OK, I got that from the Catholic Pastoral Edition. I have a copy of the New International Version somewhere, but I can't lay my hands on it right now. Thinking back though, I think that version does say 'expanse'.

There's definitely no sea up there, though.

To me, the Genesis account suggests it was written by somebody who believed in a flat earth. That's maybe just my interpretation, but it reads that way to me.

JB wrote: Then God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters."
God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. Gen 1:6-7

There is no sea up there but there is definitely water in our atmosphere. The water is stored in the atmosphere as vapor. The clouds you see contain water, but there is also water you are not able too see in the clear skies or in a fog.

The Scriptures also tell us of the cycle (hydrologic cycle) that the waters go through.

When He utters His voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, And He causes the clouds to ascend from the end of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain, And brings out the wind from His storehouses. (Jer 10:13)

For He draws up drops of water, which distill as rain from the mist, which the clouds drop down
And pour abundantly on man. Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds, the thunder from His canopy? (Job 36:27-29)

All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; to the place from which the rivers come, there they return again. (Ecclesiastes 1:7)

Honestly what does it matter? You state that Mark's final verses were added later, yet we don't actually "know" that what we have are text which are not original, which end abruptly. So who knows. The key point to Mark has already been made by the time the book ends. The tomb is empty, Jesus is alive. Mission accomplished.

So who knows if this was added later, or just put in because an older, more complete version was found. We don't know. Does it contradict what we know? No it simply enforces it. Now if it said that Jesus said only those with red hair could get into heaven, then we'd have a problem, but it doesn't. It goes exactly down the same path as the other 3 gospels. Risen Jesus, sins forgiven, go tell everyone.

As for 1John again all it does is affirm something that was already known because Jesus Himself said it. "I and the Father are one." Not two seperate entities one. As for the Holy Spirit, again also known. Jesus told His followers He would send His Holy Spirit. So how does any of the "additions" change anything doctrinally? They don't Jesus is still God, and Jesus is still risen.

Ignoring the differences in the bible doesn't make them go away.

If someone did they they didn't read their Bible, since God clearly says circumfrence, which is used to measure round objects.

I'm not ignoring them, nor do I want them to go away. Is it possible that Mark was at once complete, but the latter chapters were lost to "us"? It's very possible, and even likely. Were the missing chapters recognized in the 2nd century? We know they were because we have quotes from early church fathers that prove this.

Is it possible that someone during the 16th century looked at 1John and thought, "Hmm there has to be an easier way to explain this trinity, let me word it like this." Again it's possible, and probable. Does that change the message? No. Jesus Himself says He and the Father are one, so it changes nothing. It's not wishful thinking, or burrying my head in the sand, it's simple logic.
Jesus says He = God(several times I might add)
Jesus promises His Holy Spirit = Jesus
Jesus = God = Holy Spirit

You could wipe out 1John all together and still get that from the other books.

Here we go round the mulberry bush, the mulberry bush, the mulberry bush, Here we go round the mulberry bush, early in the morning.

Blessings,

LL

Yep indeed.

I'm done. Last post on the subject.

Originally posted by Joe Bloggs:
Please take a look good look at Genesis and notice the order of creation, what God created first through what He created last. Also concerning Genesis and a flat world, Genesis does not address the shape of the earth. However in Isaiah you will find a passage stating that God sits above the circle of the earth. It was this passage that led Columbus to sail.

It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.
(Isa 40:22)

Correct, round, NOT necessarily spherical.

A dinner plate is round, has a circumference, and is flat.
A football is round, has a circumference, and is spherical.
A drinking glass is round, has a circumference, and is "tubular" (just added that for janimal)

Therefore something can be flat AND have a circumference. Simple school math/geometry really.