Technology: From Genesis to Today

Technology in the Bible

When we think of technology, computers and smartphones normally come to mind first. While these are examples of technology, it is so much more than that. Technology can be defined as any machine or process “that is created by the practical application of scientific knowledge.”1

Some people believe that the first humans couldn’t have created advanced technology because they would’ve been much less intelligent since they had (supposedly) recently evolved from an apelike ancestor. But that’s not what the Bible teaches. The Bible teaches that humans were created distinct from the animals and in God’s image, and it does mention technology. A variety of tools and technologies would have been necessary for humans to achieve the architectural wonders described in the Bible. For example:

• Genesis 4:17 states that Cain built a city, and verse 22 says that Tubal-Cain was a forger of bronze and iron.
• Genesis 6 describes the dimensions of the ark, and Genesis 11 tells of man’s self-glorification through a collective effort to build a tower.
• The book of Nehemiah describes how Nehemiah rebuilt the great wall in Jerusalem.
• Jesus was a carpenter and would have used tools and technology in his trade.2

Photo © Answers in Genesis

Technology Today

Though there is no modern computer terminology in the Bible, God’s Word clearly states all things were created by him (Colossians 1:16). “All things” include the raw materials needed to build computer systems, the intelligent minds that develop computer software and hardware, and the complex, orderly mathematical processes necessary for computer operation.

Did you know that the first “computers” were designed in the early 1800s? An early mechanical computational machine called the Analytical Engine was designed by Charles Babbage in the 1830s. Charles Babbage was a Bible-believing Christian who spent his life trying to build the first computer. It is said of Charles Babbage,

[He] believed that the study of the works of nature with scientific precision, was a necessary and indispensable preparation to the understanding and interpreting their testimony of the wisdom and goodness of their Divine Author.”3

History credits Charles Babbage as the father of the computer.

Unfortunately, Babbage failed to build a functioning digital computer during his lifetime. The parts were very expensive, and his research was forgotten until 1937, when Babbage’s detailed notes were discovered. They helped to build the Analytical Engine 2.4 This directly contributed to the construction of the first digital computer in 1945 at the University of Pennsylvania.5

The first personal computer designed for use at home became available for purchase in 1971. John Blankenbaker is credited with this invention. And it was in April 1977 that Apple released a microprocessor called the Apple II, which was one of the first pre-assembled personal computers. Here are some interesting differences between the Apple II and computers today:

• The Apple II sold for $1200–1,500 (depending on the setup) in 1977. This would be about $6,000 today.
• The Apple II’s speed was 1.023 MHz (megahertz). Today, processors operate between 3 to 6 GHz (gigahertz) or 3,000 to 5,000 MHz.
• The Apple II could only process one byte (8 bits) of information in one operation with 4 KB (kilobyte, or 1,024 bytes) of memory. Computers today operate on a 64-bit architecture operating system with limitless RAM (short-term memory). This means they have processing speeds hundreds of thousands to millions of times faster than the Apple II!

The internet, one of the most important discoveries of this century, was launched on January 1, 1983. The early internet allowed networks to connect with other networks and exchange information. The World Wide Web became accessible to everyone in 1991, and the first smartphone was introduced in 1994.

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

Imagine what Babbage would think if he could see all that humans have developed from his building blocks in computer science! There is now an entire scientific field dedicated to computers.

Conclusion

God created us in his image to be creative, curious, and clever. Technology is one way we use the minds and abilities God gave us to care for God’s creation, spread the good news about Jesus, and make the search for information about him easier. From simple tools like hammers to amazing inventions like computers, technology can be a gift that we should use to love God and serve him. But just like anything else, we need wisdom to use technology well. We should not be so focused on technology that we forget to spend time with family and friends or get outside and enjoy God’s creation.

Footnotes

1. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, s.v. “technology,” accessed January 22, 2026, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/technology.
2. J Hall-Rivera, Intro to Forensic Science From a Biblical Worldview (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2023), https://www.masterbooks.com/intro-to-forensic-science-set.
3. H.W. Buxton, Memoir of the Life and Labours of the Late Charles Babbage Esq., unpublished, p. 1986. Cited in: J.M. Dubbey, The Mathematical Work of Charles Babbage (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1978), 227.
4. Rivera, Forensic Science From a Biblical Worldview.
5. “Celebrating Penn Engineering History: ENIAC,” Penn Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, accessed February 4, 2026, https://www.seas.upenn.edu/about/history-heritage/eniac/.