Sir Isaac Newton: Man of Science, Man of God

“The more I study nature, 
the more I stand amazed
at the work of the Creator.”
— Isaac Newton

Few names in history shine as brightly as Sir Isaac Newton’s. Celebrated as one of the greatest scientific minds to ever live, Newton’s influence reaches far beyond mathematics and physics. Yet behind the legendary discoveries was a humble man whose faith in God anchored his life and guided his work. He stands as an extraordinary example of how the pursuit of knowledge can glorify the Creator.

Humble Beginnings

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you…”
— Jeremiah 1:5

Isaac Newton was born prematurely on Christmas Day, 1642, in Woolsthorpe, a small village in Lincolnshire, England. Frail at birth and fatherless before he was even born, many doubted that the tiny infant would survive. His mother, Hannah Ayscough Newton, was a devout Christian woman whose faith undoubtedly helped shape the boy’s early spiritual outlook. Newton grew up exposed to Scripture and church life in a Puritan household where reverence for God and His Word was expected.

Though often described as solitary and introspective, young Isaac displayed an unquenchable curiosity about the world around him. He built sundials, model windmills, and even mechanical clocks as a boy. Teachers soon noticed his extraordinary memory and intellect. At King’s School in Grantham, Newton developed a love for reading—especially the Bible and books on mathematics and natural philosophy.

When he entered Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1661, Newton immersed himself in classical studies but never abandoned his devotion to God. He often recorded Scripture notes alongside his studies in mathematics and physics, seeing no conflict between the two. As he grew in knowledge, his conviction that all truth—scientific or spiritual—originated from the same divine source only deepened.

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!”
— Romans 11:33

Revealing the Order of God’s Creation

Newton’s scientific achievements revolutionized our understanding of the universe. Far from seeing his discoveries as separate from faith, he viewed them as glimpses into the divine architecture of creation.

Laws of Motion & Universal Gravitation: In his Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (1687), Newton described the three laws of motion and the universal law of gravitation, uniting the motion of planets and falling apples under a single, elegant principle. The famous apple anecdote tells of Newton observing an apple fall from a tree (spoiler alert: It didn't hit him on the head) and wondering why it fell straight down rather than sideways. This simple curiosity led to one of the greatest scientific insights of all time.

Calculus: Newton independently developed the powerful branch of mathematics known as calculus, enabling scientists to describe motion, change, and forces with precision—tools still foundational to modern physics and engineering.

Optics & Light: His experiments with prisms revealed that white light is composed of a spectrum of colors, fundamentally changing the study of light and vision. Newton’s insights laid the groundwork for modern optics and physics of light.

These discoveries were not, in Newton’s view, merely intellectual triumphs but evidence of an orderly, rational universe crafted by a wise Creator. He once remarked,

“Gravity explains the motions of the planets,
but it cannot explain who set the planets in motion.”

To Newton, science revealed the handiwork of God.

Theological Writings and Lifelong Devotion

While Newton is remembered as the father of modern physics, he devoted more time to theology and biblical study than to science. He poured over the Scriptures in their original languages, writing more than a million words on theology, prophecy, and biblical chronology.

Among his most notable theological works were studies on the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, where he sought to understand God’s plan for history. He believed the Bible held the key to both the natural world and human destiny. Newton once wrote,

“There are more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible
than in any profane history whatsoever.”

His theological pursuits demonstrate that his faith was not superficial. He longed to know the character and will of God, believing that divine wisdom surpassed all human understanding.

Humble, Curious, and Devout

Despite his monumental intellect, Newton was known for his humility and reserve. Often described as shy and private, he disliked public attention and preferred the quiet of study to the bustle of court life. He was deeply disciplined, meticulous in his habits, and showed little interest in fame or wealth.

Friends described him as patient, self-controlled, and deeply principled—traits that mirrored his reverence for God’s order. Newton believed his talents were a stewardship entrusted to him by the Creator, not a reason for pride. This humility allowed him to see science as service, a way to glorify God by uncovering the laws by which He governs the universe.

A Faith Worthy of Remembering

Sir Isaac Newton’s life reminds us that true greatness is measured not only by intellect but by faith in the God who created all things. Like Abraham, he stepped into the unknown, trusting that God’s world was ordered and discoverable. Like Sarah, he believed in God’s faithfulness even when many doubted his convictions.

Hebrews 11:8–12 tells us:

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance… For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God… By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive… since she considered Him faithful who had promised.”

Newton, too, pursued knowledge with the conviction that behind every law of nature stood a Lawgiver. His discoveries were not merely acts of intellect; they were steps of faith in the Creator’s order and wisdom. He exemplified the truth that

“the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom”
- Proverbs 9:10

In remembering Newton, we see another witness to faith’s power—one whose life stands alongside those celebrated in Hebrews 11. His legacy calls us to seek both the wonders of creation and the God who designed it, reminding us that science at its best points back to the infinite wisdom of its Maker.

Amen