Scientific Discoveries Supporting the Existence of God
The Bible takes the existence of God as a foundational truth, rather than offering arguments or proofs for it [5]. Instead, it asserts that God's existence and attributes are evident through creation and human conscience [1, 7]. Romans 1:19 states, "because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them" [1]. This suggests an inherent knowledge of God accessible to humanity.
The concept of God in the Bible is primarily understood through the Hebrew terms 'El, 'Eloah, and 'Elohim, all conveying strength and divinity, and Jehovah, often rendered as "LORD" [5]. The New Testament further clarifies God's nature, identifying Jesus Christ as the means through which "all things" were created [2] and affirming Jesus as "the true God, and eternal life" [3].
While the Bible does not present scientific arguments for God's existence, it consistently points to the created order as a testament to divine power and wisdom. Romans 1:20 elaborates on this, stating that "since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made" [9]. This implies that the natural world serves as an interpreter of an innate faith in God [9]. Adam Clarke, in his commentary on Romans, explains that "what may be known of God is every where manifest among them, God having made a clear discovery of himself to them" through "the visible beauty, order, and operations observable in the constitution and parts of the universe" [10]. This perspective suggests that the intricate design and functionality of the cosmos reveal God's "eternal power and universal dominion" [10].
The idea that God's attributes are "clearly seen" and "understood by the things that are made" indicates a form of natural revelation [9]. This revelation is not dependent on written scripture but is accessible through observation and reflection on the created world [7, 10]. Matthew Henry notes that even among Gentiles, who lacked the specific law given to Israel, God "left not himself without witness" [7]. This witness is found in the observable world, allowing for a knowledge of God's existence and power [7].
The Bible also emphasizes that faith in God is a prerequisite for approaching Him. Hebrews 11:6 states, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him" [8]. This verse highlights two essential components of faith: belief in God's existence and belief in His active engagement with humanity [8]. Adam Clarke interprets this as a rational requirement for worship, asserting that anyone who worships God must believe in "such a Being infinite, eternal, unoriginated, and self-existent; the cause of all other being; on whom all being depends" [8].
The concept of God's self-revelation extends beyond creation to specific divine interventions and communications. The Old Testament records "different discoveries made of the Divine will to the ancient Israelites by the prophets," which were "perfected by the revelation of Jesus Christ" [12]. In the New Testament, God confirmed the message of Christ and his followers through "signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit" [11]. These supernatural occurrences served as divine attestations to the truth of the message [11]. For instance, the miracles of Jesus demonstrated his divine nature, while his human experiences, such as hunger, weariness, and suffering, affirmed his humanity [13].
The biblical narrative consistently portrays God as the ultimate Creator and Sustainer of all things [2]. Ecclesiastes 7:29 states, "Behold, this only I have found, that God has made man upright, but they have sought out many inventions" [4]. This verse underscores God's original design for humanity and contrasts it with human deviations. The biblical understanding is that God's existence is not a matter for scientific proof in the modern sense, but rather a fundamental truth revealed through creation, conscience, and divine action in history [1, 9, 10]. The "science, or knowledge, of God" (as implied by the name Jediael) is therefore rooted in recognizing these inherent and revealed truths [6].
Sources
- Romans “because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them. -- Romans 1:19”
- Ephesians “and to make all men see what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ; -- Ephesians 3:9”
- 1 John “We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, that we know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. -- 1 John 5:20”
- Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 7:29 (LITV) — Behold, this only I have found, that God has made man upright, but they have sought out many inventions.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: God — (A.S. and Dutch God; Dan. Gud; Ger. Gott), the name of the Divine Being. It is the rendering (1) of the Hebrew 'El, from a word meaning to be strong; (2) of 'Eloah_, plural _'Elohim. The singular form, Eloah, is used only in poetry. The plural form is more commonly used in all parts of the Bible, The Hebrew word Jehovah (q.v.), the only other word generally employed to denote the Supreme Being, is uniformly rendered in the Authorized Version by "LORD," printed in small capitals. The existence of God is taken for granted in the Bible. There is nowhere any argume”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Jediael — the science, or knowledge, of God”
- Romans (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Romans 1:19: In this last part of the chapter the apostle applies what he had said particularly to the Gentile world, in which we may observe, I. The means and helps they had to come to the knowledge of God. Though they had not such a knowledge of his law as Jacob and Israel had (Psa 147:20), yet among them he left not himself without witness (Act 14:17): For that which may be known, etc., Rom 1:19, Rom 1:20. Observe, 1. What discoveries they had: That which may be known of God is manifest, en autois - among them; that is, there were some even among them that had the knowledge”
- Hebrews (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Hebrews 11:6: He that cometh to God - The man who professes that it is his duty to worship God, must, if he act rationally, do it on the conviction that there is such a Being infinite, eternal, unoriginated, and self-existent; the cause of all other being; on whom all being depends; and by whose energy, bounty, and providence, all other beings exist, live, and are supplied with the means of continued existence and life. He must believe, also, that he rewards them that diligently seek him; that he is not indifferent about his own worship; that he requires adoration and religious ”
- Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 1:20: For the invisible things of him from--or "since" the creation of the world are clearly seen--the mind brightly beholding what the eye cannot discern. being understood by the things that are made--Thus, the outward creation is not the parent but the interpreter of our faith in God. That faith has its primary sources within our own breast (Rom 1:19); but it becomes an intelligible and articulate conviction only through what we observe around us ("by the things which are made," Rom 1:20). And thus are the inner and the outer revelation of God the comp”
- Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 1:19: That which may be known of God - Dr. Taylor paraphrases this and the following verse thus: "Although the Gentiles had no written revelation, yet what may be known of God is every where manifest among them, God having made a clear discovery of himself to them. For his being and perfections, invisible to our bodily eyes, have been, ever since the creation of the world, evidently to be seen, if attentively considered, in the visible beauty, order, and operations observable in the constitution and parts of the universe; especially his eternal power and universal dominio”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 2:4: 2:4 God confirmed the message (literally God bore witness): God himself confirmed the validity of the message of Christ and his followers by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:22; Rom 15:19; 2 Cor 12:12).”
- Hebrews (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Hebrews 1 (introduction): Different discoveries made of the Divine will to the ancient Israelites by the prophets, Heb 1:1. The discovery now perfected by the revelation of Jesus Christ, of whose excellences and glories a large description is given, Heb 1:2-13. Angels are ministering spirits to the heirs of salvation, Heb 1:14.”
- Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 22:43: There appeared an angel - from heaven - It was as necessary that the fullest evidence should be given, not only of our Lord's Divinity, but also of his humanity: his miracles sufficiently attested the former; his hunger, weariness, and agony in the garden, as well as his death and burial, were proofs of the latter. As man, he needs the assistance of an angel to support his body, worn down by fatigue and suffering. See at the end of Luk 22:44 (note).”