Accurate Biblical Descriptions of Scientific Principles

7/27/2019 Accurate Biblical Descriptions of Scientific Principles

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Accurate Biblical Descriptions of Scientific

Principlesby Rich Deem

Science and the Bible at odds?

The Bible is often described as a book that includes many ideas that are scientificallyinaccurate. The truth is that what many Christians (and non-Christians) have misinterpreted

the Bible in such a way as to make itseem to be at odds with the reality of our world. For

example, the Roman Catholic Church promoted geocentrism (the idea that the earth is the

center of the universe) for many years. This concept is not found in the Bible, but stemsfrom the idea that since humans are the center of God's attention, that the place where they

live must be the center of God's universe. This is neither a logical nor biblical inference. Infact, the Bible states that the heavens "fix their rule over the earth,"1 demonstrating that theheavens control the earth and not the other way around. The early proponents (Nicholas

Copernicus, Johannes Kepler, Galileo Galilei) of heliocentrism (the earth revolving around

the Sun) were all Christians (see related page - People of Faith - Famous Scientists). In fact,Isaac Newton, in his famous scientific work,Principia, stated, "The most beautiful system

of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion on an

intelligent and powerful Being."

Of course, the Bible was not written as a work of science nor was its purpose to describethe workings of the physical world. It was written to explain spiritual principles - the nature

of mankind, the nature of God, and how people can have a personal relationship with God.

However, when the Bible describes the physical world, it is accurate. The purpose of thispage is to illustrate some of the examples of scientific principles described in the Bible

hundreds to thousands of years before they were proved to be true by science.

Scientific Principle Biblical Reference

Cosmology/Astronomy

Time had a beginning 2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 1:2, 1 Corinthians 2:72

The universe had a beginning Genesis 1:1, 2:4, Isaiah 42:5, etc.3

The universe was created from the invisible Hebrews 11:34

The dimensions of the universe were created Romans 8:38-395

The universe is expanding Job 9:8, Psalms 104:2, Isaiah 40:22, Isaiah

42:5, Isaiah 44:24, Isaiah 45:12, Isaiah 48:13,Isaiah 51:13, Jeremiah 10:12, Jeremiah

51:15, Zechariah 12:16
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Creation of matter and energy has ended inthe universe (refutes steady-state theory)

Genesis 2:3-47

The universe is winding down and will "wearout"

Psalms 102:25-278

Describes the correct order of creation Genesis 1 (see Day-Age Genesis One

Interpretation)

Number of stars exceeds a billion Genesis 22:17, Jeremiah 33:229

Every star is different 1 Corinthians 15:4110

Pleiades and Orion as gravitationally boundstar groups

Job 38:3111

Light is in motion Job 38:19-2012

The earth is controlled by the heavens Job 38:33

1

Earth is a sphere Isaiah 40:2213 Job 26:1014

At any time, there is day and night on theEarth

Luke 17:34-3515

Earth is suspended in space Job 26:716

Earth Sciences

Earth began as a waterworld. Formation ofcontinents by tectonic activity described

Genesis 1:2-9, Psalms 104:6-9, Proverbs3:19, Proverbs 8:27-29, Job 38:4-8, 2 Peter

3:517

Water cycle described Ecclesiastes 1:7; Isaiah 55:10, Job 36:27-2818

Valleys exist on the bottom of the sea 2 Samuel 22:1619

Vents exist on the bottom of the sea Job 38:1620

Ocean currents in the sea Psalms 8:821

Air has weight Job 28:2522

Winds blow in circular paths Ecclesiastes 1:623

Biology

The chemical nature of human life Genesis 2:7, 3:1924

Life of creatures are in the blood Leviticus 17:1125

The nature of infectious diseases Leviticus 13:4626
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Importance of sanitation to health

Numbers 19, Deuteronomy 23:12-13,Leviticus 7-927


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It is He who sits above the vault of the earth, And its inhabitants are like

grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them outlike a tent to dwell in. (Isaiah 40:22)

Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who

spread out the earth and its offspring, Who gives breath to the people on it, And

spirit to those who walk in it, (Isaiah 42:5)Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb,

"I, the Lord, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself, And

spreading out the earth all alone" (Isaiah 44:24)"It is I who made the earth, and created man upon it. I stretched out the heavens

with My hands, And I ordained all their host." (Isaiah 45:12)

"Surely My hand founded the earth, And My right hand spread out the heavens;When I call to them, they stand together." (Isaiah 48:13)

That you have forgotten the Lord your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens, And

laid the foundations of the earth; That you fear continually all day long because of

the fury of the oppressor, As he makes ready to destroy? But where is the fury of theoppressor? (Isaiah 51:13)

It is He who made the earth by His power, Who established the world by His

wisdom; And by His understanding He has stretched out the heavens. (Jeremiah10:12)

It is He who made the earth by His power, Who established the world by His

wisdom, And by His understanding He stretched out the heavens. (Jeremiah 51:15)The burden of the word of the Lord concerning Israel. Thus declares the Lord who

stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of

man within him, (Zechariah 12:1)7. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all

His work which God had created and made. This is the account of the heavens and

the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made earth and

heaven. (Genesis 2:3-4)8. In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work

of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a

garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But youremain the same, and your years will never end. (Psalms 102:25-27)

that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into

the glorious freedom of the children of God. (Romans 8:21)9. "I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the

sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the

cities of their enemies." (Genesis 22:17)

"'I will make the descendants of David My servant and the Levites who ministerbefore Me as countless as the stars of the sky and as measureless as the sand on the

seashore.'" (Jeremiah 33:22)

Note: Only about 3,000 stars can be seen with the naked eye.10. The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star

differs from star in splendor. (1 Corinthians 15:41)

11. "Can you bind the beautiful Pleiades? Can you loose the cords of Orion?" (Job38:31)


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NOTE: All other star groups visible to the naked eye are unbound, with the possible

exception of the Hyades.12. "What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside?" (Job

38:19)

13. He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers.

He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to livein. (Isaiah 40:22)

14. "He has inscribed a circle on the surface of the waters, At the boundary of light and

darkness." (Job 26:10)15. "I tell you, on that night there will be two men in one bed; one will be taken, and the

other will be left. "There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be

taken, and the other will be left. (Luke 17:34-35) Obviously, some people will beworking while others will be sleeping when the Lord returns.

16. He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over

nothing. (Job 26:7)

17. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, andthe Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters... Then God said, "Let

the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land

appear"; and it was so. (Genesis 1:2, 9)Thou didst cover it with the deep as with a garment; The waters were standing

above the mountains... The mountains rose; the valleys sank down To the place

which Thou didst establish for them. Thou didst set a boundary that they may notpass over; That they may not return to cover the earth. (Psalms 104:6-9)

The LORD by wisdom founded the Earth; By understanding He established the

heavens. By His knowledge the deeps were broken up... (Proverbs 3:19)"When He established the heavens, I [wisdom] was there, When He inscribed a

circle on the face of the deep, When He made firm the skies above, When the

springs of the deep became fixed, When He set for the sea its boundary So that the

water would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations ofthe land; (Proverbs 8:27-29)

"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have

understanding... Or who enclosed the sea with doors When, bursting forth, it wentout from the womb; (Job 38:4, 8)

For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the

heavens existed long ago and the land was formed out of water and by water, (2Peter 3:5)

18. All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams

come from, there they return again. (Ecclesiastes 1:7)

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it withoutwatering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the

sower and bread for the eater, (Isaiah 55:10)

"For He draws up the drops of water, They distill rain from the mist, Which theclouds pour down, They drip upon man abundantly." (Job 36:27-28)

19. The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at the

rebuke of the LORD, at the blast of breath from his nostrils. (2 Samuel 22:16)20. "Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep?

(Job 38:16)


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First discovered in the 1970's. See Exploring the deep ocean floor: Hot springs and

strange creatures21. ... and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. (Psalms 8:8)

22. "When He imparted weight to the wind, And meted out the waters by measure"

(Job 28:25)

23. Blowing toward the south, Then turning toward the north, The wind continuesswirling along; And on its circular courses the wind returns. (Ecclesiastes 1:6)

24. the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his

nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7)"By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground,

since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." (Genesis

3:19)25. For the life of a creature is in the blood... (Leviticus 17:11)

26. "The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be

unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, 'Unclean! Unclean!' As long

as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outsidethe camp." (Leviticus 13:46)

27. "You shall also have a place outside the camp and go out there, and you shall have a

spade among your tools, and it shall be when you sit down outside, you shall digwith it and shall turn to cover up your excrement. (Deuteronomy 23:12-13)

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Accurate Biblical Descriptions of Scientific Principles

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