For some, it may be hard to believe that the Bible was ahead of science. But this is actually the case, especially when it comes to things such as sanitation and health. Here are 19 times the Bible was way ahead of science.
The Universe Had a Beginning
Genesis 1:1 aligns with this modern science consensus, and both the Bible and science agree that the universe had a beginning. The only difference is that the Bible states that God created the universe, while science believes in the Big Bang theory. However, some may argue that the Big Bang theory echoes the Bible.
The Shape of the Earth
CARM tells us about Isaiah 40:22 in the Bible, which says, “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 live in.” This predates any other suggestions on the shape of the earth.
The Earth Suspended in Space
Job 26:7’s depiction of Earth hanging on nothing contrasts with ancient cosmologies that said Earth rested on pillars or even animals. This biblical reference shows an understanding of Earth’s place in the void of space. This insight significantly predates any modern findings from the 18th century, when there was scientific acceptance that the Earth was suspended in space.
Innumerable Stars
The Bible was the first to say that the number of stars is innumerable. For example, Heart Publications writes that the Bible “pre-empts this discovery of modern science, by declaring that the number of stars were too many to count.” Modern astronomy confirms this, but it goes against ancient times, where they stated there were a certain number of stars.
Unique Stars
1 Corinthians 15:41 acknowledges the uniqueness of each star. It has only just been confirmed by modern astronomy that each star is completely unique. Ancient views suggested that all stars were the same and did not have differing characteristics. Modern science aligns with biblical views, as both reveal the vast diversity of stars.
Light in Motion
Job 38:19–20 describes light as moving, and this aligns with modern science’s understanding of the speed of light. It contrasts with the ancient view that light was static. Modern physics has been able to confirm that light travels at a finite speed, and this is something that’s remarkably in line with what the Bible states.
Air Has Weight
BibliaTodo writes, “Galileo Galilei eventually managed to disprove this assumption with a clever experiment, but long before he did this, the book of Job revealed that God ‘imparted weight to the wind and meted out the waters by measure’ (Job 28:25).” Ancient beliefs thought that air was weightless, but modern technologies have proven that the atmosphere has pressure and weight.
Hydrological Cycle
Ecclesiastes 1:7 and Isaiah 55:10 describe the water cycle, even though this was a concept that was not fully understood by science until the 17th century. The hydrological cycle includes processes such as evaporation, cloud formation, and precipitation. It helps to reflect an understanding of the Earth’s water systems.
Ocean Currents
The Psalms describe movements and paths in the sea, which align with science’s discovery of ocean currents. Matthew Maury, who was the father of oceanography, was actually inspired by what the Bible had said about the sea and took these references as a way to map the ocean currents.
Quarantine for Disease Control
It took science longer to catch onto the fact that sick people needed to be quarantined compared to the Bible. For example, Jehovah’s Witnesses write, “The Mosaic Law prescribed keeping people with leprosy separate from others. Not until the plagues of the Middle Ages did medical doctors learn to apply this principle, which is still deemed effective.”
Importance of Handwashing
Numbers 19 emphasizes that a person should wash their hands after contact with the dead. This was centuries before germs were discovered. It wasn’t until the 19th century that germs were discovered by Ignaz Semmelweis, who found that there were fewer patient deaths when staff washed their hands.
Proper Waste Disposal
Deuteronomy 23:12–13 instructs that a person should dispose of waste away from any human settlements. This wasn’t a practice that was always carried out in ancient cities. This has since been encouraged by science, as modern sanitization recognizes the importance of waste management for good health.
Nutritional Laws and Health
Tomorrow’s World writes that the Bible had specific dietary laws, stating that a person should only eat animals that have hooves and eat grass, referring to herbivore animals. It also states that modern science now reveals how practical these laws have been. The avoidance of certain foods can be seen as taking the first steps towards public health measures.
Circumcision on the Eighth Day
Leviticus 12:3 commands that circumcision should be carried out on the eighth day. This aligns with modern science, which has discovered that blood clotting can happen in newborn babies. This specific timing also optimizes healing and minimizes bleeding risks. The precision of this timing shows the Bible had an understanding of infant health.
Emotional Health’s Impact on Physical Well-Being
Proverbs 17:22 links joy and a good heart to health, which greatly predates the modern understanding that mental health can have an impact on physical well-being and vice versa. The Bible was able to acknowledge the connection between emotional and physical health long before modern medicine.
Gravity and the Cosmos
Inspired Scripture writes, “God also set the laws of physics in place that allow our universe to function and sustain life on Earth.” This comes from Job 38:31–33 which shows that the Bible touches on gravitational fields by speaking about creating a world that humans can live in. It aligns with modern science’s understanding of gravity.
The Value of Sanitation
There are levitical laws on cleanliness found in Leviticus and Deuteronomy that show advanced sanitation systems. These laws included instructions on hygiene and looking after areas that were inhabited by humans. This emphasis on sanitation would have helped those living in Israel live long and healthy lives.
Conservation of Mass and Energy
Ecclesiastes 1:9 and 3:14–15 hint at principles that represent the modern law of conservation of mass and energy. These verses suggest that the sun does not create anything new, and this is also similar to modern science, which suggests energy and mass are conserved in closed systems.
Understanding of Genetics and Heredity
Genesis 30 describes how Jacob used specialized breeding techniques to produce speckled and spotted livestock, which shows an early understanding of selective breeding. Jacob was able to figure out the passing of traits between animals. It was an observational approach to genetics that focused on using environmental ways of figuring out breeding patterns.
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