is the foundation of the universe and because of which the world endures up to the present” (St.Ambrose, "Hexameron," The Fathers Of The Church series translated by John J. Savage, pp.22-23).

Ambrose is saying that the earth will not fall or move out or away from the laws God ordained for it.

So let there be no mistake, Ambrose knows the earth is a globe and that it is suspended in space over nothing. The earth is said to be held up by God's will. Clement of Rome also says this:

“Thus, by His transcendent might He established the heavens, and by His incomprehensible understanding He ordered them: the earth He separated from the water now encircling it, and firmly grounded it on the unshakable foundation of His own will” (33:3).

The waters are encircling the earth and its foundation is grounded on God's will, which means the earth is held up by nothing other than God's will. God's will being the laws He ordained for it.

 

[FEZZILLA]

Hebrew Lexicons For H8398 תֵּבֵל têbêl

The New Strong's Exhaustive Expanded Concordance of the Bible. H8398

"8398. têbêl, tay-bale'; from H2986; the earth (as moist and therefore inhabited); by extension, the globe; by implication, its inhabitants; specifically, a particular land, as Babylonia, Palestine:—world [35x] habitable part, [1x].
The word signified, first, the solid material on which man dwells, and that was formed, founded, established, and disposed by God; and secondly, the inhabitants thereof. See TWOT 835h; BDB--385c, 1061d."

Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon

Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament.

TWOT 835h תֵּבֵל têbêl, tay-bale'; world.

"This noun is used in three basic situations. First, the noun is employed to represent the global mass called earth, including the atmosphere or heavens (cf. Ps.89:12; II Sam 22:16; et al.). têbêl is often in parallelism or apposition with 'eres (I Sam 2:8; Isa.26:9; 34:1; et al.) when 'eres is used in its broadest sense of "the world." The "world" was created by God, not false gods (Jer.10:12; Ps.93:1) and it belongs solely to him (Ps.24:1). God's eternality is illustrated by his existence before the creation of "world" (Ps.90:2) and his wisdom (perhaps a personification of Christ) was present prior to the world's creation (Prov. 8:26, 31). Creation itself gives a "worldwide" witness to God's glory (Ps.19:4 [H 5]) which should result in Yahweh's praise (Ps.98:2). Yahweh will judge this "world," making it empty (Isa.24:4), though in the millennium God will cause Israel to blossom and fill the whole world with her fruit (Isa.27:6).

Second, têbêl is sometime limited to "countries" or "the inhabitable world." This meaning is more closely related to the root meaning. It refers to the world where crops are raised. This is observed in the judgment message against the king of Babylon (not Satan) for violently shaking the "world" or "inhabitable world" (Isa.13:11; 14:17). Lightning is said to enlighten the "world"---undoubtedly referring to a limited land area (Ps.77:18 [H 19]; 97:4).

Third, têbêl may also refer to the inhabitants living upon the whole earth. This is demonstrated by the parallelism of têbêl with I' umim (Ps.9:8 [H 9]) and 'ammim (Ps.96:13; 98:9). The context of these references is Yahweh's judgment upon the world's inhabitants---a judgment both executed in righteousness and instructive of Yahweh's righteousness (Isa.26:9; 34:1).

In several passages the sense of têbêl as the globular earth in combination with its inhabitants is clearly observed. Everything belongs to Yahweh as his creation (Ps.50:12). Yahweh alone controls this world (Job 34:13; Nah 1:5) and his power is over all the earth which always responds to his presence (Job 37:12; Ps.97:4)".

New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology & Exegesis, Volume 4:

"9315. têbêl תֵּבֵל Nom. fem., world (#9315).

OT Found 36x exclusively in poetic texts, the word conveys the cosmic or global sense in which 'eres is also sometimes used; i.e., the whole earth or world considered as a single entity. It sometimes occurs in parallelism with 'eres (Jer.10:12; Lam.4:12). Twice it is used together with 'eres, either to express "the whole earth" (Job 37:12), or perhaps in the sense of the inhabited earth (Prov.8:31). It is used frequently in contexts that associate it with Yahweh's creative act and that, as a result, express the stability or durability of the earth (1 Sam.2:8; Ps.89:11 [12]; 93:1; 96:10). It is used when the whole population of the world is referred to (Ps.24:1; 33:8; 98:7; Isa. 18:3; 26:9; Nah.1:5). Isaiah uses têbêl more than any other prophet, mostly in the context of universal judgment (Isaiah 13:11; 24:4; 34:1; cf. Ps.96:13; 98:9).
Land, earth: --> damd (ground, piece of land, soil, realm of the earth, #141); --> 'eres (earth, land, #824); --> têbêl (world, #9315)."
______________________________________________________________
Breakdown of תֵּבֵל têbêl:

Strong's: "; by extension, the globe;"

Gesenius': ",the habitable globe,"

TWOT: "First, the noun is employed to represent the global mass called earth"<--AND-- > "In several passages the sense of têbêl as the globular earth in combination with its inhabitants is clearly observed."

New International: "the word conveys the cosmic or global sense in which 'eres is also sometimes used; i.e., the whole earth or world considered as a single entity."
__________________________________________________________
Correcting a Lexicon Error

Both the "Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament" (TWOT) and the "New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology & Exegesis, Volume 4" make the following mistake:

TWOT: "têbêl is often in parallelism or apposition with 'eres".

New International: "the word conveys the cosmic or global sense in which 'eres is also sometimes used;"

The error is H6210 עֶרֶשׂ ʻeres. This word is never used along with H8398 תֵּבֵל têbêl.
The word that should have been used in those lexicons is H776 אֶרֶץ ʼerets. Here is the proof:

H776 אֶרֶץ ʼerets
Genesis 1:1 (KJV)

H6210 עֶרֶשׂ ʻeres
Genesis 1:1 (KJV)

H8398 תֵּבֵל têbêl
Genesis 1:1 (KJV)

 

[FEZZILLA]

The whole of Christian history also reveals nothing but globe earth readings from the Bible.

Clement of Alexandria (150-215 A.D.)

Clement was a 2nd century church father. The following is taken from his writing called The Instructor, which I’m citing from the very last page of Book III entitled To The Paedagous:

“And when the seasons, in their circling course,
Winter and summer, spring and autumn, each
Should come, according to well-ordered plan;
Out of a confused heap who didst create
This ordered sphere, and from the shapeless mass
Of matter didst the universe adorn;--
Grant to me life, and be that life well spent,
Thy grace enjoying; let me act and speak
In all things as Thy Holy Scriptures teach”
(Ante-Nicene Christian Library, Vol.1).

And the Holy Scriptures taught Clement about the sphere of the earth and the circular course (rotation) of the 4 seasons.

We can also read from the 4th century Latin Vulgate, which was the most used Bible of all time, and see how Jerome translated Hebrew words like chuwg and tebel.


1 Samuel 2:8,

Latin Vulgate: "suscitat de pulvere egenum et de stercore elevat pauperem ut sedeat cum principibus et solium gloriae teneat Domini enim sunt cardines terrae et posuit super eos orbem"

Word: Orb, from H8398 תֵּבֵל têbêl

English Definition of Orbem (aka, orb).
Orb definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

Latin Definition of Orbis
https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/t...f0CnAhF38c2oHvqBQAjEK86NodUiD16QreAT55OT5v2ro

English: "He reyseth vp the poore out of the duste, and lyfteth vp the begger from the dong hill: to set them among princes, and to enheret them with the seate of glory. For the pyllers of the earth are the Lordes, and he hath set the rounde worlde vpon them" (Strong's H8398: תֵּבֵל têbêl -- 1537 Matthew-Tyndale Bible).

Again "the pillars of the earth" means saints.

Job 37:12,

Latin Vulgate: "quae lustrant per circuitum quocumque eas voluntas gubernantis duxerit ad omne quod praeceperit illis super faciem orbis terrarum"

Word: Orbis, from H2015 הָפַךְ hâphak, H4524 מֵסַב mêçab, H8398 תֵּבֵל têbêl, H776 אֶרֶץ ʼerets

English Definition
Orb definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

Latin Definition
https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/t...9Db_fzdatI0blAuh_C9eM7gyTkSMTTQYSUZfDwNhobSxQ

English "Being turned by his guidance to their doing all that he commanded them upon the face of the habitable globe of the earth" (Strong's H2015 הָפַךְ hâphak, H4524 מֵסַב mêçab, H8398 תֵּבֵל têbêl, H776 אֶרֶץ ʼerets -- 1876 Julia E. Smith Bible).

Psalm 89:11,

Latin Vulgate: "tui sunt caeli et tua est terra orbem terrae et plenitudinem eius tu fundasti"

Word: Orbem, from H8398 תֵּבֵל têbêl

Orb, English Definition
Orb definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

Latin Definition
https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/t...a_SB0teU1m91_F1a_-DWhOP7qjCCliDgfVfSDACLJWqJ0

English "The heauens are thine, the earth is thine: thou hast layed the foundation of the rounde world, and al that therin is" (Strong's H8398: תֵּבֵל têbêl -- 1537 Matthew's Bible).

Isaiah 40:22,

Latin Vulgate: "qui sedet super gyrum terrae et habitatores eius sunt quasi lucustae qui extendit velut nihilum caelos et expandit eos sicut tabernaculum ad inhabitandum"

Word: Gyrum (aka, Gyrus), from H2329: חוּג chûwg

Latin Definition
https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/t...DYCvwGJpR8Acm0zAoVtoyOoiVjXA_PdNWSlCMRm5aNCo4

English Definition
Circle definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

The English definition has changed. Go to Circle in American and see #4. It says:

"OLD-FASHIONED, Poetic
the orb of a heavenly body."

This use of circle in poetic form comes to us from the 16th & 17th centuries and is now obsolete. Today the word circle only carries a flat 2D meaning. But in old English, from where our translations originate from, it was used to capture the circular shape of a globe. Today it would be better to translate chuwg as globe or orb due to the changes in the English language.

English: "It is he that sitteth upon the globe of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as locusts: he that stretcheth out the heavens as nothing, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in" (Strong's H2329: חוּג chûwg, -- Douay Rheims Bible).

 

[Kaon]

A common view in ancient Mesopotamia was that the earth was flat. Abraham came from Ur, a major Sumerian city, before settling in Canaan. The Sumerians and Babylonians ruled in 2000-600 BC, when Moses and many other Biblical writers lived.

Sumerians and Babylonians

The Sumerians and Babylonians are considered some of the most advanced in their era in geology and cosmology:


Sumerian: Science & Technology

The American Federation of Teachers website explains that the Sumerians thought that the world was flat:

Babylonian map of earth




Cosmology: Did the ancient Sumerians know about our “solar system?”

"In this primeval sea was somehow engendered the universe the 'heaven-earth,' consisting of a vaulted heaven superimposed over a flat earth and united with it." (Kramer, Samuel Noah. History Begins at Sumer. Garden City: Doubleday Anchor Books, 1959. Pp 76-84.)

"... a vaulted heaven superimposed over a flat earth and united with it..." (Kramer, Samuel Noah. The Sacred Marriage Rite: Aspects of Faith, Myth, and Ritual in Ancient Sumer. Indiana University Press, Bloomington, 1969.


Was There Ever A Flat Earth Consensus?

This of course is not to say that automatically the Hebrews would accept all the beliefs of their neighbors. Their main difference, however, was in theology and religion rather than science. Major differences included Torah observance and their rejection of idols and of worship of other gods. Even in this area they were not always so different- Egyptians practiced circumcision and some Egyptians like Akhenaton were monotheists, while other Egyptians proposed that the gods were just faces or aspects of the one true God. Even in the Bible there are cases where Egyptians acknowledge God.

Thus, when it came to science, it might not be a surprise if they believed the other scientific teachings of the academics of their era.

Below are some verses that agree with belief in a flat earth:

The earth's circle
A circle (hug) is flat, a ball(dur) is round. eg. Isaiah 22:18 uses the word ball (dur).

Isaiah 40:22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle (hug) of the earth,

Proverbs 8:27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass (hug) upon the face of the depth:

The earth's ends
Job 37:3 He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.

Job 37:33 He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth.

Job 38:13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth

Isaiah 43:6 I'll say to the north, 'Give them up'! and to the south, 'Don't keep them back!' Bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the ends of the earth

Jeremiah 51:16 He brings up the mist from the ends of the earth

Zechariah 9:10 And He will speak peace to the nations; And His dominion will be from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.

The East and the West at the opposite ends of the earth
Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our offences from us.

Seeing all the earth's land from a single point in space
Job 28:24 For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;

Daniel 4:10-11 [The king] saw a tree of great height at the centre of the earth...reaching with its top to the sky and visible to the earth's farthest bounds.

Matthew 4:8 “Once again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world [cosmos] in their glory.”

The earth's corners
One explanation has been that "corners" is a designation for directions.
Isaiah 11:12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

Rev 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

The earth's foundations
Job 9:6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

Job 38:4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?

Job 38:6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof

1 Samuel 2:8 for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them.

2 Samuel 22:16 And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered

Psalm 104:5 Thou didst fix the earth on its foundation so that it never can be shaken.

The earth's stretching out
Something that is stretched out is flat.

Psalm 136:6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Stretching a line across the eartth, rather than around it
Job 38:44 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?

The earth's stretching over nothing
Something that is suspended over nothing would have an underside.
Job 26:7 He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing [beliymah].

The earth's form is like clay under a seal.
A seal is a two dimensional object that stamps another two dimensional one on clay.
Job 38:13-14
That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?
It takes on form like clay under a seal, And stands out like a garment.

Yes, it was clear the earth was a realm, and they believed the Most High God when He told them about the spheres of the heavens, for example.

Don't worry, the paradigm is long overdue to change again soon... the fickle human paradigms only last about half a century or so (+/- 100 years). The age of enlightenment is fading, and the unveiling is about to happen. The appearance of truth everywhere will be the next fashion statement - except the truth will be even less accessible than it is in the enlightenment.

One reason why the layperson won't ever be primed for the truth is because we let other humans rule us with glee - while at the same time claiming only the Most High God is our lord. Ecuminism, and an abdication of God-given sovereignty of ones spiritual trajectory has turned a relationship of unity into a social club of myths spread over division. F

The reality of this realm means nothing if the technique for finding truth is pollution itself. Well funded lies and socially backed half truths are what rule this realm for now.

 

[JackRT]

Modern or ancient, every culture operates within a certain cosmology or understanding of the universe. This cosmology sets the context of how a people understand their world and their place in it. With very few exceptions our modern day cosmology is shaped by the scientific discoveries of the past 500 years. Some of these discoveries have greatly upset religious understandings and it sometimes takes centuries to reconcile the differences. However, since we live in a culture that has been greatly shaped by the bible and Christian beliefs, it is worthwhile to ask about biblical cosmology.

The biblical understanding of the universe is much the same as that of the surrounding cultures in the ancient Middle East at the time when it was written. Unfortunately, nowhere does the bible attempt to present a comprehensive cosmology, so we are forced to rely upon individual passages and to attempt to understand them in the light of their culture and their history. To begin with, biblical cosmology can be characterized as a three-tiered universe. This strange phrase needs some explanation to make the concept clearer.

First, the surface of the earth is circular and flat except for geographical features like hills and valleys. This of course was the belief of the Sumerians. To these people it was theoretically possible to go high enough to see the entire earth, or to envision a tree tall enough that it could be seen from everywhere on the earth's surface, or even to build a tower to reach the sky. The sky was thought of as a solid bowl, called the firmament, that was upended over the circular earth to enclose a volume in the shape of a hemisphere. I should add that there are some bible verses that speak of the four corners of the earth. This was the view of the Babylonians. This would make the firmament look more like a tent than a bowl. The lights of the sky (sun, moon, planets and stars) were inside the firmament and were very much smaller than we presently understand. In fact they were very much smaller than the earth itself. The mechanism by which these celestial objects moved about is not really explained. The noncanonical Book of Enoch (mentioned in the bible as authoritive and part of the canon of Ethiopian Christians) speaks of gates in the east and west for the sun and the moon to enter and leave. Enoch also suggests that their movements are caused by winds.

What I have just described is the middle tier of the three. Above the firmament are waters. This region is described as heaven, the abode of God and the angels. There were also gates in the firmament to permit water to enter as rain. Below the earth are also waters. This region is described as sheol or hell. There were also gates in the earth to permit water to spring up from below. This three level universe is variously described as either hung on nothing or supported by pillars. Storehouses are also envisioned in heaven for the snow and hail.

How should a of Christian today react to this biblical cosmology? The vast majority of what might be described as 'mainline' Christians are actually quite comfortable with this seeming dichotomy. They recognize that the bible is the product of a relatively unsophisticated people with an entirely pre-scientific understanding of nature, who used poetic or metaphorical language to convey their spiritual understandings. On the other hand there is the minority point of view of those Christians who regard the bible to be inerrant and to be understood literally. This group has been forced into extreme apologetic efforts in order to reconcile the bible with modern scientific understandings.

Speaking personally, I find these apologetic attempts to be rather inventive and very strained. I believe that if the scripture writers and early target audience were to read these apologetics, they would find them extremely puzzling and entirely foreign. This is not to say that they were not intelligent people or not keen observers of nature but rather that that they lacked the intellectual basis to form scientific hypotheses and even the instrumentation to gather accurate data --- all that came about some 2,000 years later.

The biblical flat earth cosmology persisted into New Testament times. However by the mid second century Christianity had largely lost its Jewish roots and understandings and had become a gentile Greek speaking movement. Of course the Greeks knew that the earth was a sphere thanks to Eratosthenes who actually was able to calculate the circumference around 240 BC. This knowledge gradually percolated into Jewish and Christian thought especially after Ptolemy introduced his cosmology in the mid second century. The earth became the center of the universe with the moon and then the sun and then the planets, with complicated epicycles, and then the “fixed” stars all in orbit around it. This was the cosmology accepted by Christianity until the revolution of Copernicus, Kepler. Galileo and Newton. This was resisted by Christianity largely on the basis that the earth was not the center of God’s creation. In a relatively short time even this scientific insight was not only accepted but accepted to the extent that the biblical cosmology of a flat earth was rejected. The flat earth was not only rejected but ridiculous arguments were even invented to suggest that the bible was not even suggesting a flat earth at all. Such, all too often, is the way some Christians react to new understandings and insights.

 

[FEZZILLA]

Modern or ancient, every culture operates within a certain cosmology or understanding of the universe. This cosmology sets the context of how a people understand their world and their place in it. With very few exceptions our modern day cosmology is shaped by the scientific discoveries of the past 500 years. Some of these discoveries have greatly upset religious understandings and it sometimes takes centuries to reconcile the differences. However, since we live in a culture that has been greatly shaped by the bible and Christian beliefs, it is worthwhile to ask about biblical cosmology.

The biblical understanding of the universe is much the same as that of the surrounding cultures in the ancient Middle East at the time when it was written. Unfortunately, nowhere does the bible attempt to present a comprehensive cosmology, so we are forced to rely upon individual passages and to attempt to understand them in the light of their culture and their history. To begin with, biblical cosmology can be characterized as a three-tiered universe. This strange phrase needs some explanation to make the concept clearer.

First, the surface of the earth is circular and flat except for geographical features like hills and valleys. This of course was the belief of the Sumerians. To these people it was theoretically possible to go high enough to see the entire earth, or to envision a tree tall enough that it could be seen from everywhere on the earth's surface, or even to build a tower to reach the sky. The sky was thought of as a solid bowl, called the firmament, that was upended over the circular earth to enclose a volume in the shape of a hemisphere. I should add that there are some bible verses that speak of the four corners of the earth. This was the view of the Babylonians. This would make the firmament look more like a tent than a bowl. The lights of the sky (sun, moon, planets and stars) were inside the firmament and were very much smaller than we presently understand. In fact they were very much smaller than the earth itself. The mechanism by which these celestial objects moved about is not really explained. The noncanonical Book of Enoch (mentioned in the bible as authoritive and part of the canon of Ethiopian Christians) speaks of gates in the east and west for the sun and the moon to enter and leave. Enoch also suggests that their movements are caused by winds.

What I have just described is the middle tier of the three. Above the firmament are waters. This region is described as heaven, the abode of God and the angels. There were also gates in the firmament to permit water to enter as rain. Below the earth are also waters. This region is described as sheol or hell. There were also gates in the earth to permit water to spring up from below. This three level universe is variously described as either hung on nothing or supported by pillars. Storehouses are also envisioned in heaven for the snow and hail.

How should a of Christian today react to this biblical cosmology? The vast majority of what might be described as 'mainline' Christians are actually quite comfortable with this seeming dichotomy. They recognize that the bible is the product of a relatively unsophisticated people with an entirely pre-scientific understanding of nature, who used poetic or metaphorical language to convey their spiritual understandings. On the other hand there is the minority point of view of those Christians who regard the bible to be inerrant and to be understood literally. This group has been forced into extreme apologetic efforts in order to reconcile the bible with modern scientific understandings.

Speaking personally, I find these apologetic attempts to be rather inventive and very strained. I believe that if the scripture writers and early target audience were to read these apologetics, they would find them extremely puzzling and entirely foreign. This is not to say that they were not intelligent people or not keen observers of nature but rather that that they lacked the intellectual basis to form scientific hypotheses and even the instrumentation to gather accurate data --- all that came about some 2,000 years later.

The biblical flat earth cosmology persisted into New Testament times. However by the mid second century Christianity had largely lost its Jewish roots and understandings and had become a gentile Greek speaking movement. Of course the Greeks knew that the earth was a sphere thanks to Eratosthenes who actually was able to calculate the circumference around 240 BC. This knowledge gradually percolated into Jewish and Christian thought especially after Ptolemy introduced his cosmology in the mid second century. The earth became the center of the universe with the moon and then the sun and then the planets, with complicated epicycles, and then the “fixed” stars all in orbit around it. This was the cosmology accepted by Christianity until the revolution of Copernicus, Kepler. Galileo and Newton. This was resisted by Christianity largely on the basis that the earth was not the center of God’s creation. In a relatively short time even this scientific insight was not only accepted but accepted to the extent that the biblical cosmology of a flat earth was rejected. The flat earth was not only rejected but ridiculous arguments were even invented to suggest that the bible was not even suggesting a flat earth at all. Such, all too often, is the way some Christians react to new understandings and insights.

Everything you just said is not true.

† St.Augustine (354-430 A.D.)

It is very clear that Augustine believed in a spherical earth. The following citations are taken from Augustine’s book The Literal Meaning of Genesis, Vol.1. (Ancient Christian Writers, Vol.41).

“But if the light first created enveloped the earth on all sides, whether it was motionless or travelling round, it could not be followed anywhere by night, because it did not vacate any place to make room for night. But was it made on one side, so that as it travelled it would permit the night to follow after from the other? Although water still covered all the earth, there was nothing to prevent the massive watery sphere from having day on one side by the presence of light, and on the other side, night by the absence of light. Thus, in the evening, darkness would pass to that side from which light would be turning to the other” (p.33).

In the next citation Augustine is speaking about “The firmament in the midst of the waters.”

“Now we are seeking to know whether the Creator, who has ordered all things in measure, and number, and weight, has assigned to the mass of waters not just one proper place around the earth, but another also above the heavens, a region which has been spread around and established beyond the limits of the air” (p.47).

Augustine understands that in Scripture the waters of the earth span all around the earth. From Genesis 1 alone he gets a round, spherical earth with the firmament which spans to and beyond the limits of air and into space.

† St.Ambrose (337-397 A.D.)


The following quotations are from his book Hexameron, which is a commentary on Genesis chapter 1. The rest of his quotations come from The Fathers Of The Church series translated by John J. Savage,

“Consequently, the year, too, has the stamp of a world coming to birth, as the splendor of the springtime shines forth all the more clearly because of the winter’s ice and darkness now past. The shape of the circles of years to come has been given form by the first dawn of the world” (p.12).

Ambrose is speaking about the birth of the earth on the first day of creation. Now it isn’t quite clear if he is speaking about sphericity of the earth or the earth’s movement around the sun. But the focus of his comment here seems to indicate the shape of the earth, possibly meaning several rotations of the earth to come in the years ahead.

More on the shape of the earth,

“However, in the circular quality of a sphere these elements are confused and lose the impulse of their course, inasmuch as a sphere is turned around in its orb and hence the elements above change place with the elements beneath and vise-versa” (p.23).

The circular quality of a sphere [Strong’s H2328 - H2329]. This sphere is turned (Job 38:14). We can see how Ambrose is reading and interpreting Scripture.

The next citation from Ambrose’ Hexameron deals with how the skeptics of the Bible claim that the earth cannot be a sphere because water could not remain on it.

“And first of all these interpreters wish to destroy the profound impressions which frequent reading of the Scriptures have made in our mind, maintaining that waters cannot exist above the heavens. That heavenly sphere, they say, is round, with the earth in the middle of it; hence, water cannot stay on that circular surface, from which it needs must flow easily away, falling from a higher to a lower position. For how, they say, can water remain on a sphere when the sphere itself revolves?” (p.52).

Sounds like a modern argument from flat earthers, doesn’t it? This just goes to prove that there were skeptics of the Bible then who doubted the earth was round and believed it was flat.

This one deals with how he arrives to the spherical earth concept. He begins the paragraph with “Scripture points out”, and then cites from Isa.40:22,

“And further on: ‘Who sitteth upon the globe of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as locusts, who stretcheth out the heavens as an arch?’ Who, then, ventures to put his knowledge in the same plane with that of God?” (p.231).


† Origen (185-254 A.D.)

Origen of Alexandria was born in the 2nd century but his ministry would make him a 3rd century man. He is an Ante-Nicene church father who wrote On First Principles, which is the very first book on Theology ever written by a Christian. The following quotation is taken from the John C. Cavadini edition.

“Certainly what some say of this world, that it is corruptible because it was made, and yet does not go to corruption because the will of God, who made it and preserves it from being mastered by corruption, is stronger and more powerful than corruption, may more rightly be believed of that world which we have above called a “fixed” sphere, because by the will of God it is in no way “subject to corruption” (cf.Rom 8:20, 21), for the reason that it has not admitted the causes of corruption" (On First Principles, Book II, Chapter III, p.113).

Origen continues:

". . . . and the entire condition of the world we know, in which the spheres of the planets are said to be, is left behind and superseded, there exists above that sphere which is called "fixed" an abiding place for the pious and blessed, in as it were a "good land" and a "land of the living," which the "meek" and gentle will receive for an inheritance. To this land or earth belongs that heaven which, with its more magnificent circuit, surrounds and confines it, and this is the true heaven and the first to be so called" (On First Principles, Book II, Chapter III, p.114).

The spheres of the planets is a clear reference that Origen's reading of Scripture revealed that our earth is a sphere.


† Clement of Alexandria (150-215 A.D.)

Clement was a 2nd century church father. The following is taken from his writing called The Instructor, which I’m citing from the very last page of Book III entitled To The Paedagous:

“And when the seasons, in their circling course,
Winter and summer, spring and autumn, each
Should come, according to well-ordered plan;
Out of a confused heap who didst create
This ordered sphere, and from the shapeless mass
Of matter didst the universe adorn;--
Grant to me life, and be that life well spent,
Thy grace enjoying; let me act and speak
In all things as Thy Holy Scriptures teach”
(Ante-Nicene Christian Library, Vol.1).

And the Holy Scriptures taught Clement about the sphere of the earth and the circular course (rotation) of the 4 seasons. How do you get 4 seasons on a flat earth anyway?

† Clement of Rome (35 - 99 A.D.)

Clement of Rome is mentioned in the Bible (Php.4:3) and was consecrated by St.Peter to lead the church in Rome. His mention in Php.4:3 was by St.Paul who obviously also placed him in high esteem. He is the first of the early church fathers after the Apostles of Christ (or the first to leave a surviving Epistle behind). His words my not be Scripture, but they weigh heavy on how Scripture is interpreted. Quotations are taken from The Ancient Christian Writers series Vol.1. His Epistle To The Corinthians was written in 97 A.D. which is only one or two years after the Apostle John penned Revelation!

“Thus, by His transcendent might He established the heavens, and by His incomprehensible understanding He ordered them: the earth He separated from the water now encircling it, and firmly grounded it on the unshakable foundation of His own will” (33:3).

The waters encircle the earth which we also see from space. Remember Carl Sagan's tiny blue dot, well here it is described by 1st century Clement. The phrase "and firmly grounded it on the unshakable foundation of His own will” is a reference to Job 26:7.

In the next quotation, Clement speaks about the rotation of the earth:

"The heavens revolve by His arrangement and are subject to Him in peace. Day and night complete the revolution ordained by Him, and neither interferes in the least with the other" (20:1-2).

The next statement by Clement challenges everything modern people of the 21st century think they know about what the early Christians knew. This comment is about antipodes:

“The ocean, impassable for men, and the worlds beyond it are governed by the same decrees of the Master” (20:8).

Clement is speaking about antipodes which, in his time, was defined as people who lived on the other side of the earth, or who plant their footsteps opposite to ours. St.Augustine had trouble believing Clement and others about people living on the opposite side of the world. But as it turns out Clement of Rome was correct.

Back in the 1st century, crossing the oceans to other worlds was not by any means an easy feat and even seemingly impossible. But nevertheless, God still made the seemingly impossible very possible during the rise of Christendom when ship building would become more advanced and eventually Christians would make it over to the other side of the earth.


Origen Explains Clement’s Comment:

“Clement indeed, a disciple of the apostles, mentions those whom the Greeks call “people of the opposite earth,” and speaks of other parts of the world which none of our people can reach, nor can any of those who live there cross over to us; and these parts themselves he called “worlds,” when he says, “The ocean is impassable to men, and the worlds beyond it are governed by the same ordinances of God the Ruler” (On First Principles, Chapter III verse 6).

Who you gonna believe: 20th century liberal scholars or 1st a century church father appointed by the Apostle Peter? Clearly the Apostles and earliest of church fathers knew what chuwg meant and how it would translate into other languages. It never translated as a flat earth to them so why would we consider the petty word definitions of 20th & 21st century liberal scholars whose only motive was to appease evolutionists?

† Flavius Josephus (37-100 A.D.)

Josephus was a Jewish historian who wrote the Antiquity of the Jews in 70 A.D. We have seen how the earliest of Christian church fathers understood Scripture and now we will see how a Jewish historian understands Genesis.

“After this, on the second day, he placed the heaven over the whole world, and separated it from the other parts; and he determined it should stand by itself. He also placed a crystalline [firmament] round it, and put it together in a manner agreeable to the earth, and fitted it for giving moisture and rain, and for affording the advantage of dews” (Antiquity 1:30).

Josephus is describing how God, on the second day, placed a crystalline around the earth. This earth, not being held up by turtles or elephants or a whale, is determined by God to stand by itself (Job 26:7). You cannot place a firmament around the whole earth if the earth is flat or even a half-sphere. So here in the 1st century, both Josephus and Clement of Rome, refute modern liberal assumptions. Did Josephus know how to read Hebrew? Sure he did! He not only knew how to read Hebrew but was also a highly educated historian. So all these modern arguments which fool many have no weight in light of what we read from Josephus and Clement!

 

[FEZZILLA]

Clement of Rome (A.D, 35 - 99).

Clement of Rome is the first early church father who would become a successor to the Apostles. He was consecrated by the Apostle Peter and mentioned favorably by the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:3,

"And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life."

Clement's name is written in the Book of Life. Clement is believed by some scholars to have been the author of the Book of Hebrews based on the grammatical style. While this is uncertain, what is certain is that Clement gives us clear insight to what 1st century Christians believed. Clement knew the Bible better than all 20th and 21st century scholars. His testimony on basic doctrine provides us essential insight into the ancient Church as well as the Succession in which all other consecrated priests would follow (though many priests today have deviated from sound doctrine to their own destruction -- 1 Tim.4:16; Heb. 5:11-14; 6:1-12).

Clement affirms his strong belief in the round world. All quotations are taken from The Ancient Christian Writers series Vol.1. His Epistle To The Corinthians was written in 97 A.D. which is only one or two years after the Apostle John penned Revelation!

“Thus, by His transcendent might He established the heavens, and by His incomprehensible understanding He ordered them: the earth He separated from the water now encircling it, and firmly grounded it on the unshakable foundation of His own will” (33:3).

Clement is referring to the establishment of the heavens and the earth before dry land appeared. This means that only water would have been seen encircling the globe.

The next quote comes from chapter 20 and here Clement clearly states the earth rotates:

"Day and night complete the revolution ordained by Him, and neither interferes in the least with the other" (20: 2).

It seems clear enough to me that he is reading from the Book of Job chapter 26 verse 10...

"He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end" (KJV)

"He drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters,
At the boundary of light and darkness" (NKJV).

...and Job 38:14,

"It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment" (KJV).

"It turneth itself as clay of a seal And they station themselves as clothed" (YLT).

Moreover, Clement was a believer in what was called antipodes -- people of opposite earth, who's feet walk opposite to ours.

“The ocean, impassable for men, and the worlds beyond it are governed by the same decrees of the Master” (20:8).

What Clement is saying here is that the earth is a sphere and the other side of the earth is peopled.

Origen (185-254 A.D.) explains Clement's comment:

“Clement indeed, a disciple of the apostles, mentions those whom the Greeks call “people of the opposite earth,” and speaks of other parts of the world which none of our people can reach, nor can any of those who live there cross over to us; and these parts themselves he called “worlds,” when he says, “The ocean is impassable to men, and the worlds beyond it are governed by the same ordinances of God the Ruler” (On First Principles, Chapter III verse 6).

St.Augustine knew the Bible taught globe earth but could not fathom the idea of antipodes. Here are two translations of Augustine's "City of God" containing his indirect remark about Clement's belief in antipodes. Here Augustine is at odds with Clement:

"9. The story of the 'antipodes'
As for the fabled 'antipodes', men, that is, who live on the other side of earth, where the sun rises when it sets for us, men who plant their footsteps opposite ours, there is no rational ground for such a belief. The upholders of this notion do not assert that they have discovered it from scientific evidence; they base their conjecture on a kind of priori reasoning. They argue that the earth is suspended within the sphere of the heavens, so that the lowest point and the middle point of the world are identical; and this leads them to suppose that the other half of the world which lies below this part cannot be devoid of human inhabitants. They ignore the fact that even if the world is supposed to be a spherical mass, or if some rational proof should be offered for the superstition, it does not follow that the land on that side is not covered by 'the gathering together of the waters'. Again, even if the land were uncovered, it does not immediately follow that it has human beings on it. For there is no untruth of any kind in Scripture, whose reliability in the account of past events is attested by the fulfillment of its prophecies for the future; and it would be too ridiculous to suggest that some men might have sailed from our side of the earth to the other, arriving there after crossing the vast expanse of ocean, so that the human race should be established there also by the descendants of the first man." (St.Augustine, "City of God," Penguin Classics, p.664).

Now for another translation,

"9. Whether we are to believe in the Antipodes
But as to the fable that there are Antipodes, that is to say, men on the opposite side of the earth, where the sun rises when it sets to us, men who walk with their feet opposite to ours, that is on no ground credible. And, indeed, it is not affirmed that this has been learned by historical knowledge, but by scientific conjecture, on the ground that the earth is suspended within the concavity of the sky, and that it has as much room on one side of it as on the other : hence they say that the part which is beneath must also be inhabited. But they do not remark that, although it be supposed or scientifically demonstrated that the world is of round and spherical form, yet it does not follow that the other side is bare of water ; nor even, though it be bare, does it immediately follow that it is peopled. For Scripture, which proves the truth of its historical statements by the accomplishments of its prophecies, gives no false information ; and it is too absurd to say that some men might have taken ship and traversed the whole wide ocean, and crossed from this side of the world to the other, and that thus even the inhabitants of that distant region are descended from that first man." (St.Augustine, "City of God," Book XVI, chapter 9, p.532; translated by Marcus Dods, D.D.; The Modern Library, NY).

Wikipedia cites this information in their "Flat Earth" section to claim Augustine had denied the spherical shape of the earth. But he is not rejecting the sphericity of the earth, but rather he finds it unnecessary to believe that the world is populated with antipodes who live on opposite earth. This opposite earth includes Australia, New Zealand and the Americas (North, Central and South), along with Canada and Mexico etc.

Augustine did know the earth is spherical.The following quotation is taken from Augustine’s book The Literal Meaning of Genesis, Vol.1. (Ancient Christian Writers, Vol.41).

“But if the light first created enveloped the earth on all sides, whether it was motionless or travelling round, it could not be followed anywhere by night, because it did not vacate any place to make room for night. But was it made on one side, so that as it travelled it would permit the night to follow after from the other? Although water still covered all the earth, there was nothing to prevent the massive watery sphere from having day on one side by the presence of light, and on the other side, night by the absence of light. Thus, in the evening, darkness would pass to that side from which light would be turning to the other” (The Literal Meaning of Genesis, Vol.1. Ancient Christian Writers, Vol.41, p.33).

Augustine is speaking about the light God created. He speaks with confidence concerning his own knowledge of the shape of the earth. He sees an earth that is spherical and rotating. He may not of had all the knowledge he would have wanted to know, but the shape of the earth is spoken with confidence.

The purpose of citing Augustine's criticism of antipodes is to prove what Clement is saying when he writes:

"The ocean, impassable for men, and the worlds beyond it are governed by the same decrees of the Master” (20:8).

This is a very clear globe earth reference from the 1st century A.D. and it comes from the most important successor of the Apostles.
_____________________________________________________________________
BONUS: What did Clement mean by "the worlds beyond it are governed by the same decrees as the Master"? Perhaps this will be a prophetic guide to what Clement had in mind.

An Old Indian Chief Speaks about Washington.

This is one of my favorite accounts of President George Washington which is often cited in many discussions on social media. This event happens before Washington becomes the 1st President of the United States. This account is taken from "America's God And Country: Encyclopedia Of Quotations" by William J. Federer, p.636-637,

"Fifteen years later, Washington and Dr.Craik, a close friend of his from his youth, were traveling through those same woods near the Ohio River and Great Kanawha River. They were met by an old Indian chief, who addressed Washington through an interpreter:

"I am chief and ruler over my tribes. My influence extends to the waters of the great lakes and to the far blue mountains.
I have traveled a long and weary path that I might see the young warrior of the great battle. It was on the day when the white man's blood mixed with the streams of the forests that I first beheld this chief [Washington].
I called to my young men and said, mark yon tall and daring warrior? He is not of the red-coat tribe - he hath an Indian's wisdom, and his warriors fight as we do - himself alone exposed.
Quick, let your aim be certain, and he dies. Our rifles were leveled, rifles which, but for you, knew not how to miss - 'twas all in vain, a power mightier far than we, shielded you.
Seeing you were under the special guardianship of the Great Spirit, we immediately ceased fire at you. I am old and soon shall be gathered to the great council fire of my fathers in the land of shades, but ere I go, there is something bids me speak in the voice or prophecy:
Listen! The Great Spirit protects that man [pointing at Washington], and guides his destinies--he will become the chief of nations, and a people yet unborn will hail him as the founder of a mighty empire. I am come to pay homage to the man who is the particular favor favorite of Heaven, and who can die in battle."

The famous Indian warrior, who was in that battle, said:

"Washington was never born to be killed by a bullet! I had seventeen fair fires at him with my rifle, and after all could not bring him to the ground."

So what we read here further confirms Clement's words about how the people of opposite earth "are governed by the same decrees of the Master” (God). All this was understood by Clement over a thousand years before Columbus discovered the new world!

 

[Rubiks]

Ancient_Near_East_Cosmology.jpg

 

[FEZZILLA]

Ancient_Near_East_Cosmology.jpg

The Artist Behind The Picture

Flat earthers will constantly post photos such as the one featured below. They post it over and over and still over again, hoping you will eventually believe that this picture represents the world according to the Hebrews. I was unable to upload the original photo drawn by the original artist, but the photo you see here is a colored replica of a photo drawn up by an English-born Jewish liberal scholar by the name of Nahum Sarna (1923-2005). While many did not consider him a Godless evolutionist, he was, however, an advocate for the belief that Genesis is merely an antiquity which has much in common with the pagan view of the earth. Sarna's picture would be embraced by every liberal scholar who followed evolution theory. In fact, in my New American Bible: Saint Joseph Edition, in the Introduction, it calls the events of Genesis "folktales" with a strong liberal slant saying those events never ever happened. Then in Genesis you will see this picture representing the flat earth with dome over it, and the sun, moon and stars in the sky of the earth, instead of in the expanse of the heavens as Genesis clearly reads. The belief that the Hebrews borrowed their views from pagan cosmologies such as the Babylonian Enuma Elish is simply not true. It not only removes God as the Creator of the heavens and earth, but it forcefully pushes evolution theory with the power of suggestion.
Now the NAB translation of the Bible is a work of liberal scholarship. Not all Catholics deny Genesis as our literal history, and not all Jewish scholars deny Genesis as true history.
Liberal scholarship today has made no secret in pushing evolution theory and this diagram fools many people into the acceptance of evolution theory. It goes along with Julius Wellhausen's Documentary Hypothsis, which Paul H. Seely, Rob Skiba and others also subtly promote through flat earth atheism.
But Jesus did not agree that the accounts of Genesis are mere folktales. In fact, Jesus quoted from both Genesis chapters 1 & 2 as literal history. Since we Christians understand Christ to be the word made flesh, it would be more reasonable for any Bible scholar to accept what Jesus says over what evolution fearing liberal scholars think.
Throughout this page you will find one flat earth claim on Scripture after the other very well refuted. In fact, the claims are so well refuted that all 20th and 21st century thinkers are stripped of any authority to change the orthodox understanding of the verses so commonly quoted by flat earthers. From the 1st century A.D. on up all we see is globe/spherical earth readings from Scripture. There is no such picture drawn of the earth back in the early church and no such dogma held by the church which demanded a flat earth reading of said verses. On the contrary! There is an overwhelming amount of globe earth readings from Scripture by the most respected early church fathers!
There is no reason to take this picture with a single grain of seriousness. The picture is a fraud as there is no evidence in the ancient Jewish or early Christian world of such a cosmology. Nahum Sarna had no basis to assume such an absurd picture. The fruits of his work are seen in the massive horde of flat earth atheists who use his picture for the purpose of creating mass apostasy in the church. And sadly many Christians are being deceived by this mockery of their faith. They are slowly being brainwashed into evolution, the occult, and even Islam.

Sarna's drawing does not accurately represent the Biblical view as understood by ancient Jews and early Christians. Sarna's drawing is as reliable as the deranged drawings of Ernst Haeckel.

Flavius Josephus (37-100 A.D.)

Josephus was a Jewish historian who wrote the Antiquity of the Jews in 70 A.D. We have seen how the earliest of Christian church fathers understood Scripture and now we will see how a Jewish historian understood Genesis.

“After this, on the second day, he placed the heaven over the whole world, and separated it from the other parts; and he determined it should stand by itself. He also placed a crystalline [firmament] round it, and put it together in a manner agreeable to the earth, and fitted it for giving moisture and rain, and for affording the advantage of dews” (Antiquity 1:30).

Josephus is describing how God, on the second day, placed a crystalline around the earth. This earth, not being held up by turtles or elephants or a whale, is determined by God to stand by itself (Job 26:7).

You cannot place a firmament around the whole earth if the earth is flat or even a half-sphere. So here in the 1st century, both Josephus and Clement of Rome, refute 21st century liberal scholars.. Did Josephus know how to read Hebrew? Sure he did! He not only knew how to read Hebrew but was also a highly educated historian. So all these modern arguments which fool many have no weight in light of what we read from 1st century Josephus and Clement of Rome!

 

[JackRT]

You cannot place a firmament around the whole earth if the earth is flat or even a half-sphere. So here in the 1st century, both Josephus and Clement of Rome, refute 21st century liberal scholars.. Did Josephus know how to read Hebrew? Sure he did! He not only knew how to read Hebrew but was also a highly educated historian. So all these modern arguments which fool many have no weight in light of what we read from 1st century Josephus and Clement of Rome!

Josephus was a wealthy Helenized Jew who would have been well aware of the Greek understanding of a spherical planet but that was certainly not the understanding of the writers of the old testament and several writers in the new testament. That being said, the early Christian church quickly lost its Jewish roots and by the mid second century it was primarily a Greek speaking Gentile movement.

 

[RC Tent]

So is there a cave painting, or a wall, a pyramid, a clay tablet, a mosaic...any diagram of this nonsensical flat disc with a soggy arch above it, anything from the time? Not words, can anyone link to some art work, or a drawing made by an early Hebrew?

 

[JackRT]

So is there a cave painting, or a wall, a pyramid, a clay tablet, a mosaic...any diagram of this nonsensical flat disc with a soggy arch above it, anything from the time? Not words, can anyone link to some art work, or a drawing made by an early Hebrew?

Plenty of words in the Bible that attest to this but you want to ignore them.

 

[FEZZILLA]

Josephus was a wealthy Helenized Jew who would have been well aware of the Greek understanding of a spherical planet but that was certainly not the understanding of the writers of the old testament and several writers in the new testament. That being said, the early Christian church quickly lost its Jewish roots and by the mid second century it was primarily a Greek speaking Gentile movement.

He was explaining Day 2 of creation as understood by Jewish priest. He had no reason to lie about his account. It is a trusted 1st century account.


Did The Greeks Influence The Christians?

Atheists make the claim that the Christians knew the earth was round only because the Greeks told them. This lie is well refuted by the Old Testament which the early Christians read and knew very well.
There are several verses in the Bible dating as far back as 2000 B.C., 1000 B.C., 900., B.C. and 700 B.C. which state the earth is round. All these round earth verses antedate the first recorded Greek thought in 500 B.C.
Here is a general overlay of round earth verses in the Bible. This does not cover all round earth verses but the dates in history in which these verses were written from.

Job 26:10 (2000 B.C.),

"He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end" (2000 B.C.)

"He has circled the waters with boundaries, until the day and night come to an end" (MEV).

“But if the light first created enveloped the earth on all sides, whether it was motionless or travelling round, it could not be followed anywhere by night, because it did not vacate any place to make room for night. But was it made on one side, so that as it travelled it would permit the night to follow after from the other? Although water still covered all the earth, there was nothing to prevent the massive watery sphere from having day on one side by the presence of light, and on the other side, night by the absence of light. Thus, in the evening, darkness would pass to that side from which light would be turning to the other” (St.Augustine, "The Literal Meaning of Genesis, Vol.1." Ancient Christian Writers, Vol.41, p.33).

“After this, on the second day, he placed the heaven over the whole world, and separated it from the other parts; and he determined it should stand by itself. He also placed a crystalline [firmament] round it, and put it together in a manner agreeable to the earth, and fitted it for giving moisture and rain, and for affording the advantage of dews” ( Jewish Historian Josephus, Antiquity 1:30).
https://wikidiff.com/compass/encompass

Job 37:12 (2000 B.C.),

"Being turned by his guidance to their doing all that he commanded them upon the face of the habitable globe of the earth" (1876 Julia E. Smith Bible ---- H2015 הָפַךְ hâphak, H4524 מֵסַב mêçab, H8398 תֵּבֵל têbêl, H776 אֶרֶץ ʼerets).

Psalm 89:11 (1000 B.C.),

"The heauens are thine, the earth is thine: thou hast layed the foundation of the rounde world, and al that therin is" (Matthew's Bible).

Proverbs 8:31 (900 B.C.),

"As for the rounde compasse of this worlde I make it ioyfull: for my delite is to be among the chyldren of men" (Bishop's Bible).

Isaiah 40:22 (700 B.C.),

"It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in" (KJV).

Oldest reading of this verse I found comes from 4th century St.Ambrose reading from Isaiah 40:22.

"And further on: 'Who sitteth upon the globe of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as locusts, who stretcheth out the heavens as an arch?' Who, then, ventures to put his knowledge in the same plane with that of God?” (St.Ambrose, "Hexameron" The Fathers Of The Church series translated by John J. Savage, p.231).

Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon (coded with the Strong's number system),

H2329: "חוּג m. a circle, sphere, used of the arch or vault of the sky, Pro.8:27; Job 22:14; of the world, Isa.40:22."

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown: Commentary on the Whole Bible,

“It is he--rather, connected to the last verse, Have ye not known?--have ye not understood Him that sitteth...? (vs.26) [MAUDER]. Circle--applicable to the globular form of the earth, above which, and the vault of the sky around it, above it, He sits. For “upon” translate “above.” as grasshoppers--or locusts in His sight (Num.13:33), as He looks down from on high (Ps.33:13, 14; 113:4-6).”

Matthew Henry's Commentary

"Now that which is here said of God is (1.) That he has command of all creatures. The heaven and the earth themselves are under his management: He sits upon the circle, or globe, of the earth, v. 22. He that has the special residence of his glory in the upper world maintains a dominion over the lower world, gives law to it, and directs all the motions of it to his own glory. He sits undisturbed upon the earth, and establishes it. He is still stretching out the heavens, his power and providence keep them still stretched out, and will do so till the comes that they shall be rolled together like a scroll. He spreads them out as easily as we draw a curtain to and fro, opening these curtains in the morning and drawing them close again at night. And the heaven is to this earth as a tent to dwell in; it is a canopy drawn over our heads, et quod tegit omnia coelum --- and it encircles all. --Ovid. See Ps.104:2 (2.) That the children of men, even the greatest and mightiest, are as nothing before him. The numerous inhabitants of this earth are in his eye as grasshoppers in ours, so little and inconsiderable, of such small value, of such little use, and so easily crushed. Proud men's lifting up themselves is but like the grasshopper's leap; in an instant they must stoop down to the earth again. If the spies thought themselves as grasshoppers before the sons of Anak (Num.13:33), what are we before the great God? Grasshoppers live but awhile, and live carelessly, not like the ant; so do the most men. (3.) That those who appear and act against him, how formidable soever they may be to their fellow-creatures, will certainly be humble and brought down by the mighty hand of God."

Jeremiah 51:15 (600 B.C.).

"Yea euen the Lorde of hostes, that wyth his power made the earthe, with hys wysedome prepared the rounde worlde, and with his discrecyon spred oute the heauens."

Anyone who has read the church fathers will see how Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and other early church fathers challenged the Greeks on their worldview. The early church was at odds with traditional Greek paganism. Though it was rarely that the shape of the earth was debated, but the early church did debate pagans who ridiculed the Bible for teaching sphere earth. St.Ambrose mentions these skeptics who ridiculed Scripture for teaching that the earth was a sphere. In fact, this ridicule is being rehashed today by flat earthers.

“And first of all these interpreters wish to destroy the profound impressions which frequent reading of the Scriptures have made in our mind, maintaining that waters cannot exist above the heavens. That heavenly sphere, they say, is round, with the earth in the middle of it; hence, water cannot stay on that circular surface, from which it needs must flow easily away, falling from a higher to a lower position. For how, they say, can water remain on a sphere when the sphere itself revolves?” (St.Ambrose, "Hexameron" The Fathers Of The Church series translated by John J. Savage, p.52).

Below is a link is a Jewish Apocrypha Book written 50 years before the Christ. It was written for Jews living in Alexandria. This Book is good historical value as it also exposes atheism in ancient times.
Bible Gateway passage: Wisdom 1:1-3:13 - Revised Standard Version