Out ofthe Lab
BOOKS by Dr. L. S. CHAFER
Donald S. Robertson, Ph.D. (CalTech) Chairm an, Dept, of Science, Biola Bible College
A Scientist and the ltible
W hile the Bible was primarily written f o r instruction in spiritual things there is fre quent reference to things of nature. These references are not made to in struct the reader in science but are primarily used to impress him with the power and majesty of God — the Creator. In order that even the most unlearned could grasp this significant fact it was necessary to use non-tech- nical language. However, because the manuscripts are old and the lan guage is non-technical does not mean that the Bible is anti-scientific or con flicts with science. For it does not. The Christian position is that the Bible has been written under the in spiration of God. In other words, God by inspiring the writing took care not to let errors, scientific or other wise, creep into the original manu scripts. If this is so, then as we read certain passages of the Scriptures that deal with nature we should find agreement between the Biblical rec ord and true science. To test this let us turn to the first chapter of the Bible in which God has described the origin of the physical world and liv ing things, including man himself. The very first verse of the Bible informs us that “ in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” If there was a beginning then the earth and the heavens must be a certain age and could n o t have existed forever. Science tells us that this is so. In fact it is estimated that the earth is about four billion years old. The scientist is also finding evi dence that the universe ( “ the heav en” ) itself has an age which is thought to be close to that of the earth’s. Thus recent discoveries of science suggest that the earth and the whole universe had a beginning at
about the same time. Just as verse one of the Bible tells us. Let us take another example from the first chapter of the Bible — the creation of animal life. Now this account, of course, is sketchy and does not pretend to explain the origin of all animals in detail. God on ly saw fit to describe the origin of four groups of living things. For the most part the terms that are used are not the exact terms of m odem science. The one place where the account seems to get exact is in the case of whale mentioned in verse 21 but this is a mis-translation of a Hebrew word for “ large sea-monsters.” A l though the terms are non-technical we w ill notice a certain progression in the appearance of forms. First the marine animals, then the flying ani mals, then land mammals ( “ cattle,” “ beast of the earth” and “ creeping things” ) and lastly man. The records of geology tell us that life first ap peared in the water and that flying things appeared before mammals and that man was last to put in an appearance upon the earth. In other words the sequence of science and that of the Scriptures agree. W e have seen that at the two points where we have tested the Scriptures with modem science there is agreement. Similar agreement is found between science and other pas sages of Scripture. In other words the Bible is reliable. If the Scriptures are reliable about what they have to say of the past is it not reasonable to be lieve that what they have to say about the future and a com ing judg ment for those who do not put their trust in H im is also true? It is a wise man who w ill weigh these things and then turn to the Scriptures to find the eternal life they offer. END.
SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY Set of Eight Volumes $33.95 OTHER BOOKS BY DR. CHAFER Major Bible Themes .......... $2.50 He That Is Spiritual .......... 2.00 Grace ................................ 2.75 True Evangelism ................. 2.00 Salvation .......................... 2.00 The Kingdom in History and Prophecy ................. 2.00 Order from your Bookstore or DU NH AM PUBLISHING COM PAN Y Findlay Ohio
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KNOWLEDGE OF THYSELF An humble knowledge of thyself, is a surer way to God than a deep search after science. Yet knowledge is not to be blamed, it being good in itself, and ordained by God; but a good conscience and a virtuous life is always to be preferred before it. — Thomas a Kempis
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