Science and the Scriptures Trivia Quiz

Answer: The universe had a beginning, and life arose on earth in stages.

Astronomers have discovered evidence that the universe is expanding - a fact that, when traced back, means that the universe had a beginning, possibly as a small singularity. Science may attempt to explain this by saying it arose out of nothing, by spontaneous chance.

But is not the Bible book of Genesis in complete harmony with this scientific finding, when it says at Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth"? The Bible also teaches that the creation process occurred in stages, not all at once.

Answer: All of these

"For a thousand years are in your eyes but as yesterday when it is past." (Psalms 90:4)

"This is a history of the heavens and the earth in the time of their being created, in the day that Jehovah God made earth and heaven." (Genesis 2:4)

The Hebrew word ("yohm") here translated "day" does not have such a restrictive meaning as some attribute to it; it is often used simply to refer to a long time. It is interesting to note that the seventh day, following the six days of creation, is not mentioned in Genesis as having ended, as all the other days were. This day, made sacred by God, was his day of rest; that rest is apparently still ongoing as of 6,000 years later (Hebrews 4:9-11). It would then be logical to conclude that, as the seventh day has covered many millennia, so too did the previous six creative days. Also in line with scientific findings of the earth's age, estimated at around four billion years, some feel that the actual formation of the earth is indicated in the Bible as being prior to the creative days: Genesis 1:1 describes "the beginning," likely a separate time from the creative days.

Answer: Quarantine

Leprosy (Hansen's disease), as it is known today, is an infection caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae, which was discovered in 1873 by Dr. G.A. Hansen. In Bible times, people who were afflicted with leprosy were required, under the Mosaic Law, to be quarantined.

In more recent times, it has been discovered that leprosy is a communicable disease, thus quarantining was an accurate medical practice. The leprosy of the Bible, though, was not limited to humans. The Mosaic Law also contained instructions on "leprosy" that infected garments or houses.

It has been suggested that, in such cases, this condition was actually mildew or mold.

Answer: Commands to wear hand coverings when dealing with sick ones, or with raw meat.

The law that says, "Anyone touching the corpse of any human soul must also be unclean seven days," is found at Numbers 19:11. Leviticus chapter 11 contains a list of "clean" and "unclean" animals. Requirements regarding sanitation are recorded at Deuteronomy 23:9-14. Practically every part of the Israelites' lives were governed by regulations found in the Law. These laws not only protected them and kept them clean, but also served as part of their worship. The instructions in the Mosaic Law are surprisingly modern; humans did not have knowledge of bacteria and related diseases until the 19th century. Health benefits could still be gained from following these regulations in areas with poor sanitation.

Not only did the Law discuss human health, but it also made provision for the land. Every seventh year, the land was to "rest" and no crops were to be planted or harvested. This was, again, part of the Israelites' worship, but it also helped restore the soil and retain its fertility. Now, crop rotation is often used for the same purpose.

Answer: A calm heart

"A calm heart is the life of the fleshly organism." (Prov. 14:30)

Although it is over 2,500 years old, this proverb of Solomon has retained its wisdom even in light of today's science. Modern medicine has found that emotions do indeed play a large role in one's health. Strong emotions, such as anger or rage, can contribute not only to cardiovascular disease, but other serious health problems, including high blood pressure, strokes, respiratory difficulties, and even skin and digestive disorders.

Answer: Statutes of heaven and earth

"Have you come to know the statutes of the heavens, or could you put its authority in the earth?" (Job 38:33)

Pythagoras made the first known non-Biblical reference to natural laws, and about two thousand years later, Galileo, Kepler, and Newton found proof of such law. However, the verse quoted above, a question posed by God to Job, predated Pythagoras by about a millennium. Though in a simple, non-technological manner, the Bible once again shows itself to be in accordance with science. The Bible book of Jeremiah contains two similar sayings, both giving credit to God as the Creator of "the statutes of the moon and the stars" and "the statutes of heaven and earth." (Jeremiah 31:35 and 33:25)

Answer: Water cycle

"All the winter torrents are going forth to the sea, yet the sea itself is not full. To the place where the winter torrents are going forth, there they are returning so as to go forth." (Ecclesiastes 1:7)

"The One calling for the waters of the sea, that he may pour them out upon the surface of the earth-Jehovah is his name." (Amos 5:8)

These two Scriptural texts describe the water cycle, in which water is evaporated from earth's seas, returns to the earth during precipitation, and winds up back in the seas, where the cycle can begin again. Amos, though he was a humble "herdsman and nipper of figs," and Solomon wrote about the water cycle hundreds of years before any known non-Bible source did.

Answer: The earth is a "circle."

"There is One who is dwelling above the circle of the earth." (Isaiah 40:22)

Theories regarding the earth's shape being spherical actually reach back to the sixth century B.C.E., when Pythagoras reasoned that the earth must have the same spherical shape as the sun and moon. This theory was later held by Greek philosopher Aristotle. The "flat earth" theory persevered for many centuries, but, of course, the theory of a spherical earth was eventually proved and ultimately won out. It is interesting to see the Bible's words on the matter: in the eighth century B.C.E., the prophet Isaiah recognized the earth's round shape despite the current theories, and used the Hebrew word "hhug," which translates to "circle" or "sphere," in describing the earth.

Answer: The earth is hanging upon nothing.

"He is stretching out the north over the empty place, hanging the earth upon nothing." (Job 26:7)

Ancient theories put forth some outlandish ideas regarding the earth's suspension. Some of these were that the earth floated in water; it was supported by elephants, a tortoise, and a serpent; it was held up by a whirlwind that caused the rotation of the celestial bodies; and Aristotle believed that the earth was surrounded by transparent spheres which it rested upon. Aristotle's explanation was accepted as a religious dogma in the 16th and 17th centuries. The idea that the earth had no visible support, only gravity, was finally explained by Isaac Newton in the late 17th century. However, Job's statement was made thousands of years earlier, and is one more Bible verse that has stood the test of time.

Answer: God will bring them to ruin.

"But the nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came, and the appointed time ... to bring to ruin those ruining the earth." (Revelation 11:18)

Many of the problems facing earth today are indeed the result of man's own actions, at times even our science: pollution, deforestation, the greenhouse effect. Revelation 11:18 along with Psalms 104:5 ("He has founded the earth upon its established places, it will not be made to totter to time indefinite, or forever.") provide reassurance to Bible readers that these problems will not consume the earth, but rather, God will intervene and the earth will survive.