Science

The English word “science” occurs only once in the New Testament, referring to “science falsely so-called” (1 Tim 6:20).  What is often called “science” really is “science falsely so-called.”  What is science?  Merriam-Webster online gives the following definitions:

1  a :  knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through scientific method
b :  such knowledge or such a system of knowledge concerned with the physical world and its phenomena
2  a :  a department of systematized knowledge as an object of study
b :  something (such as a sport or technique) that may be studied or learned like systematized knowledge
3 :  a system or method reconciling practical ends with scientific laws
4 :  the state of knowing : knowledge as distinguished from ignorance or misunderstanding

“Science” translates gnosis in the King James Version, a Greek word that appears 29 times in the Greek Textus Receptus.  Every other time, the KJV translators translated it “knowledge.”  The English word “science” comes from the Latin scire, “to know,” and so science lays claim to knowledge.  That doesn’t clash with definitions that I see for science in Merriam Webster, unless someone wanted to get more technical.  I’m especially talking about the definition that includes obtaining and testing something with the scientific method.

Scripture Is Scientific?

In an earlier piece, I wrote, “Scripture is scientific.”  After a friend challenged me, I changed that to, “Scripture is science.”  I’m not sure I would want to call scripture, scientific, because that means something different.  That is based on the principles and methods of science, which I don’t think is true of scripture.

One usage of gnosis is Colossians 2:3, which speaks of Jesus Christ, saying:  “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”  Paul reveals that all the treasures of knowledge are in Jesus.  Obviously Jesus knows everything, all mysteries and all knowledge (1 Corinthians 13:2).  When we listen to Jesus, and He says nothing in scripture about something, it is less important than other knowledge.  He still knows it all and gives whatever someone needs.

Is observation or the testing of the scientific method the only way of knowing what we know?  Someone might challenge the Genesis account of creation as science, because it isn’t observable or testable.  In that way, scripture isn’t scientific. However, if science is knowledge, can we say we know the origin of everything?  I’m not saying, believe it, but know it.  We do know it from reading Genesis 1.  Scripture is science.

The Hearing of Faith

Scripture says a lot of “I know,” “we know,” and “ye know.”  What scripture calls the “hearing of faith” (Galatians 3:2, 5) is knowledge.  Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.  Scripture is the superior means of knowledge and the basis of faith.  What God says in His Word is always true.  What God says, we know, because it is true.  He wants us to believe what we know from scripture, and belief comes after knowing.

Abraham questioned God’s covenant because he and Sarah were childless and old.  God reaffirmed His promise in Genesis 15:4-5, and Abraham “believed in the LORD” (Genesis 15:6).  God “counted it to him for righteousness.”  God promised, “I will make of thee a great nation” (Genesis 12:2) and “in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).

Abraham questioned God in Genesis 15:1-2 because his empirical “knowledge” said “no children.”  If he went to a doctor, a scientist of sorts, that doctor would say, “No on child birth for you and Sarah.”  How would he know?  After God spoke to Abraham, Abraham believed what He said.  God counted it for righteousness.  What God said was science.

Was Abraham righteous?  Did he know that?  Yes, because God said he was.  When Abraham was to offer Isaac in Genesis 22, he would offer him.  Why?  Hebrews 11:19 explains.  He knew God was able to raise Isaac up.  He knew that.  Is that science?  Would an empiricist have raised the knife to sacrifice his son?  God Himself also offered his own Son and raised Him up.

True Science

If one considers empiricism, Eve saw that the tree was good for food (Genesis 3:6).  Scoffers in 2 Peter 3 thought highly of their knowledge, mocking the truth of the second coming.  God prohibited the tree to Eve.  And He promised the second coming.  Those are knowledge.  2 Peter begins with this teaching on science (knowledge) [1:3]:

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue

In Genesis 22:18 God said, “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.”  The Apostle Paul comments on this promise from God in Galatians 3:16:

Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

Paul reports that “seed” is singular.  It’s speaking of Christ, which parallels with Genesis 3:15:

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Incorporate Galatians 3:8 with the above:

And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

God would justify the heathen through faith.  The heathen would believe in the seed, that through the seed they shall be blessed.  Their faith also counts for righteousness.

The way to blessing for the world is through Jesus Christ.  That’s not what science says.  Science says population decline, one world government, the center for disease control, and reducing emissions in farming.  The hearing of faith proceeds from knowledge.  Knowledge informs of the truth of eternal blessing.

10,000 Out of 10,000

God backs up scripture with mathematical probability.  Everything He said would happen, happened.  All that He says will happen, will happen.  100 out of 100.  1,000 out of 1,000.  10,000 out of 10,000.  Nothing else brings that kind of record.  We know what He says.  It’s why the Apostle Paul could and should say (2 Timothy 1:12):

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

This isn’t a leap in the dark.  We know.  God holds us accountable, based upon knowledge.

Transcendent

Transcendental truth, goodness, and beauty are outside of what men call the “scientific method,” process, and peer consensus.  Someone can know the transcendentals, but they come by means of the revelation of God.  They are self-evident, because God revealed them.  They dovetail with the miracles of the Bible.  God upholds all things.  He intervenes in what He made and according to His will or His purposes.

As one example, God commands us, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth” (Ephesians 4:29), without informing us what corrupt communication is.  The Lord assumes we know what it is.  Some still deny it, but this is truth suppression.  God reveals this knowledge and requires another hearing of faith.

Pleasing God requires knowledge.  The knowledge informs the faith that pleases God.  This is not a secret knowledge, but it won’t be found by those who refuse to seek it with their whole heart (Jeremiah 29:13-14).