Regardless of whether you consider the Bible to be the work of God or fiction, there’s no denying that it plays an important role. However, those who are cynical about its truthfulness might be surprised to learn that the Bible mentioned the following 18 things before science did!
Earth’s sphericity
Although Flat Earthers may still deny that the Earth is round, the Bible mentioned the ‘circle of the Earth’ (Isaiah 40:22) long before scientific discovery. While Christopher Colombus is credited with the discovery, there is evidence that the Earth has been known to be round since the 5th century BC.
Gravitational force
Gravity has also been mentioned in the bible long before science. Ecclesiastes 1:6 speaks of ‘the wind returneth again to its circuits,’ hinting at gravitational forces. According to BibleRef, this book is thought to have been written between 970 and 931 BC, thousands of years before Isaac Newton witnessed an apple falling.
Ocean currents
The Bible recognized ocean currents long before scientific discovery in 1860. Psalm 8:8 notes ‘the paths of the seas,’ a statement from a Biblical figure whose experience of the ocean was limited to a small portion of the Mediterranean coastline.
Hydrologic cycle
Ecclesiastes is bursting with scientific connections, and verse 1:7 reflects the hydrologic cycle. Reading ‘All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again,’ this is the earliest acknowledgment of the world’s continuous water system.
Atmospheric circulation
Another from Ecclesiastes, in the same verse as gravitational force, 1:6 mentions ‘the wind blowing toward the south and turning toward the north’. This is a Biblical representation of atmospheric circulation, which generates Earth’s wind patterns, which the Met Office describes as an essential transportation of heat.
The first law of thermodynamics
The first law of thermodynamics is a formula surrounding energy conservation. Genesis 2:1 describes God ‘ceasing from His work,’ a statement that parallels the ideas of energy conservation. Many consider God to be the creator of all and the largest energy in the universe.
Second law of thermodynamics
The second law of thermodynamics is a law of physics that says all natural systems break down. It’s said that Psalm 102:25-26 recognizes this when it mentions that the Earth will perish; before the law, this verse was disbelieved, and scientific discovery proved the decaying of the planet.
Entropy
In a similar tone to Psalm 102:25-26, Isaiah 51:6 refers to the heavens vanishing like smoke. This is also reminiscent of the concept of entropy and the second law of thermodynamics. The fact that two Bible passages discuss this concept makes it surprising that the law was not formulated until 1850.
Radioactivity
Isaiah 34:4 speaks of ‘all the stars in the sky will be dissolved, and the heavens rolled up like a scroll,’ which is said to be the Biblical resemblance of nuclear decay. It has been interpreted to mean that nuclear creation is dabbling with the devil and will end the world.
Space-time continuum
Stanford University states that there are no missing points in either space or time, and our world is four-dimensional. Job 38:19 references ‘the way to the dwelling of light,’ hinting at bending the space-time continuum. Light has always existed, even when there was nothing.
Multiverse theory
The Bible has multiple references to ‘the heavens’ starting with Genesis 1:1. From the first verse of the first book, the implication of a multiverse is threaded throughout the Bible. Although there are many theories regarding a multiverse, there is no significant evidence, but the Bible certainly got there before science.
Quantum mechanics
Hebrews 11:3 speaks of ‘what is seen was not made out of what was visible’. While the statement is pretty vague, it is believed to be linked to quantum superposition, a fundamental rule of quantum mechanics. It explains how things are made from matter and energy.
The theory of relativity
The theory of relativity states that the laws of physics don’t change, even with motion. It’s argued that when Job 38:4 asks, ‘Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?’, it reflects relativistic concepts. Regardless of the observers, the facts don’t change.
Unified field theory
Colossians 1:17 mentions ‘in Him all things consist,’ resembling a unified field theory. Albert Einstein coined the coin, and scientists have been trying for centuries to solve it. There is tons of evidence, but to this day, the theory has not been formulated, meaning the Bible got there first.
String theory
Akin to string theory’s invisible dimensions, Romans 1:20 notes ‘the invisible qualities’ of God. It refers to things that can’t be perceived by the senses, the same as string theory. God is ever-present; even though he can’t be seen, he is always there.
Dark Matter
Psalm 104:2 refers to ‘covering Yourself with light as with a garment,’ possibly alluding to dark matter and energy. Dark matter dominates the universe, with SciNews explaining that it makes up 85% of all matter. While scientists still puzzle over it, it seems that Christians have understood it all along.
Cosmic inflation
Resembling cosmic inflation theory, Isaiah 40:22 speaks of God ‘stretching out the heavens’. Cosmic inflation is the theory of rapid expansion during the first few moments of the universe’s creation. This verse implies that God was in control of this cosmic inflation, and he still is, as the universe is ever-expanding.
The Big Bang
Finally, Genesis 1:3 says ‘let there be light,’ one of the most famous statements in the Bible, referring to The Big Bang. The Beginning, according to God, started with light, just like science says, but the difference is that the theory of The Big Bang didn’t come along until 1931.
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