Faith Community Church, Roslyn, PA, 1968

 

Science and theScriptures

Robert C. Newman

 

What is Science?

 

            VariousDefintions:

á      Systematicknowledge of natural or physical phenomena

á      Truthascentained by observation, experiment and induction

á      Anordered arrangement of facts known under classes or heads

á      Theoreticalknowledge as distinguished from practical

á      Knowledgeof principles and rules of invention, construction and mechanism, asdistinguished from art

 

A GeneralDefinition:  the systematic studyof and knowledge about the real world

 

Science asmethod: the empirical method (actually, systematized common sense)

            1.Examine data.

            2.Construct a hypothesis:

                        a.Fitting the known data;

                        b.As simple as possible consistent with a.

            3.Apply deductive logic to the hypothesis to obtain testable consequences.

            4.Re-examine data to check these consequences.

 

Comments

Science involvesboth art and scholarship; often considerable brilliance is required toconstruct a theory; if enough data are available, it is usually easier to testa theory than to construct one.

The generaldefinition (above) and the scientific method are not just confined to theso-called exact sciences; one should study the Bible in this way, too.

 

Should weexpect scientific statements in the Bible?

 

            Yes,certainly if the general definition (above) is used.

 

What aboutscience in the more restricted sense, such as the first of the variousdefinitions above?

á      TheBible is not a science textbook.

á      Yetit claims to be written by inspiration of God, who is the creator and sustainerof the world.

á      Thuswe should expect mistakes to be avoided, just as we would for a good scientistwriting simple material in the field of his competence.

 

To what extent is science a scriptural activity?

 

            Itis commanded and approved.

á      Mancommissioned to subdue the earth (Gen 1:28).

á      Exampleof Daniel, Solomon, etc.

 

The problem ofsin: applies to Christians ans well as to non-Christians; affects one's outlook(cp. Prov 9:10, 14:12).

 

Still, carefulinvestigation is enjoined (Prov 14:15, 12:15, 25:2).

 

The occurrenceof science in the Scriptures

 

            Inspirationand consequent lack of error; how this material becomes relevation.

 

            Examplesof pre-science, to give assurance (Prov 22:19-21)

á      Jacob'ssheep (Gen 30:37-39, 31:10-12)

á      Pleiadesand Orion (Job 38:31-32)

á      Seeexamples in McMillen, None of These Diseases; Stoner, Science Speaks.

 

Problems of Interpretation

 

            Havesuch problems both in nature and the Bible

á      Copernicus:response of Luther, Calvin and Roman Catholics

á      Fixityof species: Agassiz and "kinds"

 

Great care is necessary to avoidpitfalls here.

á      Readingthings into Scripture (or nature)

á      Overstatingthe case

                  Toomuch certainty on an unclear point

                  Goingbeyond what is stated – Calvin's point

á      Theimportance of context

                  Whois speaking? (e.g., the fool; Jacob, above)

What is hetalking about? (19th cen teetotaler quote of "Do not handle, donot taste, do not touch!")

Is the statementintended to be literal? (Jesus: "I am the door")

 

Conclusion

Adherence toGod's word as thoroughly reliable has proven to be the safest policy (Albright,Thiele; Prov 21:30).