How the Bible Rules the World

Throughout history, science and faith have often been portrayed as opposing forces. However, many of the world’s greatest scientific minds were deeply inspired by the Bible. For these pioneers, scripture was not a contradiction to reason but a catalyst for exploration. This article highlights how biblical truths guided and inspired some of the most groundbreaking discoveries in human history.

1. Sir Isaac Newton (1643–1727)

• Invention: Laws of Motion and Universal Gravitation
• Bible Reference: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” – Psalm 19:1
• Inspiration: Newton, a deeply religious man, saw the universe as a grand design orchestrated by God. Psalm 19:1 reflects his view that studying celestial motion was a way to understand divine craftsmanship. Although he didn’t directly cite this verse in his scientific papers, biographical records confirm that he often spoke of the cosmos as “declaring the glory of God.”
• Reference: Westfall, R. S. (1980). Never at Rest: A Biography of Isaac Newton. Cambridge University Press.

2. Johannes Kepler (1571–1630)

• Invention: Laws of Planetary Motion
• Bible Reference: “Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them.” – Psalm 111:2
• Inspiration: Kepler viewed astronomy as a divine calling. He considered his laws of planetary motion a way to “think God’s thoughts after Him.” Though the verse itself wasn’t quoted, his writings reflect the spirit of Psalm 111:2, seeing the heavens as a revelation of divine order.
• Reference: Kepler, J. (1596). Mysterium Cosmographicum; Caspar, M. (1993). Kepler. Dover Publications.

3. Gregor Mendel (1822–1884)

• Invention: Genetics (Father of Genetics)
• Bible Reference: “The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds...” – Genesis 1:12
• Inspiration: As an Augustinian monk, Mendel’s understanding of creation shaped his curiosity about heredity. Genesis 1:12’s notion of “according to their kinds” reflects the foundational concept of genetic inheritance, which Mendel explored through his experiments on pea plants.
• Reference: Henig, R. M. (2000). The Monk in the Garden. Houghton Mifflin.

4. Matthew Fontaine Maury (1806–1873)

• Invention: Oceanography and Mapping Sea Currents
• Bible Reference: “...whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.” – Psalm 8:8
• Inspiration: Maury explicitly credited Psalm 8:8 as the inspiration for his search for ocean currents. His belief in the literal truth of scripture led him to discover and map these “paths,” laying the foundation for modern oceanography.
• Reference: Maury, M. F. (1855). The Physical Geography of the Sea.

5. Robert Boyle (1627–1691)

• Invention: Founder of Modern Chemistry
• Bible Reference: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” – Genesis 1:1
• Inspiration: Boyle believed that nature was God’s second book. Genesis 1:1 grounded his belief in a rational, ordered universe created by a divine intellect. Though not directly citing the verse in scientific texts, his faith was clearly expressed in his personal writings and charitable endowments.
• Reference: Boyle, R. (1665). The Sceptical Chymist; Davis, E. B. (1999). “Robert Boyle and the Accommodation of Christianity to Science.”

6. Michael Faraday (1791–1867)

• Invention: Electromagnetic Induction and the Dynamo
• Bible Reference: “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” – Genesis 1:3
• Inspiration: Faraday often spoke of his faith as guiding his scientific curiosity. Genesis 1:3 resonated with him as a symbol of the divine energy behind creation, which paralleled his exploration of electromagnetism and light.
• Reference: Hamilton, J. (2002). Faraday: The Life; Cantor, G. (1991). Michael Faraday: Sandemanian and Scientist.

7. James Clerk Maxwell (1831–1879)

• Invention: Electromagnetic Theory and Maxwell’s Equations
• Bible Reference: “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace...” – 1 Corinthians 14:33
• Inspiration: Maxwell's Christian convictions drove his belief in a harmonious and mathematically elegant universe. The order described in 1 Corinthians 14:33 echoed through his scientific theories, which unified electricity and magnetism into a single framework.
• Reference: Smith, C. & Wise, M. N. (1989). Energy and Empire: A Biographical Study of Lord Kelvin.

8. Francis Collins (1950)

• Invention: Director of the Human Genome Project
• Bible Reference: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made...” – Psalm 139:14
• Inspiration: Collins has publicly stated how Psalm 139:14 influenced his reverence for DNA’s complexity. As both a scientist and a believer, he saw decoding the human genome as a form of worship through understanding God’s blueprint.
• Reference: Collins, F. S. (2006). The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief.

Final Thoughts

These scientists reveal a deeper truth: that faith and reason can complement each other, each expanding the other’s reach. The Bible did not constrain their thinking—it elevated it. As these figures sought to uncover the laws of nature, they also glimpsed the mind of its Creator. In doing so, they left behind not only discoveries, but also legacies of spiritual and intellectual harmony.