Does the claim “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26) align with observable scientific limits?

I. Definition and Scope of the Claim

The central statement “with God all things are possible” comes from Jesus’ words: “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” (Matthew 19:26). This phrase evokes questions about whether God’s power can transcend the observed limits of the natural world. To address this thoroughly, it is helpful to consider the biblical context, explore scientific principles, and engage with relevant historical, philosophical, and archaeological evidence.

II. Contextual Background of Matthew 19:26

In Matthew 19, Jesus speaks to a rich young man who wishes to attain eternal life. After explaining the heart conditions necessary for discipleship, Jesus acknowledges that certain feats—especially salvation by human effort—are impossible for people on their own. Yet He affirms that God’s power is not confined to human limitations. This assertion resonates throughout Scripture, appearing in parallel passages such as Luke 1:37: “For nothing will be impossible with God.” The immediate application is salvation, but the statement broadly articulates the biblical view that God––as Creator––stands above creation.

III. Scriptural Evidence of God’s Ability Beyond Natural Limits

1. Creation Ex Nihilo

Genesis 1:1 states, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” This text presents God’s creative act as an event not bound by existing materials. Scripture consistently affirms God’s power over the cosmos, including passages such as Psalm 33:6–9 that describe God speaking the universe into existence.

2. Miraculous Events and Signs

The parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14), Elijah calling down fire from heaven (1 Kings 18), and Jesus’ resurrection (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20) are cited within the biblical text as demonstrations of divine power that surpass ordinary physical processes. These accounts, particularly the resurrection, serve as core evidence of God’s willingness and ability to act beyond known scientific limits.

3. Christ’s Earthly Miracles

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus heals diseases, raises the dead, and calms storms. The Gospel of John 21:25 suggests even more unrecorded miracles. These accounts, substantiated by multiple manuscripts, illustrate that Scripture consistently portrays God’s power as unhindered by natural laws.

IV. Clarifying the Nature of “All Things Possible”

1. Consistency with God’s Character

“All things” in Matthew 19:26 does not imply logical absurdities or contradictions of God’s own nature (e.g., God lying or ceasing to be God). Rather, it emphasizes God’s unlimited capacity to act within creation and accomplish His will, including interventions that exceed human understanding.

2. Purposeful Intervention

The biblical narrative avoids depicting miracles as random disruptions. Instead, God’s power is exercised with purpose, often to confirm His message or to fulfill redemptive plans. For instance, in John 11, Jesus’ raising of Lazarus not only demonstrates divine power but also affirms Jesus’ identity and mission.

V. Observations from Scientific and Philosophical Perspectives

1. Intelligent Design and the Origin of Life

Advocates of intelligent design have pointed to features like the informational complexity of DNA, the sudden diversity in the Cambrian fossil record, and the fine-tuning of universal constants as strongly suggestive of a Creator who set things in motion. These observations challenge the notion that complexity arose purely through undirected processes.

2. Compatibility with Natural Laws

Natural laws describe typical patterns in the universe. Miracles, as understood biblically, are exceptions initiated by an intelligence that precedes and transcends those laws. Such exceptions do not negate the viability of observing consistent scientific limits in normal circumstances; they imply an Author of those laws who may act beyond them.

3. Philosophical Perspectives on Omnipotence

Philosophers have long debated the scope of divine omnipotence. From a classical viewpoint, God can do all things that are logically possible and consistent with His nature as Creator. This perspective aligns with the scriptural assertion that “with God all things are possible” by upholding the idea that God’s power is neither incoherent nor contradictory.

VI. Historical and Archaeological Confirmations

1. Biblical Manuscript Reliability

Discoveries such as the Dead Sea Scrolls and various early New Testament papyri confirm the textual integrity of Scripture over centuries. When passages like Matthew 19:26 are tested against manuscript evidence, they remain consistent, affirming the message’s preservation.

2. Archaeological Corroborations

Findings in the regions of biblical lands—such as inscriptions bearing the names of political figures mentioned in the Gospels or corroborations of specific customs—bolster the authenticity of the broader biblical narrative. This historical reliability strengthens confidence in the accuracy of teachings about God’s power.

3. Geological Observations Supporting a Young Earth Model

Some point to phenomena like the rapid formation of geological structures in events such as the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. These instances are presented by certain researchers as supportive of catastrophism, aligning with interpretations of a shorter biblical timeline. Although interpretations differ within the scientific community, these observations serve as a data point for those who argue that recorded upheavals can happen much faster than standard models predict, suggesting openness to processes consistent with a designer’s intervention.

VII. Alignment with Observed Reality

1. Miracles and Verified Accounts

Testimonies across diverse cultures record apparent miracles or unexplained healings. While not all such claims can be verified scientifically, the existence of well-documented accounts (e.g., inexplicable medical recoveries that defy standard prognosis) continues to spark inquiry into phenomena beyond typical scientific explanations.

2. Limits of Human Understanding

Many fields in physics—such as quantum mechanics and cosmology—reveal that our universe can exhibit behavior that defies intuitive human expectations. Although these do not necessitate the conclusion of supernatural causes, they reflect a reality where scientific knowledge remains partial. The statement “with God all things are possible” positions God as the ultimate mind who comprehends and governs these mysteries.

3. Active Faith in Daily Living

From a practical standpoint, the biblical teaching underscores that hope, faith, and prayer are not contrary to reason but can coexist with scientific understanding. Believers hold that when Scripture says “with God all things are possible,” it testifies that God’s sovereignty extends to every realm, including those aspects not easily measured or replicated by human means.

VIII. Conclusion

The biblical claim “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26) does not disregard observed scientific laws; instead, it affirms that the Creator who established nature’s patterns can, in harmony with His will and character, operate beyond those patterns. This conviction is anchored in the biblical witness, undergirded by manuscript consistency, supported by philosophical considerations of omnipotence, and enriched by archaeological and historical findings that strengthen confidence in Scripture’s reliability.

In essence, the phrase points to a God who is unlimited in power and perfectly capable of transcending the normal confines of science when He sovereignly chooses to do so. At the same time, it respects the intrinsic coherence of God’s nature and the purposeful arrangement of the natural world, uniting faith and observable reality in a claim that remains compelling to many who explore both Scripture and science.