What does the Bible say about Science?
This is a key question as there are some who say that the Bible trumps science. What they really mean is that their understanding of the Bible trumps science. Yet the Bible is clear that God has given us minds to understand and rule this world. He gave us minds to use both to understand god’s world and to understand God’s word.
“Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.” Psalm 111:2 (ESV)
The Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge was opened in 1874. It has been the place where many great discoveries in Physics have have been made. Cavendish professors have completely changed our understanding of the physical world. They discovered the first electron. The same was true of the neutron. The lab laid the foundations for the discovery of quantum mechanics in the 1920s. It also was instrumental in laying the groundwork that led to the determination of the double-helix structure of the DNA molecule in the 1950's. Above the great oak door of the old Cavendish lab the words of Psalm111:2 are written in Latin. The verse was put there at the request of the first Cavendish Professor, James Clark Maxwell. 140 years ago the Bible and Christianity were held in high esteem in Britain. But what is surprising is that these words are also written over the entrance to the new lab that was opened in 1973. Andrew Briggs, a PhD student at the time, suggested that the words be put above the new entrance, only that this time they be inscribed in English. Cavendish Professor A. B. Pippard put the proposal to the Policy Committee. He thought they would veto the suggestion but to his surprise, they approved it. So the inscription in English on the entrance to the new lab is.
"The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.”
What are the ‘works of the Lord’. They could refer to his work seen in creation or in his word. Both are referred to in the Bible as coming from our creator.
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him. . . . You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet.” Psalm 8:3-6
We are meant to understand the language that our world speaks to us.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speed or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice go out to all the earth, their words to the end of the earth.” Psalm 19:1-4
This psalm then goes on to discuss the second way God has revealed himself,
“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statuses of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.” Psalm 19:7-8
Francis Bacon (1561- 1626) became both Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England. He was a great advocate of science and used this to promote the advancement of society. He wrote,
“God has, in fact, written two books, not just one. Of course, we are all familiar with the first book he wrote, namely Scripture. But he has written a second book called creation.”
Science was an understanding of how God’s world worked so could not be in opposition to God. He considered science (natural philosophy) to be a remedy against superstition, and therefore a "most faithful attendant" of religion, considering religion as the revelation of God's Will and science as the contemplation of God's Power.
Bacon understood the advancement of science in the world to be a fulfilment of a prophecy in the book of Daniel,
“"But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased" Daniel 12:4
He recognised that knowledge would grow but this would be based on Biblical principles.
Supporting Evidence
The universe had a beginning and science has now shown that the development of earth follows a sequence that is remarkably similar to that described in the book of Genesis. As this chapter describes what happened before man was around, the correlation is extraordinary. It says how the earth was originally an empty void planet which became covered with water. Dry land appeared and then vegetation, animals and finally man were created. Psalm 104 also describes the creation of our world.,
“He set the earth on its foundations: it can never be moved. You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. But at your rebuke the waters fled, at the sound of your thunder they took flight; they flowed over the mountains, they went down into the valleys, to the place you assigned for them. You set a boundary they can never cross; never agin will they cover the earth.” Psalm 104:5-9
The universe works according to specific laws that seem to be built into its very fabric. When God speaks to Job he makes the point that such a creation would be impossible for man to bring about. It is significant that the laws we call the ‘Laws of Nature’ are here called the ‘Laws of the Heavens.’
“Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth?” Job 38:33
Jeremiah also talks about ‘the fixed laws of heaven and earth’ (Jeremiah 33:25).
Job is probably one of the earliest stories in the Bible. Yet even then it was known that the earth is suspended in space.
“He suspends the earth over nothing.” Job 26:7
The same book recognised that the clouds formed from water that had evaporated from the seas, and returned there through rain and the rivers.
“He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams, and clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind.” Job 36:27-28
