THE WISDOM OF GOD'S WORD RELATING TO SCIENCE
1. Astronomy. "The Heavens declare the glory of God" Psalm 19:1
The Shape of the Earth For centuries scientists taught that the world was flat.
We are all aware of the misconception of the shape of the earth as late as the time of Columbus. Isaiah, under divine inspiration correctly identified the shape of the earth at approximately 700BC. Isaiah 40:22 declared, "He who sits above the circle of the earth..." The Hebrew word for circle means sphere.
In addition, Jesus clearly referred to the fact that the earth is round when He taught that when He returned that He would find some people in bed asleep, revealing that it will be night, and for others it will be daytime because they would be at work in the field. Jesus declared, “I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left” (Luke 17:34-36). How did Jesus know this fact before scientists discovered it?
Our Expanding Universe
Recent discoveries verify that the universe is expanding. This idea was not popular until the twentieth century, but the Bible refers to this in several places: "You...stretch out the heavens like a curtain" (Psalm 104:1-2). The word stretch means to spread or extend out. This was written approximately 1000BC. In Isaiah 42:5 and 45:12 you will find similar content, which was written about 700BC.
The Earth Suspended in Space
Every culture has had its conception of the Earth. At the time of Job's writing (2000 BC), the Egyptians thought the earth was a rectangle, the Chinese thought it was a square, the Mesopotamian’s thought of it as a floating object under an astrodome. Job recorded that the earth hangs on nothing but space, "...He hangs the earth on nothing" (Job 26:7). The word nothing literally means nothingness.
The Stars Uncountable
For centuries scientists taught that there were only several thousand stars. About 600BC, Jeremiah stated that the stars are uncountable, "As the host of heaven cannot be numbered..." (Jer. 33:22). Astronomers estimate approximately 100 billion stars in about 100 billion galaxies. If you began counting them at a rate of ten stars a second, it would take you more than 100 trillion years to finish. Therefore, they are literally uncountable.
2. Physics.
Molecules
Aristotle and other great scientists of his time believed matter to be made up of parts of earth, fire, air, and water. The Bible defined matter as made from things unseen. "... the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible." (Hebrews 11:3). In 1803, John Dalton developed the modern atomic theory.
The Atom
How is the atom held together? What keeps the protons and neutrons together in the nucleus? If opposite charges attract and like charges repel each other, how do all those positively charged protons stay together? The neutrons have an electrically neutral charge and so what holds them together? Physicists have decided to call this influence that they can’t understand the “Strong Force” – However, Paul revealed an interesting truth about Who this strong force is: “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist” (Col. 1:16-17). The word consist means to band together, to be held together, or to unite parts to make one whole. The God who created the invisible building blocks of matter is the same one who holds these elements together. God is the one who attracts protons to protons, neutrons to neutrons, and protons and neutrons.
Air is not weightless
The belief that air is weightless was popular from the days of Aristotle until recently. Job, written in approximately 2000 BC indicated that air had weight. "To establish a weight for the wind..." (Job 28:25-KJV or NASB). Until 1643 and the discovery of barometric pressure by Torricelli, science didn't have a clue on this subject.
Light waves
People used to think light was instant. Job implies that light moves from place to place. "Where is the way to the dwelling of light?...That you may know the paths" (Job 38:19-20). 4000 years later, Newton confirmed the motion of light.
Thermodynamics
The First Law of Thermodynamics states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed. The Bible supports the fact that there has been nothing "new" in the universe since creation: "although the works were finished from the foundation of the world" (Hebrews 4:3-4; Gen. 2:2-3). Joule and Mayer discovered this law independently of each other in 1842.
The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that any system left to itself progresses toward a state of entropy, or chaos. Things tend to decay over time. They tend to collapse, burn out, dissipate, fade, and become disorganized. Everything deteriorates. This can only be delayed when energy is purposely added. This law alone argues against the evolutionary hypothesis; increasing complexity among species without a Creator, would violate this law. Bible references to entropy: "Of old You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands...they will all grow old like a garment..." (Psalm 102:25-26), "...For the heavens will vanish away like smoke, The earth will grow old like a garment..." (Isaiah 51:6), "Heaven and earth will pass away..." (Matthew 24:35), "For the creation was subjected to futility" (Romans 8:20-22), and "And the earth is passing away" (1John 2:17).
General Relativity
Dr. Henry Semat states: When Einstein was alive, general relativity could only be proven to a 90% certainty. Today it has been proven to a level of 1014,(that’s a 10 with fourteen zeros behind it), an essential fact. General relativity states that matter, time, energy, and gravity are all interrelated. Two important conclusions of this research are: Time had a beginning, and all Space/Matter had a beginning. For something to have a beginning it needs a 'beginner' (A Creator). Prominent scientists like Michael Turner and Stephen Hawking consider it "likely" evidence of a creator. The Bible addresses the beginning of time and space in several areas: "...before time began..." (2 Timothy 1:9), "...before time began" (Titus 1:2), and "...before the ages..." (1 Corinthians 2:7).
3. Geological Insights.
The Hydrologic Cycle
In the 1700's Perrault and Marriotte correctly identified the process that we all learned as schoolchildren - Water comes as rain, runs into rivers that flow to the ocean, where it evaporates and falls as rain again. Thousands of years before Christ, Job described evaporation of water into clouds, which later gave rain. "For He draws up water, which distill as rain from the mist, which the clouds drop down and pour abundantly on man" (Job 36:27-28). Ecclesiastes, written approximately 900 BC also defines movement of water to streams to oceans, and to return to streams again. "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" (Ecc. 1:7).
Wind patterns
Recently we have been able to accurately track global wind patterns using satellites. In 900 BC Solomon described the repeated cycle of the wind blowing south, then north and returning. "The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north; The wind whirls about continually, and comes again on it's circuit." (Ecc. 1:6).
Agriculture
About 1500 BC Leviticus instructed the Israelites to give the land a rest every seventh year. "But in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land....You shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard" (Lev. 25:4). Today we know the importance of replenishing soil nutrients through crop rotation and allowing the land to rest.
Ocean currents
In the 1800s Matthew Maury the founder of modern oceanography read in his Bible: “The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas” (Psalm 8:8). He developed the first ocean-wind and ocean-current charts that contributed greatly to the science of marine navigation.
4. Medicine, Engineering, and technology.
Sanitary Conditions & Hygiene
Louis Pasteur wrote a scientific paper in the 1850s entitled, “The Germ theory and its Application to Medicine and Surgery” which revolutionized the field of medicine. He stated, “there are living beings or germs of microscopic organisms abound on the surface of all objects, in the air and in water”
The Jews were also given several ways to protect themselves from infectious diseases. First, they were to put all human excrement and trash outside the camp and were commanded to cover it with dirt, which is what our landfills still do today (Deut. 23:12-13). If they became defiled by another infected person they were to wash themselves and their clothes with water as a cleansing agent (Lev. 14:9). Cholera and Typhoid fever result from poor satiation and the failure to wash your hands.
Medical Quarantine
Quarantine is used today as a means to control infectious disease. Thousands of years before germs were understood as the cause of disease, Leviticus instructed the sick to announce their illness to others by covering their mouth and yelling "unclean!" They also could not enter the camp until they were well (Lev 13:45-46).
Circumcision
In Genesis 17:11, God instructed Abraham to circumcise every born male on the 8th day. Circumcision has medical value. Studies have shown that an uncircumcised male has a greater chance of transmitting a cancer-causing Bacillus to his wife. Also, the 8th day is the best day to perform circumcision. Infants are likely to hemorrhage up to the 5th day, and could bleed to death. Between days 5 and 7, there is enough Vitamin K to produce prothrombin, which allows the blood to clot. This level peaks at 110% on the 8th day. Abraham could not have known this.
The Source of Life
In 1500 BC Leviticus 17:11 states, "the life of the flesh is in the blood." In an attempt to rid his body of poison, George Washington's Physician drained his blood -killing him. Too bad he didn't read his bible.
Engineering before its time
The length to width ratio of Noah's Ark described in Genesis 6:15 is known as an ideal design for stability for a non propelled ship at rough seas. Other details in Genesis 6 are all sound engineering designs.
Technology
When John wrote Revelation in 90 AD, how could he have known a means that the entire world could see or know about the two witnesses and their ministry without television and instant satellite communications? The whole world with every tribe, nation, and tongue will see their ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. Rev. 11:1-14
Bacteriology
God knew about bacteria long before man had any concept of these tiny organisms. This is why God told the Children of Israel not to keep the peace offerings, which they ate any more than two days. On the third day if they had anything left they were to burn the rest. Lev. 19:5-6
Henry Semat, Ph.D., Physics
Henry Morris, Ph.D.
Duane Gish, Ph.D.
This study was written by Pastor Steve Carr. If we can be of any further assistance please contact us at