24/04/2021
Biblical Cosmology is the biblical writers' conception of how the cosmos came to be, what its nature is, and how it is structured. They thought of it as an organized, structured entity, including its origin, order, meaning and destiny. The Hebrew Bible depicted a three-tiered world, with the heavens (shamayim) above, Earth ('erets) in the middle, and the underworld (she'ol) below. This worldview is clearly reflected in both OT and NT thinking:
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” (Exodus 20:4, ESV)
“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11, ESV)
Biblical Cosmology presupposes the worldview of the biblical writers, their history and culture. Needless to say, this worldview predates science (pre-scientific) and is much more concerned with theological messaging: God is the Creator and He is the Sovereign King!
→ The New Eden Project PH