Higher Criticism

[Gregory Matthews]

 

https://spectrummagazine.org/views/2021/adventist-criticism-higher-criticism

[GHansen]

"The Hebrew word translated “vault” is raqia and is also variously translated as “dome” or “firmament.” The verb form raqa means “to beat out” or “to stamp,” as in an artisan beating out some metal—e.g., gold, silver, brass—into a utensil shape, like a bowl. Now that is surely odd imagery to translate into the word “sky.” We moderns, without special historical/cultural literacy into the original author’s and receivers’ world, are almost sure to be unaware of the original meaning of raqia. Thus, we would likely pass over the imagery and with minimal thought simply accept the meaning as "sky." But it is exactly this image of a giant, physical, inverted metal bowl separating earth-resident land and seas from the watery locations above the immediate surrounding atmosphere that the original recipients of the text would view as physical reality. Their “plain reading” would be vastly different from our modern understanding" (Spectrum article).

The Spectrum writer doesn't like the idea that the Bible is its own interpreter. He has a point. Perhaps it would be better to say that the Bible is self explanatory. In the case of raqia/firmament, the Bible offers an explanation of the term within the Genesis narrative.  The idea that the רקיע‎  is an inverted bowl is not supported by the context, as Scripture itself explains. Raqia appears several times in the narrative, 8 times, actually, not only in verses 6-8. Verse 8 tells us that the birds fly in the firmament. Verses 14-17 tell us that the sun, moon and stars were placed in the firmament. At best, the firmament would refer to the space under the "dome" occupied by sun, moon, stars, and even birds. It's not describing a stretched out metal bowl that constrains the "sky." It's the sky [or space] itself.

The Greek OT uses the word στερεωμα in place of raqia. Sirach 43:1 reads like this: "The pride of the heavenly heights is the clear firmament, the appearance of heaven in a spectacle of glory.* Verse 8 :"The month is named for the moon, increasing marvelously in its phases, an instrument of the hosts on high shining forth in the firmament of heaven."

[GHansen]

Correction:  Raqia appears several times in the narrative, 8 times, actually, not only in verses 6-8.  *Verse 20, not verse 8* [correction] tells us that the birds fly in the firmament. Verses 14-17 tell us that the sun, moon and stars were placed in the firmament. At best, the firmament would refer to the space under the "dome" occupied by sun, moon, stars, and even birds. It's not describing a stretched out metal bowl that constrains the "sky." It's the sky [or space] itself.

 

[Humble Disciple]

On 12/31/2021 at 4:13 AM, Gregory Matthews said:

 

https://spectrummagazine.org/views/2021/adventist-criticism-higher-criticism

The Desire of Ages says that criticism and speculation regarding the scriptures has opened the way for modern forms of heathenism, theosophy and spiritism. 

https://www.ellenwhite.info/books/ellen-g-white-book-desire-of-ages-da-26.htm

Since your article doesn't mention this important passage from the Desire of Ages, I consider it suspect. 

So-called "higher criticism" of the 1800s, little by little, led to the widespread acceptance of the occult in Western society. 

Ellen White saw in her own time the beginning of what we commonly refer today as the new age movement. 

I know a great deal about the new age movement and its origins since I used to subscribe to it. I used to read the Urantia Book, which was channeled by disfellowshipped Adventists.