Did dinosaurs exist, and where do they fit in the Bible?
The Devotional Answer
The devotional answer is to remember that since God created all things (Colossians 1:16), He created the great prehistoric creatures we call dinosaurs. Their massive size and incredible variety testify to the boundless power and creativity of our Creator.
The fact that we marvel at their remains today only magnifies the intelligence of the God who designed them. The focus should remain on the ultimate Designer, not the creature itself. The main difference among Christians is not if God made them, but when and how they fit into the timeline of the universe.
The Simple Answer
Yes, dinosaurs certainly existed. Their fossil record is undeniable evidence that these large reptiles walked the earth.
The question of where they fit into the Bible depends heavily on how a Christian interprets the early chapters of Genesis:
Young Earth View: Dinosaurs were created by God on Day Six alongside land animals and humans. They lived alongside humans, and their extinction came primarily after the Flood (Noah's Ark, Question 58), possibly aided by a radically changed post-Flood environment.
Old Earth/Theistic Evolution View: Dinosaurs existed millions of years ago, matching the geological timeline. God either used evolutionary processes over deep time or created them in earlier epochs, before the biblical accounts of human history, as Genesis 1 is read as a more thematic or poetic account of creation.
Both views agree that dinosaurs were created by God; they differ only on the timing and mechanism.
The Deeper Dive
While the word "dinosaur" was coined in 1841 (meaning "terrible lizard"), the Bible may contain references to massive creatures that we might today classify as dinosaur-like.
1. The Behemoth and Leviathan
In the book of Job, which is often considered one of the oldest books of the Bible, God speaks to Job about two massive creatures that He created, using them to illustrate His own power and sovereignty.
Behemoth (Job 40:15-18): Described as having a tail that "sways like a cedar" and bones "strong as tubes of bronze." Many scholars believe this is a reference to a hippopotamus or elephant, but the description of the cedar-like tail fits no known modern animal, leading some to suggest a massive, long-tailed sauropod.
Leviathan (Job 41): Described as an immense, fire-breathing sea creature with impenetrable scales. This description is clearly mythological or poetic in the extreme, but it represents the most terrifying power in the sea, reflecting a memory of or a creature similar to a vast marine reptile.
2. The Global Flood and Fossils
The Flood narrative is crucial for many Young Earth Christians. They believe the vast majority of the world's fossils—including dinosaur fossils—were laid down rapidly by the violent waters and sediment of the global Flood. This event is seen as the mechanism that buried the creatures and created the massive fossil layers we find today.
3. The Central Theme
Regardless of the scientific timeline, the theological truth remains unchanged: Dinosaurs are part of the vast, glorious, and sometimes terrifying creation of the one true God. They serve as a testament that God's mind is far greater than our own.
God's Assurance
God assures you that His truth is not undermined by the complexity of His creation, but is instead magnified by it.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." — John 1:1-3 (NIV)
You are assured that the God who created life also created the laws of nature that science observes. All things, from the smallest microbe to the largest dinosaur, point back to Jesus Christ as the Creator.
Your Takeaway Thought
Do not let questions about dinosaur timelines shake your faith. The fundamental truth that God is the Creator and that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer remains firm, regardless of how you interpret the timing of Genesis 1. Use the awe-inspiring fact of the dinosaurs to simply praise God for the incredible power of His creative imagination.
