Is The Bible Reliable Scientifically?

Is The Bible Reliable Scientifically? Dr. Heinz Lycklama heinz@osta.com www.osta.com/apologetics

Overview • Scientific statements in the Bible • Are they accurate? • Reliability of the Bible established by: • Prophecy, history, geography, archaeology • Laws of science consistent with the Bible • Scientific statements/anticipation in the Bible • Astronomy, geophysics, geology, hydrology • Meteorology, biology, physics • Alleged scientific errors in the Bible • Scientific disciplines established by Bible-believing scientists @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

To Begin the Discussion … • In 1903, a British philosopher, Herbert Spencer, made a profound scientific statement:“Everything in the universe can be explained by five basic things - space, matter, time, force, and action.” • Spencer, an evolutionist, was a contemporary of Charles Darwin, the British scientist credited with popularizing the concept of evolution. He (Spencer) was given a prestigious award by the British Science Society at the time. This was considered to be a major contribution to science. And it is, until you realize that … @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

What Does The 1st Bible Verse Say? • Moses, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote in Gen. 1:1, “In the beginning (time) God (force) created (action) the heavens (space) and the earth (matter).” • What makes this even more remarkable is the fact that Moses was educated in the tradition of the Egyptians. They believed that only the ocean existed at first. An egg/flower appeared and the sun god was born. The sun god had four children, of whom one was Geb (the earth). They believed that the earth was a flat disk afloat on the river of the ocean. None of this mythology of the time was included in the book of Genesis. @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Some Common Misconceptions Evolution is Science • Skeptics and unbelievers think: “The Bible is an antiquated religious book, filled with scientific fallacies and mistakes reflecting the naïve cosmology of the primitive tribes of the Near East.” • Even some professing Christians think: “The Bible is a book of true religion dealing solely with spiritual subjects and that, where it seems to touch on matters of science and history, it must be interpreted spiritually or allegorically, rather than literally. Creation is Religion @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Can I Believe The Bible? • Consider Ps. 103:12, “As far as the East is from the West, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” • The psalmist used the words “East/West” not “North/South” • When one travels west, one always goes west and never gets to the east • When one travels south, eventually one reaches the South Pole and goes north • These concepts are only true if the earth is round! • How could the author have known this? @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Can I Believe the Bible? - 2 • There are many evidences for the existence of God and the truth of the Bible • However, for someone committed to naturalism, no amount of evidence will do • “Apologetics is not for proving the Word of God but simply for providing a basis for faith” (Josh McDowell) • 1 Peter 3:15, “ … and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” • True faith satisfies both the heart and the intellect (mind) @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

The Reliability of the Bible • Strong Manuscript evidence – More ancient manuscripts than any other historical book. New Testament Confirmed by secular historians Josephus (before 100 AD), Roman Tacitus (120 AD), Roman Governer Pliny (110 AD) • Archaeological evidence – Countless finds of Old and New Testament cities, sites and relics • Prophecy – Several hundred fulfilled prophesies including the time of Christ’s ministry, his birthplace, and method of death. Destruction of Babylon by Cyrus, Progression of Kingdoms from Babylon through Medo-Persian Empire, the Greek Empire and the Roman Empire, suffering of Jews under Antiochus IV Epiphanes, Freedom for Jews under Judas Maccabeus and Israel’s rebirth as a nation in 1948 @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

The Apostle Paul’s Experience Acts 28:23-27, “… many came to him at his lodging, to whom he [Paul] explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, "saying, ‘Go to this people and say: "Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive;For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see withtheireyes and hear withtheir ears, Lest they should understand withtheir hearts and turn, So that I should heal them."'” @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Arguments for God’s Existence • The Cosmological Argument – everything has a cause; God is the initial “First Cause” • The Moral Argument – our sense of moral values points to the existence of a moral Creator • The Teleological Argument – evidence of design and purpose in the world point to intelligent creator, as a watch indicates a watchmaker • The Ontological Argument – the concept of God as the greatest conceivable and necessary Being Note that neither the Bible nor Jesus try to prove the existence of God - they assume it @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

The Creation Shows God • Romans 1:20, “Because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” • Knowing that there must be God obliges us to seek Him @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

What is The Absolute Truth? @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Arguments to Support the Bible • The unparalleled reliability and accuracy of the historical text of the Bible • Confirmation of the events, places, nations, and people of the Bible by archaeology • It is unique in many ways (written over 1,500 year span, over 40 authors maintaining harmony and continuity, survival through time, influence on society, unique teachings, etc.) @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

The Reliability of the Bible • When compared against classical literature, the historical reliability of the Bible is outstanding • Number of manuscripts: NT 24,000; Iliad by Homer 643 • Time between when written and earliest copy: NT 25 years; Iliad 500 years • OT accuracy verified by the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Ebla Tablets @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

It’s A Matter of the Heart • Einstein said “Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind.” • Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” • Psalm 139:13-16, “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. … ” • John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Be Sure of Your Facts • There are no historical or scientific errors in the Bible • There are no scientific errors because God cannot lie • We believe in the full, verbal inspiration, inerrancy and infallibility of the Holy Scriptures • The Bible is written in everyday language • Bible writers used the language of appearance, e.g. sunrise, sunset, dew • When the sun “rises” would you say“my what a beautiful earth rotation”? @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Be Sure of Your Facts - 2 • Science has never disproved any statement in the Bible, but it has proven and demonstrated the truth of hundreds of things which the Bible anticipated, e.g. • Gen. 1:1 – space, matter, time, force, action • Ps. 103:12 – as far as the east is from the west • We must be sure of • Our scriptural facts, • Our scientific facts, and • What we heard @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Scriptural Facts • Dr. Criswell advertised that he would give anybody $1000if he could show him a scientific inaccuracy, mistake, or error in the Bible • Woman called to say: • Apples cannot grow in the Mesopotamian Valley • Apples only grow in OR and WA • I know it’s true because my professor told me so! • Gen. 3:2-3, ”And the woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'" • Lesson – check your facts! @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Scientific Facts • Dan. 12:4 , “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” • An explosion of knowledge in the last days • 90% of all scientists are living today • Increased knowledge • > 100K scientific periodicals, many specialties • > 2000 words per minute are being added • Earth satellites collect 10^12 bits of data per day • No one can claim to be an “authority” in general @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Scientific Facts - 2 • Much new knowledge obsoletes old knowledge • Scientists or liberals may try to harmonize teachings of Genesis with contemporary science • What if we updated the Bible in accordance with the latest scientific theories and discoveries? • The Bible is constant • Science changes theories based on observed events or facts @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

What Did We Hear? • Communication, especially miscommunication, can lead to misperceptions • Story of the cake decorator: • Bride told her to put the words of 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love …” on cake • Decorator heard John 4:18 and put these words on cake “you have had five husbands …” @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Should We Change The Bible To Agree With Science? @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Laws of Science • Law of biogenesis - life can come only from life • 1st Law of Thermodynamics – the law of conservation of mass / energy (E = mc2”) • 2nd Law of Thermodynamics – the law of entropy, (in a closed or open system): • Spontaneous processes lead to a decrease in order • Energy moves to a lower potential, becoming less available to do work • Things move in a direction from order to chaos • Law of Cause and Effect – Every effect must have a cause. The effect cannot be greater, in size or in kind, than the cause @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Law of Biogenesis • Life comes only from preexisting life • Experiments run over two centuries • Louis Pasteur, Redi, Spellanzani • Spontaneous origin of life impossible: • Miller’s experiment madewrong assumptions aboutearly earth’s environment • Organic molecules oxidized by oxygen • Probability of protein formation by chance is less than 1 in 10**130, i.e. ZERO/ZIP/NONE • Simple cell requires 100’s of protein molecules in a specific order @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

1st Law of Thermodynamics • Gen. 2:2-3, “on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done. … in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made .” • Neh. 9:6, “.. You have made heaven, The heaven of heavens, with all their host, … And You preserve them all. …” • Col. 1:16,17, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on the earth … All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” • Heb. 1:2,3 “… by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory … and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself …” @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

2nd Law of Thermodynamics • Ps. 102:25-27, “Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed.” • Consistent with entropy – everything runs down • Is. 51:6, “Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look on the earth beneath. For the heavens will vanish away like smoke, the earth will grow old like a garment, …” • Rom. 8:20-22, “ … For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.” • 1 Pet. 1:24-25 “”All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Law of Cause and Effect • Gen. 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” • The First Cause of the Universe must be an infinite, eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, personal, volitional, holy, loving being! @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Biblical Reliability on Science • We trust the Bible for spiritual truth • Do we trust it for truth in other areas? • History - events corroborated by historians • Archaeology, geography – verifiable facts • Science - astronomy, geophysics, geology, hydrology, meteorology, biology, physics • there are many Biblical references to nature and natural processes • authors use everyday language • amazingly accurate • anticipatory scientific insights in the Bible @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Astronomy – The Sun • Ps. 136:7-9 “To Him who made great lights, ...the sun to rule by day, ... the moon and stars to rule by night ...” • Scientifically accurate • Gen. 1:16, “Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also.” • Ps. 74:16 “... You have prepared the light and the sun.” • Did God create the light separate from the sun in the beginning? • Gen. 1:3, “Let there be light’; and there was light.” @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Astronomy – The Moon • Job 25:5, “If even the moon does not shine ...” • The moon itself is not a source of light • Moon rocks filled with titanium, a better reflector than diamonds • Ps. 89:37, “It shall be established forever like the moon, even like the faithful witness in the sky.” • The moon itself is not a source of light,but a reflector of light from the sun • The moon is not a source of light @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Astronomy – Size of Universe • Is. 55:9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, …” • Job 22:12 “Is not God in the height of heaven? And see the highest stars, how lofty they are!” • Jer. 31:37 “… If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, …” • These three verses indicate the size of the universe • Written around 700 BC @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Astronomy – Diverse Stars • Jer. 31:35-36, “…Who gives the sun for a light by day, the ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night …” • Defines the precision of orbits • Praise to the Creator, contains no scientific error • 1 Cor. 15:41, “ … for one star differs from another star in glory.” • Variety of stars, no two stars alike • God calls them by name (Ps. 147:4) @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

The Number of Stars • Gen. 15:5 “... count the stars, if you are able to number them. … so shall your descendants be.” • Gen. 22:17 “… and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore…” • Jer. 33:22 “ … as the host of heaven cannot be numbered, nor the sand of the sea measured …” • Ptolemy counted 1056 stars; Johannes Kepler counted 1005 • Total number of stars visible to the naked eye is about 4000 • These three verses seemed to be in scientific error until … … the telescope • Today scientists estimate there are more than 10**22 stars (about the same order of magnitude as the number of grains of sand on the earth) @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Stretched Out The Heavens • Job 9:8, “He alone spreads out the heavens” • Ps. 104:2, “… Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain. …” • Is. 40:22, “ … Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, … “ • Is 51:13, “ … Who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth; … “ • God stretched the heavens out in the past, and still stretches the universe out today @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Constellations • Job 38:31 “Can you bind the cluster of Pleiades, or loose the belt of Orion?” • God told Job in ~ 2000 BC that the seven stars of Pleiades were bound together and the stars of Orion are not • Pleiades used to be called the “seven sisters” • We learned [20th century] that the stars of Pleiades are gravitationally bound and the stars of Orion are not @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Geophysics – Floating Spherical Earth • Job 26:7,10 “He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing. … He drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters, at the boundary of light and darkness.” • Indicates a round earth, not resting on a pillar, consistent with observation • Written at a time when many thought the earth was flat @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Spherical Earth • Prov. 8:27, “... When He drew a circle on the face of the deep.” • Indicates that the earth is a globe • Is. 40:22, “It is He who sits above the circle of the earth ...” • “chuwg”, Hebrew word for arc, sphere • Ocean has 8 inch (20 cm.) per mile curvature • Ps. 103:12, “As far as the east is from the west …” • Consistent with the shape of the earth @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Floating Rotating Earth • Job 38:12,14, “Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, … It takes on form like clay under a seal, and stands out like a garment.” • The dawn rolls across the earth as it rotates • A cylindrical seal rolled over soft clay -> conveys the rotation of the earth on its axis • Job 26:7; 38:6, “He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing.”; “To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone?” • Earth out there in space, gravitation among the planets @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Geology • Job 14:18-19, “But as a mountain falls and crumbles away, and as a rock is moved from its place; as water wears away stones, and as torrents wash away the soil of the earth; … “ • Rock erosion • Job 28:9-10, “He puts his hand on the flint; He overturns the mountains at the roots. He cuts out channels in the rocks … “ • Man’s efforts in mining @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Geology – Snow, Frost, Ice • Job 38:29-30, “From whose womb comes the ice? And the frost of heaven, who gives it birth? The waters harden like stone, And the surface of the deep is frozen.” • Glacial period • 2 Pet. 3:4, “And saying, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” • Warning of Uniformitarianism? @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Principle of Isostasy • Is. 40:12, “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?” • Ps. 104:5-9, “Who laid the foundations of the earth …” • According to the Principle of Isostasy, the level of the Earth's crust is determined by its density; lighter material rises, forming continents, mountains, and plateaus, and heavier material sinks, forming basins and ocean floors @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Hydrology • Eccl. 1:7, “All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; to the place fromwhich the rivers come, there they return again.” [Written by Solomon in 935 B.C.] • The hydrologic cycle has been understood by man only in recent years -> ~ mid-1800’s • World’s food supply is made possible by the distribution of water • Is. 55:10, “For as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven, and do not return there but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater.” • Hydrologic cycle @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Hydrologic Cycle • Ps. 135:7; Jer. 10:13, “… He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth, He makes lightning for the rain … ” • Evaporation occurs after “a multitude of waters in the heavens” descends • Prov. 8:26, “While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, or the primal dust of the world.” • Condensation nuclei @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Hydrology – Clouds, Mist, Water • Job 26:8; 37:11,16, “He binds up the water in His thick clouds, yet the clouds are not broken under it. … Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds. … Do you know how the clouds are balanced … “ • Condensation from the clouds, which hold water mysteriously • Job 36:27-28, “For he draws up drops of water which distill as rain from the mist, which the clouds drop down and pour abundantly on man.” • Precipitation explained • Job 28:10, “He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing.” • Run-off explained @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Water Reservoir, Snow, Hail, Frost • Ps. 33:7, “He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deep in storehouses.” • Oceanic reservoir • Job 38:22, “Have you entered the treasury of snow or have you seen the treasuryof hail …” • Snow and hail • Ps. 147:16, “He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes.” • Snow and frost @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Hydrologic Balance • Is. 40:12, “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?” • Describes the hydrologic balance • Job 28:24-26, “For He looks to the ends of the earth, and sees under the whole heavens, to establish a weight for the wind, and apportion the waters by measure. When he made a law for the rain, and a path for the thunderbolt.” • Describes the hydrologic balance @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Meteorology • Eccl. 1:6, “The wind goes toward the south and turns around to the north; the wind whirls about continually, and comes again on its circuit.” • Circulation of the atmosphere, not discovered until much later • Wind circuits impact airplane flight times • Is. 40:22, “It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.” • Protective effect of atmosphere • Job 28:25, “To establish a weight for the wind, … “ • Air has weight – proven about 300 years ago • Relative weights of air and water needed for hydrologic cycle @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Meteorology - 2 • Eccl. 1:7, “All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; to the place from which the rivers come, there they return again.” • Oceanic origin of rain • Jer. 10:13, “… He makes lightning for the rain, He brings the wind outof His treasuries.” • Relation of electricity to rain @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Oceanography • Ps. 8:8, “The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas.” • Matthew Maury undertook research project based on this Scripture verse (1841-1861) • There are paths in the sea • Also aware of “wind circuits” in Eccl. 1:6-7 • Concluded that there must be “currents in the ocean” • Plotted wind circuits and ocean currents as an aid to navigation of the seas @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Paths in the Sea • Gulf stream is a “path in the sea” • 40 miles wide, 2000 feet deep • Flows from Gulf of Mexico up through the Atlantic • Many other paths in the sea discovered since • Monument erected in Maury’s home state of VA “Matthew Fontaine Maury, Pathfinder of the Seas, the Genius Who First Snatched from the Ocean and Atmosphere the Secret of Their Laws. His Inspiration, Holy Writ, Psalm 8:8, Psalm 107:23-24, and Ecclesiastes 1:6." @ Dr. Heinz Lycklama

Is The Bible Reliable Scientifically?