Charles Darwin, the famous English biologist, geologist, and naturalist, was known for his contributions to the science of evolution. However, if he were to tell the story of the Bible book of Matthew, he would approach it as a skeptic, analyzing the narrative through a scientific lens.
Matthew, the first book of the New Testament, begins with the genealogy of Jesus Christ, tracing his ancestry back to Abraham. Darwin, known for his studies on human evolution, would question the accuracy of these genealogical records and the concept of creationism in general.
As the narrative unfolds, Matthew recounts the story of the birth of Jesus, the visit of the wise men, and the flight to Egypt. Darwin would raise questions about the biological possibility of the virgin birth and question the historicity of the wise men’s visit.
In Chapter 3, John the Baptist appears, baptizing people in the Jordan River for repentance. Darwin, as a scientist who studied animal behavior, would be curious about the significance of baptism as a ritual and its effects on individuals who underwent the process.
The rest of the book of Matthew narrates Jesus’ public ministry, including his teachings, miracles, and confrontations with religious leaders. Darwin would view Jesus’ teachings as a form of social evolution, promoting morality and compassion towards fellow humans.
As the narrative reaches its climax, Jesus is crucified and later resurrected from the dead. Darwin, who explored the concept of evolution, would find the idea of resurrection to be scientifically implausible.
In conclusion, while Charles Darwin was a renowned naturalist and scientist, he would approach the Bible book of Matthew with a combination of skepticism and scientific curiosity. Nevertheless, he would most likely appreciate the moral teachings of Jesus and view them as promoting social evolution.
As a funny quote, Darwin might say, “I cannot persuade myself that a beneficent and great Creator would have designedly created the Ichneumonidae (a type of parasitic wasp) with the express intention of their feeding within the living bodies of caterpillars…but I suppose the idea of a man rising from the dead might be equally hard to swallow.”
