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→Old Testament: Urim and Thummim
<span class="plainlinks">Many verses throughout the Bible assume a degree of technology and technique: that is, the existence of tools and the processes for their manufacture and use. Common examples include [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=iron iron], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=bronze bronze], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=gold gold], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=silver silver], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=refine refine], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=metal metal], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=tool tool], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=instrument instrument], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=wheel wheel], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=cook cook], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=wine wine], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=craft craft], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=build build], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=cloth cloth], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=city city], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=shield shield], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=helmet helmet], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=armor armor], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=arrow arrow], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=sword sword], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=weapon weapon] [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=spear spear], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=chariot chariot], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=boat boat], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=ship ship], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=door door], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=chains chains]. Each of these imply that people created technologies to augment their abilities, to control the environment, to improve their lives, to communicate, etc.</span>
==Old Testament==
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! Verse
| "The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life."
| More of God's technique.
|-
| [[Genesis 3:7]]
| Fig leaves sewn together constitute the first clothes
| (From [http://donteatthefruit.com/2009/07/from-the-garden-to-the-city-technology-in-the-story-of-redemptive/ John Dyer]) "Adam and Eve quickly recognize that they can overcome one of the effects of the Curse by inventing clothing to cover themselves. We don’t normally think of clothing as technology, it is a product of human creation and an expression of the creativity of God. Sadly, Adam and Eve use their creativity not to glorify God, but in a way that is representative of humanity’s rejection of God and attempt to live apart from him. But rather than condemn them, God pours out his grace and “upgrades” their clothing from leaves to the skin of an animal ([[Genesis 3:21]]). God’s action seems to support humans inventing things that overcome the effects of the Fall, yet he also shows the inadequacy of our solutions."
|-
| [[Genesis 4:17]]
| First mention of a city.
| (From [http://donteatthefruit.com/2009/07/from-the-garden-to-the-city-technology-in-the-story-of-redemptive/ John Dyer]) "The city, in all its technological glory, becomes a symbol of man’s quest to restore the comfort and power of Garden without the presence of God. Babylon, Ninevah, Sodom, and others come to represent the enemies of God and the collective human desire to live happily without him."
|-
| [[Genesis 4:22]]
| Noah grows grapes and brews wine.
|
|-
| [[Genesis 11:1]]; [[Genesis 11:9]]
| human languages
| ''does this really count as a technology?''
|-
| [[Genesis 11:1]] - [[Genesis 11:9]]
* built with bricks, not stone (v3).
* God was impressed by humanity's achievement (v6).
| Here we see humanity attempting to use their creative powers to build their way into heaven. Part of the lesson here is that we should not arrogantly think that our own abilities are unlimited.
|-
| [[Genesis 11:31]]
* The altar is made from the earth – natural materials, not manufactured.
* Should be unadorned: no symbols or images that might detract from the worship of God alone, and perhaps lead to superstition
* Jesus is a cut stone, formed not by human hands ([[Daniel 2:34]], [[Daniel 2:44]] - [[Daniel 2:45]]). On the other hand there was nothing amazingly attractive about him ([[Isaiah 53:2]]) and he was rejected by the builders ([[Psalm 118:20]], [[Luke 20:17]]).
See also [[Deuteronomy 27:5]].
|-
| Although the "skilled workmen" are to do the work, their wisdom comes from God.
| The work is to be done by skilled craftsmen. This implies dedication, training and care.
|-
| [[Exodus 28:30]]
| Aaron wears the Urim and the Thummim in his breastpiece
| The Urim and Thummim are an early example of decision-making via technology (the first Decision Support System?). An example of their use is in [[1 Samuel 14:41]] -- apparently a lot-casting mechanism. Also mentioned in 6 other places in the Old Testament.
|-
| [[Exodus 31:1]] - [[Exodus 31:11]]
| God's selection of the chief craftsman: "I have filled him with the Spirit of God" as well as with "skills, ability and knowledge".
| The role of the craftsman (and technologist) is no less spiritual or dependent on God than those who serve in other ways. This reminds me of the selection of deacons in [[Acts 6]]: even for the menial task of handing out food, the candidates needed to be "full of the Spirit and wisdom".
|-
| [[Exodus 32]] – [[Exodus 34]]
| Note the sandwich here: God's design of the Tabernacle, the people's failure, restitution, and then God's will is realised and the Tabernacle built.
|-
| [[Exodus 35:10]] - [[Exodus 35:29]]
|
| Not just a trained few, but ''all who were willing'' are invited to help in the construction. Each brings their own resources and skills.
|-
| [[Exodus 35:30]] - [[Exodus 35:35]]
| Re-affirmation of the chief craftsmen.
| Similar to [[Exodus 31:1]] - [[Exodus 31:11]], but extends their mandate to teaching others.
|-
| [[Exodus 39:22]]
| [[Numbers 10:1]] - [[Numbers 10:10]]
| Two trumpets made out of hammered silver – used to call the people together.
| Communication technology: one trumpet for the leaders to gather, two for everyone. Paul makes reference to this in [[1 Corinthians 14:8]] and [[1 Thessalonians 4:16]].
|-
| [[Numbers 21:4]] - [[Numbers 21:9]]
| Cities of Refuge for people who kill someone unintentionally. The example is an axe-head accidentally flying off and hitting someone.
| What happens when technology has negative, unintended side-effects? The user of the technology is not to blame, as long as there is no malice aforethought.
|-
| [[Deuteronomy 19:14]]
| ''Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark''
| also [[Proverbs 22:28]], [[Proverbs 23:10]], [[Deuteronomy 27:17]]. If this refers to artificial landmarks created by surveying and placing a boundary stone, it implies several technologies.
|-
| [[Deuteronomy 22:8]]
| Israel's first OH&S policy!
We have a responsibility to pre-empt technological dangers.
Compare [[Deuteronomy 19:5]] and [[Deuteronomy 22:8]] and [[Leviticus 19:16]] with modern legal interpretations of duty of care and negligence.
|-
| [[Deuteronomy 24:6]]
| "My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle and they come to an end without hope."
| Woven cloth was first evident in 7000 BC ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_historic_inventions#7th_millennium_BCE]).
|-
| [[Job 19:24]]
| "Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever"
|
|-
| [[Job 28]]
Key verses are repeated in [[Psalm 135:15]] - [[Psalm 135:18]].
|-
| [[Psalm 118:22]]<br/>[[Luke 20:17]]<br/>[[Acts 4:11]]
| "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone."
| Quoted in [[1 Peter 2:7]]
|-
| [[Psalm 119:105]]
| "Honor the Lord ... then your barns will be filled ... and your vats will brim over ..."
| Maybe it's not too much of a stretch to infer that if we honor God, then our technology will succeed.
|-
| [[Proverbs 8:12]]
| "I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions."
|
|-
| [[Proverbs 17:3]]
| "Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding him like grain with a pestle, you will not remove his folly from him."
|
|-
| [[Ecclesiastes 2:4]] - [[Ecclesiastes 2:6]]
| "If the axe is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success."
| This probably generalises to most tools. If your equipment is sub-standard then it takes a lot more effort to get results. Nevertheless, a good tradesman never blames his tools. If you have the skill, you can still succeed -- maybe by sharpening the axe!
|-
| [[Isaiah 2:4]]
| [[Isaiah 10:15]]
| "Does the axe raise itself above him who swings it ..."
| Tools are subservient to their user. In context, God is wielding Assyria as a weapon against Israel and it is inappropriate for Assyria -- as the tool -- to think that they acted independently. A similar point is made in several places (e.g. [[Isaiah 29:16]], [[Isaiah 45:9]], [[Romans 9:21]]) about the relationship between a clay pot and the potter.
As a more general saying, however, this verse points out that no technology is greater than it's wielder, but merely a tool in the wielder's hand. Does that continue to be accurate in the age of intelligent machines?
|-
| [[Jeremiah 2:13]]
| Israel has forsaken God, the spring of living water, in favour of their own broken cistern.
| In this modern world, we often think that our technological creations are making a perfect life for us. But in reality, we accept something far inferior to the abundant life that God intended ([[John 10:10]]).
|-
| [[Jeremiah 6:27]] - [[Jeremiah 6:30]]
| God uses Israel (or is it Jeremiah?) to 'test the metal' of other nationshis people
|
|-
| [[Daniel 5]]
| King Belshazzar is drinking wine and praising "the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone" when suddenly a disembodied hand writes a message on the wall.
| Belshazzar is criticized criticised for placing himself (and his faith in gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone) above God. As in Chapter 2, the power of this comparison in underpinned by an implication that what God can do is superior to anything achievable by human fabrication.
The human-made ship takes Jonah away, but the God-made fish brings him back. I wonder how many people have been drawn away from God by technology -- perhaps a belief that technology makes God an unnecessary assumption, or perhaps just being side-tracked by an attraction to technology (addition to Internet gaming?) -- and I wonder how many are brought towards God by the majesty of God's creation?
|-
| [[Malachi 3:2]] - [[Malachi 3:3]]| God is a refiner's fire
|
==New Testament==
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! Verse
| Putting aside the unscientific notion of stars heralding a new king, the Magi were clearly both knowledgeable and observant about the night sky. They were presumably not Jewish (i.e. not one of God's people) and yet God used their pre-scientific astronomy to draw them into God's plan. Is there any reason why we should not expect the same today -- that people who study the created world are drawn towards the Creator, even those who are outside the Christian faith?
|-
| [[Matthew 7:24]] - [[Matthew 7:27]]<br/>
[[Luke 6:46]] - [[Luke 6:49]]
| Wise and foolish builders
| An engineering metaphor. Every wise builder understands the need for a solid foundation, just as every software engineer needs a solid development platform, every scientist needs a well-formed experimental method, every mathematician relies on the axioms of set theory, every mobile phone carrier needs a solid infrastructure, etc. Do we build our worldview with the same attention to the foundation?
|-
| [[Matthew 9:16]] - [[Matthew 9:17]]<br/>[[Mark 2:21]] - [[Mark 2:22]]<br/>
[[Luke 5:36]] - [[Luke 5:39]]
| New cloth to patch old clothes; new wine in old wineskins.
| I don't know if there is any spiritual lesson here about technology, but the principle is certainly still true: don't try putting new software onto an old computer!
|-
| [[Matthew 10:9]] - [[Matthew 10:10]]<br/>
[[Mark 6:8]]
| The disciples are sent out, without money or luggage or shoes or walking stick.
And note that later on, [[Luke 22:36]] records Jesus telling his disciples that they should now take money and a bag and even a sword.
|-
| [[Matthew 26:51]] - [[Matthew 26:53]]<br/>[[Luke 22:50]]<br/>[[John 18:10]]
| During Jesus' arrest, one of his companions cuts of someone's ear with a sword, but Jesus rebukes the use of the sword.
| Like the comment on Matthew 10:9 (above), Jesus does not need technology to achieve his goal.
| Nothing special here, but this is obviously one of many time that Jesus happily used technology.
|-
| [[Matthew 13:55]] and <br/>[[Mark 6:333]]
| Jesus is the son of a carpenter.
| As a carpenter he would have used tools frequently. According to W.E.Vine's ''Expository Dictionary of New testament Words'' these are the only two occurrences of the Greek word ''tektōn'' (τέκτων) – from which we get the English "technology".
|-
| [[Mark 4:21]]<br/>
[[Luke 8:16]], [[Luke 11:33]]
| Metaphor: you don't put a lamp under a bowl.
|
|-
| [[Luke 5:1]]-[[Luke 5:11]]
| Boats and fishing nets
| Jesus honours the work of Simon and other fishermen, but calls them to leave their technology in order to follow him. Jesus is happy to make use of boats for his own purpose of teaching. Jesus also shows that nets and boats are not enough: not even enough to catch fish -- you also need knowledge and, by implication, spiritual insight.
| If you put your hand to the plough, don't look back.
See also [[Luke 14:28]] - [[Luke 14:30]] about the need to plan before building a tower.
| DonWhat's wrong with looking back? It makes it impossible to plough a straight furrow. So don't start working for God if you aren't committed re going to be distracted with other concerns rather than concentrating on the long haulgoal.
|-
| [[Luke 12:16]] - [[Luke 12:21]]
|-
| [[Luke 13:4]]
| A building accident causes 18 to die, but it is not because those people the victoms were evil.
|
|-
| [[John 1:3]]
| Through him all things were made
| The Word of God, i.e. Jesus, was the tool of choice for God.
|-
| [[John 2:1]] - [[John 2:10]]
| Water into wine
| The process of making wine usually requires substantial technology: agricultural implements, irrigation, fertiliser, grape press, chemistry, temperature-controlled vats, etc. But Jesus gets a better result by his own authority.
|-
| [[John 2:15]]
| Jesus makes a whip to drive the animals out of the Temple grounds
|
|-
| [[John 6:19]]
| Jesus walks on water
| Even though Jesus frequently uses boats, he actually doesn't need them. Jesus can achieve his purpose without any need for technology of any sort.
|-
| [[Acts 7:48]]
| "The Most High does not live in houses made by man"
| God cannot be contained by anything humans construct. We cannot limit God, nor can we exceed or control God with technology or anything else we create.
|-
| [[Acts 8:26]] - [[Acts 8:40]]
| Philip ministers to the Ethiopian eunuch in his chariot.
| The chariot is a symbol of affluence and authority rather than war. Perhaps like a Rolls Royce car today. But that doesn't daunt Philip! The pedestrian jogs along, hears Isaish being read through the window and offers advice. He gets to sit in the Rolls and preach to the rich and famous!
Apart from [[Revelation 9:9]], this is the only chariot mentioned in the NT.
|-
| [[Acts 18:3]] - [[Acts 3:5]]
| Paul, Aquila and Priscilla were all tentmakers.
| When necessary, they earned money by their trade to support their ministry. But when others were able to support him, Paul would devote himself exclusively to preaching.
|-
| [[Acts 19:23]] - [[Acts 19:41]]
| Riot in Ephesus
| Silversmiths (and perhaps other craftsmen) see their livelihood threatened by the Gospel
|-
| [[Acts 21]]<br/>
[[Acts 27]] - [[Acts 28]] and numerous other passages in Acts
| Paul travels by sailing boat
| As a principle, Paul tries to become "all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some" ([[1 Corinthians 9:21]]). So it is not surprising that he would use whatever technology was available to further his cause.
|-
| [[Romans 6:13]]
| Our bodies can either be instruments of wickedness or instruments of righteousness.
| In the ''Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words'', Vine says the meaning of "instruments" here is most likely as a weapon.
We as people are like tools that, in the cosmic war, are used to advance one side or the other. Our bodies, as technology, are not neutral, nor mindlessly forced into service: Paul calls us choose to which purpose we will offer ourselves.
|-
| [[1 Corinthians 3:6]] - [[1 Corinthians 3:15]]
| In rebuking divisions in the church, Paul points out that we are God's co-workers. It matters not whether we plant or water: it is God's work that matters. It doesn't matter who laid the foundation and who builds on it, as long as the foundation is Jesus Christ. Whatever the building is made of -- gold, silver, wood, stones, or even straw -- will all be tested by fire.
| Interesting mixing of metaphors, from agricultural to construction engineering. In our context, Paul could have written that the technology does not matter, only that our joint work seeks a common purpose and a common foundation, that of Christ. Paul returns to that theme in [[1 Corinthians 15:58]], assuring us that such labours are not in vain.
|-
| [[1 Corinthians 9:10]]
| Ploughs and threshers
|
|-
| [[2 Corinthians 4:7]]
| "we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all‑surpassing power is from God and not from us"
| This strange technology -- the clay jars that are our bodies -- are very fragile and yet they contain the glory of God.
|-
| [[2 Corinthians 5:1]]
| Our body is merely a tent, but will be replaced by an eternal house in heaven.
|
|-
| [[2 Corinthians 9:9]]
| God supplies seed to the sower and bread for food
| It is easy to see that God provides seed -- that's just part of what he created. But here it says he also supplies bread. Even though humans manufacture the bread (using a lot of technology by the way) even the results of our creative act ultimately come from God.
|-
| [[2 Corinthians 10:2]]
| The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world
|
|-
| [[Ephesians 2:10]]
| "we are God's workmanship"
| God crafts us with the tools of love, grace, relationships with others, suffering and the Spirit of Christ Jesus within us. We have been manufactured for a purpose.
|-
| [[Ephesians 2:20]]
| Christ Jesus himself is the chief cornerstone in whom the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
| Who is the builder? See [[Hebrews 3:4]].
Compare with [[1 Peter 2:4]] -- we, like Christ, are living stones, and we are being built into a spiritual house.
|-
| [[Ephesians 6:13]] - [[Ephesians 6:17]]
| Put on the full armour of God
|
|-
| [[Colossians 4:14]]
| Luke the beloved physician
|
|-
| [[2 Timothy 2:20]] - [[2 Timothy 2:21]]
| All sorts of artefacts may be used for good or evil. Even people can become "an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work".
|
|-
| [[2 Timothy 4:14]]
| "Alexander the metalworker..."
|
|-
| [[Philemon 1:13]]
| "in chains for the gospel"
| Compare with [[Ephesians 6:20]] where Paul describes himself as "an ambassador in chains". But no chains can constrain God's work.
|-
| [[Hebrews 3:4]]
| "God is the builder of everything"
|
|-
| [[Hebrews 4:12]]
| "The word of God is ... sharper than any double-edged sword"
|
|-
| [[Hebrews 11:9]] - [[Hebrews 11:10]]
| Abraham was content to live in tents even though he looked forward to living in a city whose architect was God.
|
|-
| [[Hebrews 13:16]]
| "But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."
| Maybe it's not to much of a stretch to apply this to communication technology. (King James is the only one to mention "communication" in this verse, so I don't think this inference works. The Greek implies sharing rather than communicating. -- Matt)
|-
| [[James 3:3]]
| Putting bits in horses' mouths
|
|-
| [[James 3:4]]
| Steering a ship by a rudder
|
|-
| [[James 4:3]]
| Moths eat clothes, and gold and silver corrode.
| The stuff we create with technology and all our material wealth is ephemeral.
|-
| [[1 Peter 1:7]]
| Faith is of greater worth than gold
|
|-
| [[Revelation 1:12]]
| Seven golden lampstands represent the 7 churches
|
|-
| [[Revelation 3:18]]
| God recommends that the Laodiceans buy salve to put on their eyes
|
|-
| [[Revelation 5:7]] - [[Revelation 5:8]]
| Throne, scrolls, harps, bowls of incense
| Evidence of technology in heaven?
|-
| [[Revelation 6:1]] - [[Revelation 6:5]]
| Horse riders carry a bow, a sword and a pair of scales
|
|-
| [[Revelation 8]]
| Seven angels each sound a trumpet
|
|-
| [[Revelation 9:2]]
| "like the smoke from a gigantic furnace"
|
|-
| [[Revelation 11:1]]
| A measuring rod
|
|-
| [[Revelation 14:14]] - [[Revelation 14:19]]
| One "like the son of man" and an angel wield a sharp sickle
|
|-
| [[Revelation 18:11]] - [[Revelation 18:13]]
| Merchants try unsuccessfully to sell precious metals, silk, linen, etc
|
|-
| [[Revelation 18:21]] - [[Revelation 18:23]]
| When Babylon is thrown down, there will be no more sound from musical instruments in her, nor tradesmen, mills or lighted lamps.
|
|-
| [[Revelation 21]] (see also [[Revelation 3:12]])
| The Holy City -- the city of God, the new Jerusalem -- comes down out of heaven. It is huge and shines with God's glory. High walls. Twelve gates. Streets of gold like transparent glass.
| Cities are not necessarily an evil created by humans: the history of creation will end with a city of God's creation.
|}
