Atoms of Matter: General Scriptures Concerning
Jump to: Nave'sLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of atoms as the fundamental building blocks of matter is a modern scientific understanding that is not explicitly detailed in the Bible. However, the Scriptures do provide insights into the nature of creation and the intricate design of the universe, which can be seen as aligning with the idea of a divinely ordered and structured cosmos.

Creation and the Order of the Universe

The Bible begins with the affirmation of God as the Creator of all things. Genesis 1:1 states, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." This foundational verse establishes that everything in the universe, including the smallest particles of matter, originates from God's creative act. The order and complexity observed in creation reflect His wisdom and power.

God's Sovereignty Over Creation

Colossians 1:16-17 further emphasizes God's sovereignty over all creation: "For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." This passage suggests that the coherence and stability of the universe, down to its smallest components, are sustained by Christ's power.

The Invisible Nature of Creation

Hebrews 11:3 provides insight into the unseen aspects of creation: "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." This verse can be interpreted to acknowledge that the visible world is composed of elements that are not immediately apparent to the human eye, aligning with the idea of atoms and subatomic particles.

The Wisdom of God in Creation

Proverbs 3:19-20 speaks to the wisdom and understanding with which God established the universe: "The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding. By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open, and the clouds dripped with dew." The intricate design and order of creation, including the atomic structure of matter, reflect God's infinite wisdom.

The Sustaining Power of God

The sustaining power of God over creation is a recurring theme in Scripture. In Nehemiah 9:6, it is written, "You alone are the LORD. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all things, and the host of heaven worships You." This verse underscores the belief that God not only created but also continually upholds the universe.

The Majesty of God's Creation

Psalm 104:24-25 praises the diversity and complexity of God's creation: "How many are Your works, O LORD! In wisdom You made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures. There is the sea, vast and wide, teeming with creatures beyond number, living things both great and small." The psalmist marvels at the vastness and intricacy of creation, which can be seen as encompassing all levels of matter, from the grand to the minute.

In summary, while the Bible does not specifically mention atoms, it provides a theological framework that acknowledges God's role as the Creator and Sustainer of all things, visible and invisible. The Scriptures affirm the order, complexity, and wisdom inherent in the universe, which can be understood to include the atomic and subatomic levels of matter.
Nave's Topical Index
Proverbs 8:26
While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Concerning "Good," "Light," "Beautiful," "Desire," "Ecstasy ...
... unto their state, providing, both in general and in ... is used in three senses: (1)
"Matter," or force ... Modern science teaches that atoms have no actual existence. ...
/.../rolt/dionysius the areopagite/chapter iv concerning good light.htm

1 Thessalonians iv. 13
... So that he is discoursing not of a general Resurrection, but of a ... O man, and weavest
strings of trifles, and makest it a matter of perplexity ... Others say atoms. ...
/.../homily vii 1 thessalonians iv.htm

Sin and Grace
... but when the law entered his heart, it soon smashed his idol to atoms. ... III. Now I
must close with a few general observations upon another matter. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 54 1908/sin and grace.htm

A Warning Rejected.
... We have never witnessed such a general declension of ... ground; conflicting creeds were
shivered to atoms; the unscriptural ... Howard Crosby: "It is a matter of deep ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /21 a warning rejected.htm

A Warning Rejected
... We have never witnessed such a general declension of ... ground; conflicting creeds were
shivered to atoms; the unscriptural ... Howard Crosby: "It is a matter of deep ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 21 a warning rejected.htm

Biogenesis
... though this has been much exaggerated"in its more or less general adherence to ... Both
are made of the same atoms. Both display the same properties of matter. ...
/.../drummond/natural law in the spiritual world/biogenesis.htm

Chapter xii
... these futile theories into the smallest of atoms by his ... One more general mode of
approach is that which ... Israel's distinct superiority in the matter of religion ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xii.htm

The Contribution of Science to Christianity
... contradiction of evolution, if the science of atoms and cells ... science, and these
of a somewhat general kind ... the more familiar question of subject-matter and see ...
/.../berkhof/new evangelism and other papers/the contribution of science to.htm

The Second Theological Oration.
... is due to some chance meeting and coalition of these atoms. ... who imagined a Fifth
Element, consisting of formless matter. ... [3459] It was a very general belief in ...
/.../lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xxviii the second theological.htm

Doctrinal and Moral Treatises. Index of Subjects.
... Atoms, soul not formed of, [426]352. ... wisdom surely, [1340]361; incapable of reason
concerning God, [1341 ... by all, [1411]342; if Almighty created matter, [1412]322 ...
/.../on care to be had for the dead /doctrinal and moral treatises index.htm

Resources
Does the Bible say anything about the possibility of time travel? | GotQuestions.org

What is moral government theology? | GotQuestions.org

What is the sin nature? | GotQuestions.org

Atom: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Atom
Top of Page
Top of Page