What is biogenesis?

Quick answer

Biogenesis means the development of life from preexisting life; this is the normal way living things reproduce. This requires God to supernaturally create the first living things, because non-living matter cannot come to life (abiogenesis).

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Biogenesis refers to the production of life from life. In contrast, the production of life from non-living matter is abiogenesis. Abiogenesis has never happened naturally; there are no accepted models for how it could happen in a laboratory or elsewhere. Biogenesis occurs constantly, from the division of bacteria, to trees shedding seeds, to cows calving.

Biogenesis is also different from creation ex nihilo, which refers to God’s forming something supernaturally out of nothing (Genesis 1:1). In biogenesis, living creatures form more of their own kind, with possible slight variations, through a natural reproduction process. In creation ex nihilo, God produces something that never existed in any form or in any components. God didn’t make the universe from preexisting building blocks. He started from scratch, but the world continued to populate through biogenesis.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

Genesis 1:1 reads, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Prior to the beginning there was nothing, except God, the eternal creator.
God established in creation, ensuring that each creature, plant, and life form reproduces according to its specific kind (Genesis 1:11-12; 21; 24-25).
God commanded the earth to bring forth vegetation, with plants and trees yielding seeds and fruit according to their kinds. Each species of plant grows and reproduces according to its specific kind (Genesis 1:11-12).
God created sea creatures and birds, each species according to its kind, and blessed them with the ability to fill the earth, each reproducing within their own kind (Genesis 1:21).
God commanded the earth to bring forth animals, including livestock, wild beasts, and creeping things, each according to its kind (Genesis 1:24-25).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

Hebrews 11:3 reads, “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” This means that the universe came into existence by divine command and was not assembled from preexisting matter or energy. Things that are visible do not owe their existence to anything visible.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Despite how obvious biogenesis may seem now, it was only accepted by the scientific community at large about 150 years ago. Ancient cultures believed that inanimate materials such as straw and meat would transform into mice and flies, respectively. Later, it was believed that this kind of spontaneous generation only occurred in simpler organisms such as bacteria. It wasn’t until the 1860s that the scientific community fully accepted biogenesis as the only natural source of living things, when Louis Pasteur experimentally proved spontaneous generation false.

Biogenesis reminds us that life comes from life, emphasizing our connection to God as the ultimate source of all life. Acknowledging that each living creature reproduces according to its kind helps us appreciate the intricacies of creation and the unique roles each species plays in our ecosystem. We can reflect on how God's design promotes diversity and stability in life, encouraging us to be stewards of the environment and to recognize the divine order in our world.

UNDERSTAND

Biogenesis is the process by which life originates from existing life, contrasting with abiogenesis, which suggests life can arise from non-living matter.
God created life from nothing.
God created each life form with the ability and command to reproduce.

REFLECT

How does understanding biogenesis deepen your appreciation for God’s role in the creation and continuation of life?
How can recognizing that life comes from life influence how you view creation and the stewardship of it?
How does God's command for each creature to reproduce shape your understanding of God’s order and design in creation?

ENGAGE

What implications does the contrast between biogenesis and abiogenesis have for our understanding of life’s origins from a biblical perspective?
How can the scientific acceptance of biogenesis, particularly after Pasteur’s experiments, influence the dialogue between faith and science today?
How does God’s order and design and the way we see it in the world call us to worship Him?