Over the past few months we have been looking at the evidence for the reliability, historicity, and inspiration of the Bible using the acronym MAPS-S. We have seen an abundance of evidence in these categories: M=Manuscripts, A=Archeology, and P=Prophecy. We will now take a look at the evidence from S=Science.
The first thing to note is that the Bible was not written to be a book of science, however, when it speaks of things related to science facts known today it is never incoherent or mythological in its descriptions. In fact, the Bible was giving accurate scientific and medical information thousands of years before their discoveries by humans. Unlike the other so-called “holy books” the Bible speaks about the things of nature, including cosmology, geology, and even biochemistry, in ways that we would speak of them today.
For example…
- The earth is a sphere (Isaiah 40:22)
- Incalculable number of stars (Jeremiah 33:22)
- Free float of earth in space (Job 26:7)
- Creation made of invisible elements (Hebrews 11:3)
- Each star is different (1 Corinthians 15:41)
- Light moves (Job 38:19-20)
- Air has weight (Job 28:25)
- Winds blow in cyclones (Ecclesiastes 1:6)
- Blood is the source of life and health (Leviticus 17:11)
- Ocean floor contains deep valleys and mountains (2 Samuel 22:16; Jonah 2:6)
- Oceans contain currents and springs (Psalm 8:8; Job 38:16)
- When dealing with disease, hands should be washed under running water (Leviticus 15:13)
Areas of scientific truths found in the Bible:
Anatomy truths: God knit us together in our mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13)
- In contrast, the Muslim Quran and Charles Darwin both say we begin as a clot. We know today, the detail and intricacy involved in the formation and structure of the cell and the development of the embryo and the skeletal system.
Astronomy truths: The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. (Psalm 19:1) …as countless as the stars of the sky and as measureless as the sand on the seashore… (Jeremiah 33:22)
- In 150 BC scientists proclaimed that they had counted all of the stars and numbered them at 1,056; but with the invention of the telescope, we now know there are too many to be counted.
Geological truths: He (God) suspends the earth over nothing. (Job 26:7)
- In contrast the Quran says the mountains stabilize the earth. The Hindu Vedas say that the earth rests on the back of an elephant that stood on the back of a turtle in an endless cosmic sea of milk. The early Greeks believed that Atlas carried the earth on his back.
Medical truths: For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised… (Genesis 17:12)
- This is now known to be the best day to avoid infection and is the only day in which the blood-clotting factor is at its highest level.
- God directed circumcision to be done on the 8th day after the birth of the baby and today we know that this is the only day that vitamin K and Prothrombin are at their highest levels and therefore would be the safest day in which to perform this procedure.
Health truths: Bacteria and virus avoidance is found in early Hebrew practices given by God in the Law concerning sanitation and eating regulations—See Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy.
- We know today that the regulations for eating, cleansing, and contamination avoidance that was given in God’s Law has been justified in modern times with the discovery of the microscopic world.
Nutrition and Dietary truths: All of the food regulations given in the Mosaic Law, as well as in the Garden of Eden, are continuing to be proven as the most healthy means of eating. See Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy.
- Also reference the story of Daniel and his friends in chapter one of the book of Daniel.
Laws of Nature truths: Herbert Spencer, who died in 1903, was famous for applying scientific discoveries to philosophy. He listed five knowable categories in the natural sciences: time, force, energy (or motion), space and matter.
- Genesis 1:1 shows how God laid it all out in the very first verse of Scripture:
In the beginning (time); God (force); created (energy); the heavens (space); and the earth (matter). Genesis 1:1
In addition, the existence of God and the Creation account of Genesis are supported by evidence outside the Biblical record:
The Cosmological Argument: Evidence found in the creation and design of the universe. For example, the universe is extremely fine tuned for life specifically here on earth, and also for the existence of the universe itself. There are hundreds of constants that must be at precise settings otherwise life would not exist and even the universe itself could not be sustained. This could only be possible through an intelligence that exists outside the constraints of these rules.
The Teleological Argument: Evidence found in the design of nature and in our own bodies. For example, the DNA code contains information so complex that it is beyond our comprehension. This information is also fine tuned to exact codes needed for biological life to exist. Again, information can only come from intelligence, and intelligence can only come from a mind beyond the scope of the thing that it created.
Going Deeper:
Get J. Warner Wallace’s book: God’s Crime Scene, and Lee Strobel’s best-seller: The Case for a Creator
Reflection:
- Write out two or three science facts that support the reliability of the Bible that you can commit to memory and share with someone.
- Prayer focus—Pray that the deception in secular science education would be exposed.
Join us next week as we continue our Case for the Bible by looking at additional evidence of the Bible’s “Scientific Authenticity.”
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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.
Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.
Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.
Teri Dugan
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