Is the Big Bang theory compatible with the Bible?

TL;DR:

The Big Bang theory can be compatible with the Bible, although they are two different kinds of explanations. Elements of the Big Bang Theory complement or duplicate the creation narrative in Genesis.

Genesis 1:1 and Hebrews 11:3 tell us that God created the universe by the power of His word, without using preexisting material. On the other hand, the Big Bang is a physical theory that describes how the universe expanded from an initial state of high density and temperature. Strictly speaking, it cannot be a theory of the creation of the universe. The origins of the universe prior to that moment remain a mystery to cosmologists. Since Scripture is not meant as a detailed scientific record, the Bible doesn't say anything directly about the Big Bang theory. Scientific theories can change radically, depending on available evidence. Instead, a major theme of the Bible is to tell all generations how God has worked in history to bring about his plan of salvation. If taken as an atheistic, random framework, the Big Bang theory is incompatible with the biblical narrative of supernatural origins. Seen as evidence that the universe had a beginning in time, the theory can potentially complement Scripture. When science and interpretations of the Bible seem to disagree, we should trust God’s truth while waiting for more details to come to light.

from the old testament

Genesis 1:1 says that God created the heavens and the earth in the “beginning.” It establishes the fact that God exists outside of time and that He created the material universe. This could be interpreted to mean something similar to today's Big Bang theory, which would point to God's initial creative act. However, it certainly did not mean anything so specific to the original readers: the children of Israel preparing to enter the promised land. For them, the text was meant to affirm God's authority, love, power and wisdom.
Genesis 1:3-2:25 gives the history and order of creation. This text tells us about the miracle of how God created the earth and life. The days of creation could be literal 24-hour days, or much longer periods. The text does not explicitly prove or disprove either view. The important thing is the fact of God's creative acts. Interestingly, specific parts of Genesis 1—2 echo aspects of the Big Bang theory, such as the presence of photons (light) before stars (the sun) had been formed (Genesis 1:3, 14).

from the new testament

Colossians 2:8 warns believers against following worldly philosophies based on human tradition. While much of the Big Bang has scientific merit, proponents of atheism make speculative claims that the Big Bang provided the necessary conditions for the emergence of life. Such claims lack evidence and could lead the unwary down false paths. The Big Bang model itself says nothing about biology or life.
“By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible” (Hebrews 11:3). This verse affirms that God did not use preexisting material to create the universe. Since the text is written for all generations, it does not provide scientific detail as to how creation occurred, nor God’s exact process.

implications for today

Concerns about the Big Bang theory being compatible with Christianity arise when the idea is tied to simplistic, atheistic claims. Anti-theists and those who dislike the idea of God insist that one must choose between science and God. However, these are false alternatives. The fact is that these explanations do not contradict but rather complement each other. The Big Bang theory and the Bible are two different kinds of explanations - one in terms of God's creative acts and the other in terms of mechanisms and laws. Georges Lemaitre, the Belgian Jesuit priest and cosmologist who first suggested a single moment of origins, also did not think we had to choose between science and religion. Prior to widespread support for the Big Bang theory, atheists insisted that the universe was without beginning or end—and they resisted the theory on spiritual grounds. Now, of course, it is often falsely claimed as evidence that God is not needed to explain the universe.

While God and the Bible do not change, the Big Bang theory is still being developed. The theory is incomplete with untested predictions, such as the missing dark matter and dark energy. The biggest problem is the missing piece of the birth of the universe. Physical theories today describe different aspects of how the universe changes. But cosmologists have no robust theories about the ultimate origins of reality itself. Meanwhile, Genesis 1:1 is clear that God created the universe in the beginning.

The article at this link explains the Big Bang theory:

https://www.compellingtruth.org/Big-Bang-theory.html

understand

The Big Bang theory explains the universe's early expansion, while the Bible describes God’s creation of the universe.
The Big Bang theory and the biblical creation account address different aspects and can be seen as complementary rather than contradictory. Evidence for the Big Bang was resisted by atheists because it so strongly supported the Bible’s claims of a moment of initial creation.
The Big Bang theory is still developing and lacks details on the universe's origin, which aligns with the Bible’s clear statement of God as the Creator.

reflect

How does understanding the Big Bang theory as a description of the universe's expansion rather than its origin affect your view of how God might have created the universe?
How do you understand the concept of the Big Bang theory and the biblical account of creation potentially complementing each other?
How does recognizing the limits in terms of ability for scientific theories and limits in terms of purpose for biblical accounts impact your trust in God's creation and the unfolding of scientific knowledge?

engage

How can the distinction between the Big Bang theory's explanation of cosmic expansion and the Bible’s account of creation influence the dialogue between science and faith?
What are some potential ways that new scientific discoveries could align with or challenge the biblical understanding of creation, and how should we approach these developments?
How does the ongoing development of the Big Bang theory and its current limitations highlight the differences between scientific explanations and theological beliefs about the universe’s origin?