Possible Life Elsewhere in the Biblical Sense

[newton3005]

Let’s start at the beginning—no pun intended. Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Many have interpreted the heavens, from the languages that promoted the Bible down through the ages, to be the entire universe. So, God created the universe.

Jesus was there at “the beginning,” as told in John 1:1-2, so he was there when the universe was created. In Mark 16:15-16, Jesus says to his disciples “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” What is “whole creation,” other than the universe? Of course, Jesus at this point doesn’t go into the logistics of proclaiming the gospel to this “whole creation.” Then again, he doesn’t go into the logistics of ‘going into “all the world,”’ either. He doesn’t mention preparing caravans for land, or the type of ships at sea, including the sales to use, and other details you might find in, say, a Herman Melville or a Robert Jordan novel. He leaves it largely to his disciples to determine how to get there. So, it follows that Jesus doesn’t tell his disciples how to go to other planets and heavenly bodies either.

Can anyone find where in the Bible, it says that life is only on earth? Can anyone find where the Bible denies that life is elsewhere?

Why would we think that life exists elsewhere? If we delve into the natural world, God’s world if you will, we find things that may surprise people. The elements of life, including phosphorus, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, have been found elsewhere. In addition, an ocean of sorts has been found in that same area, in which these elements thrive. This discovery was recently made on one of Saturn’s moons, called Enceladus.

For now, it would naturally seem ridiculous for Jesus to mean for his disciples to “proclaim the gospel” to each of these elements, even if, at the time, they could go to places like Enceladus. But if the functioning elements of life can be found there, and maybe in other places, then why not life as we know it, with an intelligence comparable to ours, as well? We may not have arrived at that stage yet where we’ve actually come face to face with living beings comparable to us. But if we did, or, say, when we do, it would follow that Jesus’ command to his disciples, and to those that follow, would extend to where such life is found elsewhere.

Seen from another angle, the opening line to many Hebrew prayers is, “Blesseth art thou oh Lord our God, ruler of the universe...” If there wasn’t life in other parts of the universe, then what is it that God would be ruler over, other than the motions of the heavenly bodies and the longevity of the stars?

 

[BobRyan]

Heb 1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; NKJV

Job 1:
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?”
So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”

That means they are not On Earth and it means the other beings at that meeting are not from Earth.

 

[tonychanyt]

Can anyone find where in the Bible, it says that life is only on earth? Can anyone find where the Bible denies that life is elsewhere?

The Bible does not assert the existence of intelligent aliens in one way or another. Neither does it exclude its possibility. I think the possibility of ETs is exciting.

Mark 16:15 He said to them, “Go into all the world [G2889]and preach the gospel to all creation.

world G2889. κόσμος (kosmos),
Thayer's Greek Lexicon:

the world, i. e. the universe​

My paraphrase:
Go into all the universe and preach the gospel to all creation

universe || creation

If there are moral agents on another planet, this will be the updated interpretation of the Great Commission.

As far as the gospel is concerned, aliens on another planet are no different from indigenous people in ancient Australia or China.

 

[CoreyD]

Let’s start at the beginning—no pun intended. Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Many have interpreted the heavens, from the languages that promoted the Bible down through the ages, to be the entire universe. So, God created the universe.

Jesus was there at “the beginning,” as told in John 1:1-2, so he was there when the universe was created. In Mark 16:15-16, Jesus says to his disciples “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” What is “whole creation,” other than the universe? Of course, Jesus at this point doesn’t go into the logistics of proclaiming the gospel to this “whole creation.” Then again, he doesn’t go into the logistics of ‘going into “all the world,”’ either. He doesn’t mention preparing caravans for land, or the type of ships at sea, including the sales to use, and other details you might find in, say, a Herman Melville or a Robert Jordan novel. He leaves it largely to his disciples to determine how to get there. So, it follows that Jesus doesn’t tell his disciples how to go to other planets and heavenly bodies either.

What are your thoughts on John 3:16, and 1 John 2:15-17?

Can anyone find where in the Bible, it says that life is only on earth? Can anyone find where the Bible denies that life is elsewhere?

What do you think Psalm 115:16?

Why would we think that life exists elsewhere? If we delve into the natural world, God’s world if you will, we find things that may surprise people. The elements of life, including phosphorus, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, have been found elsewhere. In addition, an ocean of sorts has been found in that same area, in which these elements thrive. This discovery was recently made on one of Saturn’s moons, called Enceladus.

For now, it would naturally seem ridiculous for Jesus to mean for his disciples to “proclaim the gospel” to each of these elements, even if, at the time, they could go to places like Enceladus. But if the functioning elements of life can be found there, and maybe in other places, then why not life as we know it, with an intelligence comparable to ours, as well? We may not have arrived at that stage yet where we’ve actually come face to face with living beings comparable to us. But if we did, or, say, when we do, it would follow that Jesus’ command to his disciples, and to those that follow, would extend to where such life is found elsewhere.

I think persons are becoming a bit nervous about scientists finding intelligent life on other planets.

Seen from another angle, the opening line to many Hebrew prayers is, “Blesseth art thou oh Lord our God, ruler of the universe...” If there wasn’t life in other parts of the universe, then what is it that God would be ruler over, other than the motions of the heavenly bodies and the longevity of the stars?

Which text are you quoting from?

 

[newton3005]

Which text are you quoting from?

A Jewish prayer book. That's how many prayers start there. The transliteration is approximately "Baruch atah adenoi elohenu melach haolum." Actual Hebrew is ברוך אתה ה' אלוהינו שליט העולם