Does The Bible Teach That Sophia Is A Goddess?

From the earliest of civilizations, there has existed in mythology a "goddess," who was the mother of all. The Romans gave this mother goddess, often called Sophia, the title of the "god of wisdom." The Greek "Sophia" (Σοφία) means wisdom (sophos means wise with Hogia Sophia meaning Holy Wisdom). This is also connected to Philosophy, which in Greek is philosophia or the "love of wisdom." There are claims that wisdom, which is poetically personified in the Wisdom literature of Proverbs (as well as in the non-canonical Apocrypha), is an actually being, the forgotten fourth person of the Trinity, Sophia - the mother goddess. Isis, the Egyptian goddess, is similar, as is Pandora and others. But is this biblical, as is postulated by advocates increasingly since the 1960's and 70's? (Photo credit: Celsus Library in Ephesus, Turkey; Meister des Hildegardis-Codex ca.1165 AD)

Adherents of what has been called Sophism (followers are typically called Sophists) tend to cite the Apocryphal works of Baruch, the Wisdom of Solomon and Sirach (also called Ecclesiasticus). In past articles, we have concluded that "The Apocrypha is an intriguing work and can be used for research purposes, but not regarded as the Word of God. It was not regarded as Scripture for the first four centuries of Christianity until Catholicism, finding that the Apocrypha supported Catholic doctrines, accepted it"[3] (see entry: "Should The Apocrypha And 'Lost' Gospels Be In The Bible?" for more information). The Apocrypha is not considered the Word of God by a variety of Christians, and likewise, there are several reasons to not accept it as such. Also, it should be noted that the 14-15 works found in the Apocrypha never claim to be the Word of God, but the exact opposite (see 2nd Maccabees 15:38-39, for example). 

Nevertheless, since adherents of Sophism claim that these Apocryphal works support their doctrine, select passages will be examined. Gnosticism, which was particularly on the rise in the second-third centuries, advocated a mother goddess. In several of the Gnostic Gospels, a mother goddess is hinted at. Upon seeing these heresies, several Christians opposed it, pointing out the triune nature of God as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each having been referred to with male attributes. Belief in Sophia as a goddess is not limited to Gnostics of course, but it was advocated by several Gnostic works. The first nine chapters are often cited by Sophists as evidence for Sophia, and though this is not an exhaustive examination of each passage cited as "evidence," we will examine a few passages. 

Personification of Wisdom at Ephesus

Proverbs 4:5-6 says, "Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you." Wisdom, which is often personified in Proverbs, is also spoken of as something to acquire. Consider Proverbs 9:10, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Wisdom personified is found in the first nine chapters of Proverbs - not as an attempt to demonstrate that an entity named Sophia exists, but to allow the reader to connect more with wisdom as a concept. Wisdom is applied knowledge, not a lack of it. Another passage often cited as "evidence" for Sophia as a goddess is in Psalm 3:13-18:

"Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold fast will be blessed." Proverbs 9:1-6 is also often cited, which says, "Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point of the city, 'Let all who are simple come to my house!' To those who have no sense she says, 'Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.'"

With these particular Scriptural references in mind, we turn to Proverbs 8 which reads, "Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud: 'To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it. Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness. All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge. Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. 'I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power.'"

Verses 15-29 continue, "By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just; by me princes govern, and nobles—all who rule on earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.  I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full. 'The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be. When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water; before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth. I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.'"

The eighth chapter of Proverbs concludes, "Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind. 'Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find life and receive favor from the LORD. But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.'" Evidently, if such a mother goddess existed, there is much we could glean about her from these passages. The argument used by Sophists states that in the later part of the Old Testament, the feminine noun for wisdom in Hebrew, chokmah, is used to personify wisdom. However, personification is defined as "the attribution of a personal nature or character to inanimate objects or abstract notions, especially as a rhetorical figure."[4] 

As noted earlier in this article, adherents tend to cite Apocryphal works to support their concept of Sophia. Consider The Wisdom of Solomon 7:7-14 which conveys, "Therefore I prayed, and prudence was given to me; I called for help, and there came to me a spirit of wisdom. I valued her above scepter and throne, and reckoned riches as nothing beside her; I counted no precious stone her equal, because all the gold in the world compared with her is but a little sand, and silver worth no more than clay. I loved her more than health and beauty; I preferred her to the light of day; for her radiance is unsleeping. So all good things together came to me with her, and in her hands was wealth past counting, and all was mine to enjoy, for all follows where wisdom leads, and I was in ignorance before, that she is the beginning of it all. What I learnt with pure intention I share without grudging, nor do I hoard for myself the wealth that comes from her. She is an exhaustible treasure for mankind, and those who profit by it become God's friends, commended to him by the gifts they derive from her instruction."

One final passage to examine as "evidence" is Baruch 4:1-4, a rather enlightening passage on the Sophists' beliefs, "Thereupon wisdom appeared on earth and lived among men. She is the book of the commandments of God, the law that stands for ever. All who hold fast to her shall live, but those who forsake her shall die. Return, Jacob, and lay hold of her; set your course towards her radiance, and face her beacon light. Do not give up your glory to another or your privileges to an alien [foreign] people. Happy are we, Israel, because we know what is pleasing to God." The preliminary thoughts bring to mind Hebrews 11:6, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him." The Apocryphal works are not considered to be the Word of God by many, and it is the contention of this ministry that the 66 books found in the Bible are God's Word - not the Apocrypha, not the "Lost" or Gnostic Gospels, not the Qu'ran (Koran), and not the Book of Mormon. Therefore, we will examine the cited passages in Proverbs, with the conviction that the non-canonical works of Wisdom of Solomon and Baruch (Ecclesiasticus also references Wisdom personified) are not God's Word, and hence cannot be considered as support/evidence.

Having mentioned the Book of Mormon, it is worth noting that there is a widely held view among Mormons that humans, along with Satan, Jesus, and others, are all literal spirit-brothers and sisters birthed from Elohim - whom Christians know as God the Father - and a that there is a mother goddess.[5] Mormons also hold the belief that God the Father also had a father, and that God was born on a separate planet,[6-9] as well as having once been - or still is - a man of flesh and bones.[10] This is similar - but not exact - to Sophist belief in that there is a belief in a mother goddess. These Mormon beliefs, however, are a topic of a upcoming entry, and will not be explored within the confines of this article. Now, when we hear claims that the Bible refers to entities such as Sophia, contrary to the belief of some, we should not pray about it to see if it "feels right." Trusting feelings is not a valid measure of truth.

In fact, Jeremiah 17:9 and Proverbs 28:26 warns against this very thing. Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" Proverbs 28:26 conveys, "Those who trust themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe." The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, as noted earlier in Proverbs. This could be likened unto standing in front of a high wall and thinking, "I need to pray to see how high this wall is." But we would not pray to see how high a wall is - we would measure it using a ruler, or something similar. This is not to say do not pray, but that in no place does the Bible instruct us to pray to see if a book - or a teaching such as Sophia as a goddess - is true. On the contrary, much like a ruler, the Bible is the Christian's ruler, our standard of measurement to see what is true. If Sophia is an actual goddess described in the Old and New Testament, it would agree with the remainder of God's Word. Therefore, we are led to examine a few key concepts about God, and by measuring this "goddess" against the Bible, which is our standard of truth, we can determine whether or not belief in Sophia is valid.

First of all, Romans 11:33, James 1:5, 1:17 and 3:13-17 teach that God is the source of all true wisdom, and if the passages cited as support for Sophia were true, she would be making claims that belong to God alone. Adherents may claim that Sophia is a part of God, but a quick reminder of Proverbs 8:22-23 shows this belief invalid, "The LORD brought me forth at the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be." If this passage were meant to be taken literally, then we would understand that Sophia was created, not eternal - and was created at the beginning, recorded in Genesis 1-2. With this in mind, we would expect that if Sophia is the fourth person of God, that what the Old and New Testament tells us about the nature of God would agree with Sophist belief. Does belief in Sophia agree with the Bible? Consider the following verses:

• "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the LORD is one." (Deuteronomy 6:4, TNIV)
• "The eternal God is your refuge..." (Deuteronomy 33:27)
• "...the LORD is God... there is no other." (1st Kings 8:60)
• "The LORD reigns forever..." (Psalm 9:7)
• "...the LORD is enthroned as King forever." (Psalm 29:10)
• "God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change..." (Psalm 55:19)
• "Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." (Psalm 90:2)
• "Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity." (Psalm 93:2)
• "...And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
• "...the LORD is the Rock eternal." (Isaiah 26:4)
• "Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior." (Isaiah 43:10-11)
• "...apart from me there is no God." (Isaiah 44:6)
• "Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock..." (Isaiah 44:8)
• "I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself." (Isaiah 44:24)
• "I am God, and there is no other." (Isaiah 46:9)
• "But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King." (Jeremiah 10:10)
• "I am God, and not a human being - the Holy One among you." (Hosea 11:9)
• "...one LORD..." (Zechariah 14:9)
• "Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us?" (Malachi 2:10)
• "God is one and there is no other but him." (Mark 12:32)
• "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:4-6)
• "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (1st Timothy 1:17)
• ..."there is one God." (James 2:19)

From these verses, we can conclude that: 1) There is only one God; 2) No other gods exist, nor has there ever been neither will there ever be another God; 3) God is eternal, everlasting, and unchanging; 4) God is not a man. In past entries, such as "Is Jesus Really God?", "Did Jesus Claim to Be God?", "Answering Objections Concerning Jesus As God" and "Is The Trinity Biblical?", arguments for the deity of Christ, arguments for the deity of the Holy Spirit, and the triune nature were presented and as such will not be expounded upon here. However, it is vital to note that the Holy Spirit, who is referred to in the Bible as a "he," not a "she," (see John 14:15-17, for example) is called God in several passages, including Acts 5:3-4, as well as throughout the Old and New Testament, and Jesus is also called God.

Jesus is called God in John 1, Hebrews 1, Philippians 2, and other similar passages. He is called "our great God and Savior" in Titus 2:13 and 2nd Peter 1:1, Thomas called Jesus "My Lord and My God" in John 20:28, Jesus claims to be God several times (see John 8:58 and 10:30-33, for example). Colossians 2:9 teaches, "For in Christ all the fullness of deity lives in bodily form." Colossians 1:15-17 also demonstrates that Jesus is the Creator. 1st John 5:20 calls Him the "Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life." Jude 4 calls him "Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord," and when we examine Hebrews 1:8, we find that it is God the Father who is speaking. Hebrews 1:8 reads, "But about the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever'" (A quote of Psalm 45). The Bible is very clear that only one God exists, and only one God has and will exist, yet we also find that the Holy Spirit, which is a being, not an impersonal force as some teach, and Jesus, whom John 1:18 calls "the one and only Son, who is himself God", is also called God throughout the Bible. Also, 1st Timothy 3:16 says, "God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up into glory."

Hildegard of Bingen's depiction of Sophi

Passages such as Matthew 28, Genesis 1:26, Genesis 3:22, Genesis 11:7, Isaiah 6:8 and others indicate that while God is one, He exists as three distinct - not separate - persons. Amos 4:11 records, "I overthrew some of you, as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah..." (ESV). God is shown in Amos 4 as having been the speaker, yet God also says that "God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah." Without the concept of the Trinity, which is clearly taught in Scripture, verses such as this would make no logical sense. It is perfectly fine for the Father to call Jesus, "God," for Jesus call the Father, "God," and likewise with the Holy Spirit, because each is one person of the Trinity which makes up God. It is not an illogical or irrational belief as has been postulated, but merely one our finite minds cannot fully grasp, nor are we likely meant to. If we perfectly understood God, we would likely have to become God Himself. God has given us sufficient information about Himself to create a clear picture of who He is, and how He exists as three in one.

Saint Patrick likened the Trinity unto a three-leaf clover, which has three leaves, yet all three are still attached to one stem. Others have used the analogy of water: water can exist as a solid, liquid and gas, and yet in each phase - it is still water. It has also been likened unto the concept of time - time exists as the past, present and future. Each is distinct, yet not separate, because all three are a part of time, which is one. Another analogy often used is a pyramid - one pyramid exists, yet there are three sides. There is no perfect analogy to explain the Trinity, but the internal Biblical evidence for the doctrine of the Trinity is abundant and clear. It also does not allow for the possibility of a mother goddess, Sophia.

God exists as one, yet in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The universe around us also reflects the triune nature of God, with time, matter and energy. When measured against the Biblical record, the belief in Sophia (whose name is not actually found in Scripture) is invalidated. Scripture, contrary to the claims of some, does not allow for the possibility of a mother goddess. God is unchanging, eternal, one in three, and is the only God, according to the Bible. With this knowledge, we conclude that Sophia, or "wisdom," rather, is merely a personification found within the Bible, and not a literal entity, not a part of God that the church has tried to keep a secret. When wisdom is called a "her," it can be likened unto sailors calling their ship "she" or "her," or someone with a new vehicle, among other examples. Merely because something is personified as a "she" does not make it a literal being. When measured against the rest of Scripture, it is evident that wisdom is applied knowledge, and not a being named Sophia.

"The Sophia-goddess controversy leads to some simple conclusions. First, the Bible must be read for what type of literature it is. A proper understanding of feminine personification in relation to this passage and many others is necessary to stay within the framework of biblical doctrine. There is one God who eternally exists in three persons—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18; Eph. 4:4-7; 1 Peter 1:2). Such a position excludes any mention of a goddess or secondary deity. Finally, one must acknowledge that poetry can contain elements that are clearly not to be taken literally. For example, the Bible is full of poetic language that speaks in personified metaphors rather than pure scientific rhetoric. Cain really did kill Abel, but then God said that '...he voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground' (Genesis 4:10). Literally, the blood did not cry from the ground, but the rhetorical device used here communicates another form of personification found in Scripture to emphasize the killing. As Proverbs 8:22-31 describes, poetry and personification do not invalidate Scripture. Instead, these essentials are necessary to demonstrate words, phrases, feelings, and meanings that cannot be understood easily any other way or that continue from a previous argument. In the latter case, the Lord created the heavens by His wisdom found in Proverbs 3:19, and 8:22-31 exists to continue that figurative speech (personification)."[11]

The Truth Ministries would like to thank you for taking the time to read this article of "The Truth." Feel free to email us at vexx801@yahoo.com or thetruth.ministryweb@gmail.com, visit our facebook page, or visit our ministry website.  It is the mission of this ministry to "demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2nd Corinthians 10:5). We also understand that many will disagree with our position, our claims and our ministry, and we recognize the individual's right to believe what he or she wills, and that some will disagree on our position regarding this particular topic. However, we stand firm upon the Bible as God's Word and hold to our conviction that the conclusion was arrived at based on what His Word tells us. Take care, and God bless you reader. Troy Hillman

Sources:

[1] "sophia." Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper, Historian. 29 Aug. 2011. 

[2] "philosophy." Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. HarperCollins Publishers. 29 Aug. 2011.

[3] Hillman, Troy. "Should The Apocrypha And "Lost" Gospels Be In The Bible? ." The Truth Ministries Blog. The Truth Ministries, 8 Aug 2011. Web. 30 Aug 2011. http://thetruth-blog.blogspot.com/2011/08/should-apocrypha-and-lost-gospels-be-in.html.
[4] "personification." Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. HarperCollins Publishers. 30 Aug. 2011.
[5] Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p.443. and Mormon Doctrine, p.516.
[6] Mormon Doctrine, p. 321. Print.
[7] Joseph Smith, Times and Seasons, vol. 5, p. 613-614. Print.
[8] Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, p. 345. Print.
[9] Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p. 333. Print.
[10] Smith, Joseph. Journal of Discourses, vol.6, p.120. and Doctrines & Covenants 130:22.
[11] "Does the Bible teach that Sophia is the goddess of wisdom?." Got Questions.org. Got Questions Network, n.d. Web. 29 Aug 2011. < http://www.gotquestions.org/sophia-goddess-wisdom.html >.

Justified By Faith or Works?

One of the common objections to the veracity of Scripture is alleged contradictions within the text. In the recent series, "Does The Bible Contain Contradictions?", we attempted to reconcile a few of these supposed contradictions. Paul and James, first century apostles and two authors of New Testament writings, referred to Abraham - with Paul conveying in Romans 4:2 that he was not justified by works, yet in James 2:21, James appears to say that Abraham was justified by works. Also, this presents the issue: are we justified by works - or by faith? This theological question necessitates a further examination, and indeed appears to present either an alleged contradiction or a conundrum. (Photo credit: Rembrandt - 1606-1669, The Sacrifice of Isaac)

The first text in question - Romans 4:2, says, "If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about - but not before God." Perhaps by understanding the context it may allow the reader to better understand what is said. Romans 4:1-5 says, "What then shall we say that Abraham, the forefather of us Jews, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about - but not before God. What does Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness' [Genesis 15:6,  22). Now to anyone who works, their wages are not credited to them as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to anyone who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness."

The text of Genesis 16 is again quoted by Paul in Galatians 3:6, which says, "So also Abraham 'believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.'" James also quotes from this particular passage in James 2:23-24, "And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,' and he was called God's friend. You see that people are justified by what they do and not by faith alone." The apparent issue presented by these texts is that the by taking into consideration the context of Galatians 3, which says that the sons of Abraham are justified by faith and not works of the law (Galatians 3:11), and James 2 says that we are justified by works and not by faith alone. This alleged contradiction has a rather simple explanation.

Paul is focusing on the faith of Abraham, whereas James is focusing on the works. Paul did not say "faith alone," nor did James say that "works alone" would provide justification. The two New Testament writers approach the topic from two separate perspectives - neither of which are contradictory, but complementary. Without the testing of faith through Abraham's offering of Isaac (which God halted), would Abraham have been justified? Abraham's work - the offering - was also a test of his faith, which demonstrated that Abraham truly trusted the Creator of the Universe, and for believing God, "it was credited to him as righteousness" (Genesis 15:6). No contradiction exists, but a theological misunderstanding.

Furthermore, another alleged contradiction presents itself with James 2:24 and Galatians 2:16. As aforementioned, James 2:24 says, "You see that people are justified by what they do and not by faith alone." However, Galatians 2:16 says, "a person is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ." The two passages from Scripture appear to demonstrate that the theological teachings of Paul and James were quite different, and indeed perhaps an initial reading of the two would make one determine that. This has also led some theologians to question whether or not James belongs in New Testament cannon. An examination first of the term involved would be advisable.

"Justify" in terms of theology refers to declaring one innocence of guiltless - it means to declare righteousness, not make righteous. When we speak of justification, we must understand that there is a difference between justification and salvation. Justification is not salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 declares, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." It is true that faith without works is dead (James 2:26), because it indicates that the lack of works (or deeds) after salvation by grace through faith in Christ is showing an unchanged life, or even a spiritually dead heart. Proverbs 27:19 says, "As water reflects the face, so one's life reflects the heart."

Credit: Rembrandt (1606-1669)

The life of one who has accepted Christ ought to reflect the change that has occurred (and will continue to occur). Whatever justifies also proves that the individual has been made righteous already. In other words, works or deeds are evidence of salvation - not a cause of salvation, but an effect of it. This is what James refers to in James 2:14 and 17 when he conveys that faith without works is dead. Jesus (who is God) taught that "every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire" (Matthew 7:17-19).

Also, by examining the context of these New Testament letters, Paul was combating legalistic works righteousness, also called "the works of the law," which is an attempt to become righteous apart from Jesus; James was combating those who claimed faith but never demonstrated by their works and their life. It is these people to whom John, in 1st John 2:4 wrote, "Those who say, 'I know him,' but do not do what he commands are liars, and the truth is not in them." In other words, those who claim to follow Christ but do not follow His commandments demonstrate their own unrepentant heart by this non-action. This is not to say that true Christians will never disobey or have problems, but that the unrepentant heart is evident from the life and deeds of a person who claims to be saved (or expresses belief in God and His Word) yet does not show it.

James was speaking of works of faith with salvation whereas Paul was speaking against the works of law without salvation. No such contradiction exists, nor do theologians need to reconsider James' place in New Testament cannon. Works of the law do not justify a person, but works of faith certainly demonstrate one's belief and heart. 2nd Corinthians 5:17 teaches, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!" In Ezekiel 36:26-27 we read, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you: I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." As John 10:26-30 declares, Christ's "sheep" hear his voice and follow him, and the works (fruit) of those who do what he commands are evident in their life (Galatians 5:22).

Just as we read in Romans 10:9, "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and if you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Though it may be a bold claim to make, it is the contention of this ministry that everything in life rises or falls on Jesus: if Jesus is who He claimed to be (God), if He truly rose from the dead, then we must deal appropriately with the evidence explored in past entries along with the works of many others, such as the likes of Dr. Gary Habermas, Lee Strobel, Josh McDowell, Ken Ham, Dr. Henry Morris, C.S. Lewis, Dr. Jason Lisle, and many others who spend their lives defending Christianity utilizing historical apologetics, scientific arguments, philosophical arguments, and fulfilled predictive prophecy, and archaeological evidence. If Jesus is God and rose from the dead, and is supported by the evidence, then it is not necessarily a bold claim to say that Christianity is true, which also expounds that no other gods exist (Isaiah 43:10, for example), and that Christ alone is the only way of salvation (see John 14:6, for example).

However, if Jesus did not rise from the dead, regardless of what claims He may have made during his life, the words of Paul come to mind, "And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is useless and so is your faith" (1st Corinthians 15:14). It is our contention that, having examined evidence, Jesus truly rose from the dead, truly claimed to be God, and is who He claimed to be, though we understand that readers may disagree. It is our intention to provide the reader with information, arguments, and data in defense of Christianity, and allow the reader to make the individual decision: does God exist, is Christianity true, did Jesus rise from the dead - and if so, what do you do with this information? Do you follow God, who became flesh to redeem His creation, or do you continue as you are? The decision is the individual's - but it is nevertheless an important decision.

We hope this entry has proved helpful, useful, and informative. Simply put, no contradiction exists between the previously mentioned passages, but a theological misunderstanding of some. From the outset it may appear as a contradiction, but upon further investigation, it is evident that this is not the case. Thank you for taking the time to read this entry. Feel free to email us at vexx801@yahoo.com or thetruth.ministryweb@gmail.com, visit our facebook page, or visit our ministry website.  If you have any further questions feel free to email us - but we ask that you remain civil. It is the mission of this ministry to "demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2nd Corinthians 10:5). We also understand that many will disagree with our position, our claims and our ministry, and we recognize the individual's right to believe what he or she wills, but it is our hope that you will carefully consider Christianity. Take care, and God bless you reader. Troy Hillman

Is The Trinity Biblical?

The Trinity is a doctrine taught by many Christians which states that God is one, but exists in what can best be expressed as three persons. Jehovah's Witnesses deny the Trinity, claim that God exists in only one person and that Jesus was once the archangel Michael,[1,2] whereas Mormonism claims that the Trinity is three separate gods, and that the Father himself had a Father.[3] Various other religions, cults and denominations deny the Trinity: that God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Spirit (The Holy Spirit) exist as one God in three persons. This is also known as the Godhead - three in one. In past entries, we have attempted to establish that Jesus did indeed claim to be God, and have answered common objections concerning the deity of Christ. But is the Trinity biblical, and is it illogical to posit that three can exist in one? (Photo credit: GQ Ministries, Lucas the Elder)

God's Word is clear when it teaches that there is only one God, as shown by Isaiah 44:6 and 8 which says, "...I am the first and the last, apart from me there is no God... Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other rock," (cf. Revelation 22:13) as well as Deuteronomy 6:4 which says, "Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one," along with Deuteronomy 32:39, "See now that I myself am He! There is no god beside me..." The claim that there are other gods and that God had a Father is illogical in that it would follow an infinite regression of gods - there would be no first to begin the cycle of eternal progression taught by the Mormon church. God declared in Isaiah 43:10, "...Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me," eliminating all speculation. Though some claim that 1st Corinthians 8:5-6, which refers to other "gods," supports the idea of more than one god, this is contrary to the plain teaching of both the Old and the New Testament, and it should be noted that Paul calls these false gods, "so-called gods" (see also Galatians 4:8). Ephesians 4:6 also teaches that there is one God, as does 1st Corinthians 8:6 (see also James 2:9; Mark 12:29).

There are various verses which proclaim that Jesus is God, whose deity is further defended in prior articles. Consider John 20:28, in which Thomas calls Jesus "My Lord and my God." In Titus 2:13, Jesus is called "our great God and Savior," with 2nd Peter 1:1 also calling Jesus Christ "our God and Savior." In passages such as John 10:30-33, it is clear that Jesus claimed to be God - "I and the Father are one" - affirmed when the crowd picked up rocks to stone Him and said, "We are not stoning you for any good work, but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God" (emphasis mine). This is also evident in other passages through the New Testament, where God claims to be "I AM" (cf. Exodus 3), receives and accepts worship, forgives sin, among other things. John 1, Colossians 1, Philippians 2 and Hebrews 1 also make clear that Jesus is God, equal in nature to the Father, and Jesus is in fact called God by the Father in Hebrews 1:8-9. Jesus is God the Son - meaning that He is equal in nature, not the biological son. Colossians 2:9 also clarifies, "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form." See also Matthew 4:7, in which Jesus declares, quoting Scripture, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'"

Credit: GQ Ministries

The Holy Spirit is also called God on different occasions. Consider Acts 5:3-4, "Then Peter said, 'Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit... You have not lied just to human beings but to God" (see also 1st Corinthians 3:16). It is clear from other passages such as Acts 13:2 that the Holy Spirit is not some impersonal active force, but a person in the Trinity who can speak. We also see that the Holy Spirit possesses the attributes of God: omniscience (1st Corinthians 2:11), eternal (Hebrews 9:14), truth (John 16:13), omnipresence (Psalm 139:7), and others. The Holy Spirit is also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of the Lord, and God Himself calls the Holy Spirit, His "Spirit," on several occasions. For example, He is called the "Spirit of God" in Genesis 1:2, God calls Him "My Spirit" in Genesis 6:3, "the Spirit" and "his Spirit" in Numbers 11:25 and 29, respectively.

He is also called the "Spirit of God" in Numbers 24:2, the "Spirit of the Lord" in Judges 3:10, 6:34, 13:25, 14:6 and 19, as well as Judges 15:14. 1st Samuel 10:6 calls Him the "Spirit of the Lord" and 10:10 calls Him the "Spirit of God," as does 11:6, and is called the "Spirit of the Lord" again in 1st Samuel 16:13-14. He appears several times all throughout the Old Testament, such as Nehemiah 9:20, "your good Spirit," and 9:30, "your Spirit," Job 34:14 calls Him, "his spirit," among other references. Psalm 51:11 says, "Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me" (emphasis mine). He is also called "your Spirit" (referring to God) in Psalm 104:30 and 138:7, and "your good Spirit" in Psalm 143:10. Speaking of the coming of Jesus, Isaiah 11:2 says, "The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD." Isaiah 32:15 calls Him "the Spirit," Isaiah 34:16 calls Him "his Spirit," God calls Him "my Spirit" in Isaiah 42:1, as well as 44:3. He is called the "Spirit of the Sovereign Lord" in Isaiah 61:1,  and "his Holy Spirit" twice in Isaiah 63:10-11.

In Ezekiel 36:27, God calls Him "my Spirit," as well as in Joel 2:28, and Haggai 2:5. The Holy Spirit is mentioned and appears several other times within the Old Testament, too numerous to mention here. Romans 8:9 also calls Him the "Spirit of Christ," making Him equal to both the Father and the Son. The deity of the Father need not be examined, as it is clear that the Old and New Testament teach that the Father is also God (see Galatians 1:1, 3; Ephesians 1:2-3) . Some people liken the Trinity unto a Pyramid: one Pyramid, yet it has three sides, or three corners. Another analogy that has been used involves water: water can exist in three phases of solid, liquid and gas, yet in each case it is still water. Likewise, God is one, yet exists in three distinct (not separate) persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19 refers to the Trinity, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Though it is true that the word "Trinity" (tri-unity) is not found in Scripture, it is a descriptive word used of a concept clearly taught in Scripture.

Ephesians 4:4-6 conveys, "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." Jesus is called Lord and God, as is the Father and the Spirit - it is clear that the three exist in one, as there is one Spirit, one Lord, one God, and all three persons are called under the three titles in different instances. 2nd Corinthians 13:14 says, "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." The unity of the Trinity can be seen in these passages. With our finite minds, it is impossible to fully comprehend an infinite God, yet He has provided us with sufficient information.

All three persons in the Trinity are presented at the baptism of Jesus in Matthew 3:16-17 which reads, "As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.'" John the Baptist confirmed this in his testimony recorded in John 1:29-34. In fact, Genesis 1:1 introduces God as "Elohim," which is plural. We also find in Genesis 1:26, "Then God said, 'Let us make human beings in our image, in our likeness..." (emphasis mine). Nowhere in Scripture does it say that man was made in the image of angels. Who is the "us" and "our" that is then referred to? Evidently, the Father is speaking to the Son and the Spirit. Genesis 3:22 also says, "And the LORD God said, 'The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever'" (emphasis mine). God kept man from eating from the tree of life so that we would not live forever in our sins, but in death through Christ have eternal life, free of sin, in Heaven - if we accept Christ.

The Trinity appears to also be present in Genesis 11:7, in which God says, "Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understanding each other" (emphasis mine). The "us" (plural in both Hebrew and English) allows for the Trinity's presence. Isaiah 6:8 says, "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'" (emphasis mine). The Trinity also appears in Isaiah 48:16-17, in which all three persons are explicitly mentioned. "There is subordination within the Trinity. Scripture shows that the Holy Spirit is subordinate to the Father and the Son, and the Son is subordinate to the Father. This is an internal relationship and does not deny the deity of any Person of the Trinity. This is simply an area which our finite minds cannot understand concerning the infinite God. Concerning the Son see Luke 22:42, John 5:36, John 20:21, and 1 John 4:14. Concerning the Holy Spirit see John 14:16, 14:26, 15:26, 16:7, and especially John 16:13-14."[4]

"The individual members of the Trinity have different tasks. The Father is the ultimate source or cause of the universe (1 Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11); divine revelation (Revelation 1:1); salvation (John 3:16-17); and Jesus' human works (John 5:17; 14:10). The Father initiates all of these things. The Son is the agent through whom the Father does the following works: the creation and maintenance of the universe (1 Corinthians 8:6; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17); divine revelation (John 1:1, 16:12-15; Matthew 11:27; Revelation 1:1); and salvation (2 Corinthians 5:19; Matthew 1:21; John 4:42). The Father does all these things through the Son, who functions as His agent. The Holy Spirit is the means by whom the Father does the following works: creation and maintenance of the universe (Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13; Psalm 104:30); divine revelation (John 16:12-15; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Peter 1:21); salvation (John 3:6; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:2); and Jesus' works (Isaiah 61:1; Acts 10:38). Thus, the Father does all these things by the power of the Holy Spirit."[5]

All three members of the Trinity were involved in the creation of the universe. The Father (Genesis 1:1), the Son (John 1:1 and 3, Colossians 1:16), and the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:2, Psalm 104:30). All three participated in the Creation of the world, and all three are one as God. The word Trinity, as noted, is used by Christians to express the doctrine of God existing as one in three persons. The word itself came from the Greek word trias, first used by Theophilus (168-183 AD), or from the Latin word, trinitas, which was first used by Tertullian (220 AD).[6] Although the Father, Son and Spirit are equal in divine nature, the Father is placed in a higher position in the hierarchy and authority as the incarnate Son (John 14:28, 13:16; 1st Corinthians 11:3; Philippians 2:6-8). This does not negate the deity of Christ as God, but allows us to better understand the relational status between the Father and the Son, and also provides a good model for children to follow: we ought to be obedient to our parents (though in Christ's case, the Father is not His biological father). What of the Jehovah's Witnesses claim that John 1:1 calls Jesus "a god," rather than "God"?

"The Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus is not Jehovah God. Instead, they believe that He is a god but not the one and only true God. Jehovah’s Witnesses have their own version of the Bible called the New World Translation. This version translates John 1:1 erroneously. While the inerrant Word of God states, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1), the New World Translation presents the last phrase of the verse this way: “and the Word was a god” (emphasis added). The article “a” is not in the original Greek. A rule in Greek grammar states that when an anarthrous (no article) predicate nominative is present it is for emphasis. The noun is “Word” and the predicate nominative is “God.” Since no article is present before the predicate nominative, “God,” the verse is testifying that the Word (Jesus) is God. By denying the Trinity and teaching that Jehovah God is supreme and Jesus is an inferior god on the order of Michael the Archangel, the Jehovah’s Witnesses are actually polytheistic—they believe in multiple gods."[7]

Did God perform the greatest act of love? Jesus said in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." Though some commentators argue that Jesus did not say "greatest" but "greater," nevertheless, Jesus, who was God, "appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory" (1st Timothy 3:16, in which Paul says that God manifested in flesh). Jesus performed the greatest act of love by dying on the cross for His creation, contrary to the teachings of cults and other religions. Indeed, 1st Timothy 4:1 says, "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons."

But what of other religions and the doctrine of the Trinity? According to the Institute for Creation Research, "It is significant that Biblical Christianity is the only Trinitarian religion—and therefore the only true religion—in the world. Most religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, etc.) are pantheistic and humanistic, denying the existence of an omnipotent God who created the space/time cosmos. There are two other major religions, however, that are monotheistic, believing in the God of creation and in the creation record in Genesis—Judaism and Islam. However, these two fail to understand that the Creator must also be the Redeemer, and therefore they also become humanistic, believing that man must achieve salvation by his own efforts. Further, they also fail to acknowledge that God’s objective work of redemption must be made subjective in each person by the indwelling personal presence of the omnipresent Creator/Redeemer."[8] 

Lucas the Elder's portrayal of the Trinity

ICR also conveys, concerning the Triune nature of the universe, "There is an immeasurably and unimaginably huge universe out there (even though the most important part of it appears to be here). The physical universe is "temporal"—its physical characteristics are defined qualitatively and quantitatively in and by time, space, and mass/energy (usually abbreviated as just "matter"). Any effort to determine the cause of the universe is purely hypothetical. No human was there to observe the processes, so any attempt to understand events of pre-history (especially original events) must, therefore, be based on "belief systems," or presuppositions. While the theories and ideas may be many, the presuppositions can only be of two sorts: 1) there is an infinite series of causes, going back into infinite time, with no ultimate Cause; or 2) there exists an uncaused First Cause that was "outside" or transcendent to the universe. Many scientists today conduct their research based on their presupposition or belief that nothing exists beyond the natural world—that which can be seen around us—and thus they do not accept that any ultimate Cause exists."[9]

They conclude, "Scientists at ICR hold to the presupposition that the "uncaused First Cause" is the Creator who exists outside of the physical creation He made. Time is not eternal, but created. To ask what happened in time before time was created is to create a false paradox without meaning. There was no "before" prior to the creation of the triune universe of time, space, and mass/energy. Yet even more amazing (and the universe is amazing) is the historic fact that the Creator-God, after purposefully creating the time-space-matter universe, chose to enter it in the God-human person of Jesus Christ—for the sole purpose of providing a means by which humanity could have a personal relationship with the Creator."[10] Indeed, the universe around us appears to have the triune nature of God projected into it. Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons may deny the essential doctrine of the Trinity, whereas Judaism also denies it - as does Islam, with the Qu'ran actually misrepresenting the Trinity as the Father, the Son, and Mary. (Sura 4:171, 5:73, 5:116; one wonders, if the Qu'ran was truly God's revelation, would not the reference to other religions be correct concerning their teachings?)

Some claim that the Trinity is illogical, being three-in-one. The Trinity may be fully beyond reason, but it is not against reason. "The Trinity does not entail three gods in one God, or three persons in one person. Such claims would be nonsensical. There is nothing contradictory, however, in affirming three persons in one God (or three whos in one what)."[11] Concerning whether or not the Trinity is a pagan doctrine rooted in ancient Babylon and Assyria as some have claimed, "the Babylonians and Assyrians believed in triads of gods who headed up a pantheon of many other gods. These triads constituted three separate gods (polytheism), which is utterly different from the doctrine of the Trinity that maintains that there is only one God (monotheism) with three persons in one godhead."[12]

There is no perfect way of understanding the Trinity, and the very concept does indeed merit life-long studies. There is no perfect analogy, as they have their flaws, but they do allow us to understand certain aspects of the Trinity a bit better. Consider the brain, an eye and an ear - three distinct parts of my body which perform different functions, all of which are part of one body. St. Patrick of Ireland used the analogy of a shamrock leaf to illustrate that belief in something that is three in one can be found in many places: the shamrock has three leaflets but only one stem. Jesus, who is God the Son, entered into His creation to redeem us. Romans 10:9 conveys, "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and if you believe in your heart that God [the Father] raised him from the dead, you will be saved." We also read in 1st John 1:9 that "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

Thank you for taking the time to read this entry of "The Truth," dear reader. Feel free to email us at vexx801@yahoo.com or thetruth.ministryweb@gmail.com, visit our facebook page, or visit our ministry website.  If you have any further questions on the deity of Jesus, His historicity and the Trinity in general, feel free to email us - but we ask that you remain civil. It is the mission of this ministry to "demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2nd Corinthians 10:5). We also understand that many will disagree with our position, our claims and our ministry, and we recognize the individual's right to believe what he or she wills, but it is our hope that you will carefully consider Christianity. Take care, and God bless you reader. Troy Hillman

Sources:

[1] Let God be True. p.100-101. Print.

[2] Make Sure of All Things. p.386. Print.

[3] Talmage, James. Journal of Discourses, Vol.6, p.5. Print.

[4] "What does the Bible teach about the Trinity?." Got Questions.org. Got Questions Network, n.d. Web. 16 Aug 2011. < http://thetruth-blog.blogspot.com/2011/05/does-god-exist-part-one.html >.

[5] Ibid.

[6] "Trinity." WebBible Encyclopedia. Christian Answers Network, n.d. Web. 15 Aug 2011. < http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/trinity.html >.

[7] Martin, Jobe. "Is the Trinity Three Different Gods?." Answers In Genesis. Answers In Genesis, 19 July 2011. Web. 15 Aug 2011. < http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2011/07/19/trinity-three-different-gods >.

[8] Morris, Ph.D., Henry M. "The Trinity In The Old Testament." ICR. Institute for Creation Research, n.d. Web. 15 Aug 2011. < http://www.icr.org/article/21595/ >.

[9] "Time, Space, and Matter." ICR. Institute for Creation Research, n.d. Web. 16 Aug 2011. < http://www.icr.org/first-cause/ >.

[10] Ibid.

[11] Rhodes, Dr. Ron. The New Answers Book 2 (Chapter 19: Is Jesus God?). 5th ed. 2. Green Forest, Arkansas: Master Books, 2009. 192. Print.

[12] Ibid, p.193.

Recommended Entries:

• Is Jesus Really God?
• Did Jesus Claim To Be God?
• Answering Objections Concerning Jesus as God
• The Holy Trinity (Three-Part Series)
• Does God Exist? (Two-Part Series)

Does the Bible Teach a Flat Earth?

Skeptics of the Bible often make the claim that the Bible portrays a flat earth - and not an oblate spheroid as we know it to be. However, this demonstrates that the skeptic has chosen from the beginning to examine the Bible with an outright rejection of its veracity before researching its claims and the evidence for God, the evidence for the resurrection, the scientific facts of the Bible, the reliability of Scripture, the archaeological attestation and the fulfilled predictive prophecy. But does the Bible actually teach a flat earth, or is a more reasonable explanation in order, rather than jumping to conclusions based upon the individual's presuppositions? (Photo credit: NASA)

Creationists are falsely accused of believing in a flat earth - there is also no archaeological or historical support that Christians widely taught the earth was flat, nor does the Bible teach this. In his book The Discovers, Daniel J. Boorstin writes, "A Europe-wide phenomenon of scholarly amnesia … afflicted the continent from AD 300 to at least 1300. During those centuries Christian faith and dogma suppressed the useful image of the world that had been so slowly, so painfully, and so scrupulously drawn by ancient geographers."[1] The flat earth position was never a mainstream view held by the church, but by a select few scholars who claimed to represent the whole of the church. African Lactantius, who lived from 245-325 AD, is the earliest recorded flat earth advocate in the Christian church. Lactantius rejected the Greek philosophers, and in turn, a spherical earth. The church considered his work unorthodox, and rejected his idea of a flat earth. Lactantius' work was later revived by a few groups during the Renaissance.[2] 

Cosmas Indicopleustes, a sixth century Greek Christian, claimed that the Earth was flat and laid beneath the heavens, which consisted of a rectangular vaulted arch. In an attempt to discredit Christianity, many secular historians have cited Indicopleustes view as the mainstream position held by the church - when in fact the opposite is true. The church rejected his ideas, and in fact most church father were either silent on the shape of the earth or held the spherical earth position. Washington Irving, in 1828, wrote The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus, and essentially stated that Columbus did not believe in a spherical earth, but that the Council of Salamanca was about the distance between Europe and Japan. However, the work was a mixture of fact and fiction, with Irving admitted that he was "apt to indulge in the imagination."[3]

Credit: NASA

"In 1834, the anti-Christian Letronne falsely claimed that most of the Church Fathers, including Augustine, Ambrose and Basil, held to a flat Earth. His work has been repeatedly cited as ‘reputable’ ever since. In the late nineteenth century, the writings of John William Draper and Andrew Dickson White were responsible for promoting the myth that the church taught a flat Earth. Both had Christian backgrounds, but rejected these early in life. Englishman Draper convinced himself that with the downfall of the Roman Empire the ‘affairs of men fell into the hands of ignorant and infuriated ecclesiastics, parasites, eunuchs and slaves’ — these were the ‘Dark Ages’. Draper’s work, History of the Conflict between Religion and Science (1874), was directed particularly against the Roman Church, and was a best seller. Meanwhile White (who founded Cornell University as the first explicitly secular university in the United States), published the two-volume scholarly work History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in Christendom, in 1896."[4]

Both Draper and White incorrectly portrayed the issue. Concerning Columbus, however, The New Encyclopedia Britannica (1985), Colliers Encyclopedia (1984), The Encyclopedia Americana (1987) and The World Book for Children (1989) now present the correct account of Christopher Columbus.[5] The flat earth claim is often leveled by non-Christians at Creationists, typically to further Evolution. For example, Professor Daniel Dennett wrote that if Christians "…insist on teaching your children falsehoods—that the earth is flat, that 'Man' is not a product of evolution by natural selection—then you must expect, at the very least, that those of us who have freedom of speech will feel free to describe your teachings as the spreading of falsehoods, and will attempt to demonstrate this to your children at our earliest opportunity. Our future well-being—the well-being of all of us on the planet—depends on the education of our descendants."[6]

R. Schadewald claimed that "The creationist and flat-earth movements have similar foundations and histories, and both have used similar strategies to propagate their beliefs. Indeed, both believe they are battling the same behind-the-scenes opponent,"[7] further claiming that no "flat-earther" would object to the Creation Research Society's statement of belief - without himself citing any empirical evidence to back up this claim. Contrary to these claims among many others, "supposed Dark and Medieval consensus for a flat earth—is entirely mythological."[8] It is claimed that up until the 1500's, Christians accepted the flat earth view - an unfounded claim not based on facts. By 150 AD, the Greek astronomer Eratosthenes of Alexandria had measured the 25,000-mile circumference of the earth, stating that he had measured "within 50 miles of the present estimate."[9] The ancients were heavily interested in astronomy, as evidenced by the Greeks, Egyptians, and others.

"Although the flat-earth myth was effectively debunked in 1991 by Russell’s scholarly study, the flat-earth myth is still used to claim that Christianity has a long history of persecuting scientists.⁷ For example, Youngson claimed Bruno was burned at the stake for espousing scientific ideas, including denying the belief espoused by the Church ‘that the earth was flat and was supported on pillars.’ Historian of astronomy John North concluded that the flat-earth still ‘is a common myth—perpetuated, as is seems, by most teachers of young children—that Columbus discovered that the Earth is round.’"[10] The round shape of the earth could be understood by watching ships disappearing over the horizon as well as observing the shadows given by eclipses, information which was likely known to New Testament writers - and evidently by Christopher Columbus.

Revelation 7:1 is often cited by skeptics who claim that the Bible teaches a flat earth. It says, "After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree." Similar terminology, however, is utilized today when referring to the rising and setting of the sun even though we know it is the earth which orbits around the sun, the stars "coming out," and the like. The "four corners" is not a scientific statement claiming that the earth is flat, but what is called the "language of appearance": it refers to the four cardinal directions of north, south, east and west. What does the Bible actually teach about the shape of the earth?

Job 26:7 says, "He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; He suspends the earth over nothing," with the apparent comparison being the spherical shape of the sun and the moon. Job 26:7 demonstrates that, though it was written in poetic form, it appears to suggest that the earth floats in space, and with today's astronomical knowledge, we know that it indeed floats in space. Pictures from NASA and similar space programs have captured a vast amount of images and footage to show that the earth is spherical - an oblate spheroid - and that it floats in space, or rather that the earth hangs upon nothing just as the Bible suggests. To note, (this is a generalization, evidently not applying to all members) Hindus believe that the earth is supported on the back of four elephants, which in turn stand upon a gigantic tortoise which floats on the surface of the world's waters.[11] The Vedic priests taught that the earth was set upon twelve solid pillars, with the upper portion being the only side that was habitable.[12]

The Altaics from Northern Siberia believe that their Ulgen created the earth on the waters and proceeded to place under it three giant fish to support it, with the Taratrs along with several other Eurasian tribes believing that the earth is supported by a great bull.[13] A literal translation of Job 26:10 says, "He described a circle upon the face of the waters, until the day and night come to an end" (emphasis mine). Isaiah 40:22 conveys, "He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in" (emphasis mine). Significantly, the Bible declares on sixteen occasions that God "stretches out the heavens," which we now know to be true - the universe is expanding. The Hebrew word used for "circle," חוג—chuwg, can also mean "sphere," or "round."

"The Earth a Sphere—Certain astronomical relations were recognized very early. The stars appear as if attached to a globe rotating round the earth once in 24 hours, and this appearance was clearly familiar to the author of the Book of Job, and indeed long before the time of Abraham, since the formation of the constellations could not have been effected without such recognition. But the spherical form of the heavens almost involves a similar form for the earth, and their apparent diurnal rotation certainly means that they are not rigidly connected with the earth, but surround it on all sides at some distance from it. The earth therefore must be freely suspended in space, and so the Book of Job describes it: ‘He stretcheth out the north over empty space, and hangeth the earth upon nothing’ (Job 26:7)."[14] Psalm 75:3 says, "When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm."

"Blue Marble" from NASA

The reference in Psalm 75:3 is written in a poetic form. Instead of referring to literal pillars, this is representative of God holding up the Earth's stability, even in a moral sense: even when it seems as though all of mankind's morals are gone, God will not withdraw his sustaining power over the earth and mankind. It is clear that the Scriptures seem to speak of a spherical earth, not a flat earth. This is significant in that the Hebrew record is the oldest, with many Biblical scholars believing that Job was written by Moses in the 1400's BC, centuries before the Greeks "discovered" the shape of the earth, such as Pythagoras in the sixth century BC who suggested a spherical earth. Greeks identified areas as poles, the equator, and tropics, as well as drawing meridians and parallels. However, the Romans drew the earth as a flat disc with oceans surrounding it.[15]

"This is further supported by Proverbs 8:27 (NKJV), which speaks of God drawing a circle on the face of the deep. From a 'bird’s-eye view' of the ocean, the horizon is seen as a circle. Such an observation indicates that where light terminates, darkness begins, describing the reality of day and night on a spherical earth. The round-earth idea is further supported by Jesus in Luke 17:31, 34: 'In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back...I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left.' This would seem to indicate the phenomenon of day on one side of the globe while darkness abides on the other."[16] When Job 26:10 that the where light terminates, darkness begins, the text indicates a spherical earth.

From space, the earth appears as a circle since the earth is round - which certainly agrees with the Bible. The boundary between light and darkness taught in Job is where evening and morning occur - a boundary which is a circle, since the earth is round. It is fallacious to suggest that Creationists teach a flat earth due to the passages such as Revelation 7:1, when in fact passages such as Isaiah 40:22, Job 26:7 and 10, as well as Proverbs 8:27 and Luke 17:31 and 34 indicate that the Earth is spherical in shape. Though a minority of Christians may have taught (and may continue to teach) that the earth is flat, this is in opposition to what the mainstream Church has taught, scientific data and what has been seen through human eyes - by those who have traversed to space and back, one of mankind's biggest achievements. The "four corners" are merely the four cardinal directions, and it is evident that Scripture teaches a spherical - not a flat - earth.

Thank you for taking the time to read this entry of "The Truth," dear reader. Feel free to email us at vexx801@yahoo.com or thetruth.ministryweb@gmail.com, visit our facebook page, or visit our ministry website.  It is the mission of this ministry to "demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2nd Corinthians 10:5). We also understand that many will disagree with our position, our claims and our ministry, and we recognize the individual's right to believe what he or she wills, but it is our hope that you will carefully consider Christianity. Take care, and God bless you reader. Troy Hillman

Sources:

[1] Boorstin, Daniel. The Discoverers. 1985. Print.

[2] "Who Invented the Flat Earth?." Answers In Genesis. Answers In Genesis, 1 March 1994. Web. 15 Aug 2011. < http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/cm/v16/n2/flat-earth>.

[3] Irving, Washington. The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus. 1828. Print.

[4] Ibid, [2].

[5] Ibid.

[6] Schadewald, R., Scientific creationism, egocentricity, and the flat earth, Skeptical Inquirer, p. 41, Winter 1981.

[7] Ibid, p.42.

[8] Gould, S., Chapter 4: The late birth of a flat earth in Dinosaur in a Haystack, Harmony Books, New York, p. 41, 1995.

[9] Encyclopedia Brittanica.

[10] Bergman, Jerry. "The flat-earth myth and creationism." CMI. Creation Ministries International, n.d. Web. 15 Aug 2011. .

[11] Lisle, Dr. Jason. The New Answers Book 2. 5th ed. 2. Green Forest, Arkansas: Master Books, 2005. 96. Print.

[12] Ibid.

[13] Ibid.

[14] International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

[15] Dr. Joan Sloat Morton, Ph.D. (Biology and related scientific studies), Science in the Bible (Chicago: Moody Press, 1978), p. 13

[16] "Does the Bible teach that the earth is flat?." Got Questions.org. Got Questions Network, n.d. Web. 15 Aug 2011.

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