What work argued heliocentrism is compatible with the Bible?

The Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina argued that heliocentrism was compatible with the Bible. Galileo wrote the essay in 1615 to address objections that passages of Scripture, especially the story of Joshua commanding the Sun to stand still, proved that Earth remained stationary.

Galileo’s central argument was that God created both nature and Scripture, so they cannot genuinely contradict one another. Nature operates independently, while biblical language often accommodates ordinary human experience and understanding. He drew especially on Augustine’s warnings against interpreting biblical passages in ways that conflict with clear demonstrations about the natural world.

The letter was addressed to Christina of Lorraine, Grand Duchess of Tuscany, but it also targeted theologians, philosophers, and influential Church figures. Galileo used it to defend Copernican astronomy and to argue that Scripture should not be treated as a technical astronomy textbook. The work circulated in manuscript for years and was not printed until 1636, after Galileo’s condemnation. It is often considered a foundational text in the historical discussion of science and theology. The Assayer and Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems also addressed related controversies, but neither was the specific work asked about here.