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Cosmology of the New Testament

Cosmology is a type of worldview. It is a theory or doctrine describing the natural order of the universe (the cosmos). Today we think of the sun as being the center of the solar system. At another time, people believed that the earth was the center of the solar system. That's two different worldviews.

Ancient Worldview
of Greco-Roman Times

According the Ptolemaic worldview of the Greco-Roman period, there was a geocentric (earth-centered) rather than solar (sun-centered) system.

Seven spheres travelled around earth. Each sphere contained:

• a planet
• angels & demonic beings watching humans

What does this have to do with the Bible?

1. Read these scriptures:

• Romans 8:38-39 -- see the influence of the more elaborate cosmology.
• Luke 10:25-37 -- the Parable of the Good Samaritan shows the influences of diverse cultures.
• Acts 8:26-40 --the story of Phillip and the Ethiopian shows another example of the influence of diverse cultures

2. What other stories show the influences and worldviews of New Testament authors?

3. What other customs and beliefs influenced the writer?

Take the Highway

Learn about The World Today. Just as the worldviews of people of Old and New Testament times affected their understanding of God and the Bible, so does ours.

Choose a Byway

1. Customs and Rituals: Just as customs and rituals affected Old and New Testament writers' and readers' worldviews, customs and rituals affect our understanding of the Bible.

2. Explore these outside links for more information on worldviews that affected people of the New Testament. Make sure you click the BACK button to return to our site.

• Interpreting Ancient Manuscripts. Developed by Brown University, the main focus of the web is on the process used to study the ancient manuscripts upon which the New Testament is based. While the language discussed is Greek, almost everything is explained with transliterations into English and, where applicable, translations from standard English Bibles.
• Ptolemy's Geography from the Library of Congress Vatican Exhibit.
• The Ptolemaic Geocentric Model of the Universe from Tel Aviv University Science and Technology Education Center in Israel. Dedicated to Andrea - Galileo's disciple in the play Galileo by Bertold Brecht.

Next Page: The World Today

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