The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes Not So Miraculous Say Scientists

These scientists were studying Lake Kinneret, which they identify as the Sea of Galilee from the New Testament. They placed temperature sensors and oxygen monitoring devices deep into the lake and tested both wind speed and direction on the surface. They then examined “modern historical accounts of fish die-offs.” Their research found:

They found short periods of time when winds across the surface of the lake were strong enough to pull oxygen from its depths, leaving little to none for aquatic life.

The result was a sudden die-off, which, to a person on shore or in a boat, looked like a mass number of fish slowly rising to the surface of the lake, allowing them to be easily caught—as was the case in accounts from the Bible.

These researchers believe that, while Jesus was teaching, a wind blew over the lake, and thermal stratification reduced the oxygen in the water and large numbers of fish died, floated to the surface, and bobbed their way up onto the shore where “they could be easily collected by a hungry populace.” They also claim that when Jesus told his weary disciples, who’d fished all night and caught nothing, to throw their nets on the other side of the lake, they drew in so many fish because there had been a mass die-off and the fish were easy pickings.

I imagine you’re probably laughing at this point. It’s just so silly when we compare what they claim with the biblical account.

For example, the popular science article claims the fish were easily caught as “was the case in accounts from the Bible.” But is that what the Bible teaches when it comes to the five loaves and two fish?

Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. (Matthew 14:13–21)

You may notice that the biblical text says nothing about the fish being “easily caught.” Jesus simply took the five loaves and two fish, thanked God, broke the loaves, handed everything to his disciples, and the disciples handed the food out. No fish were caught!

But what about the second miraculous feeding, this time of 4,000?

In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. (Mark 8:1–9)

Again, nothing is said about Jesus or anyone catching any fish or gleaning off the beach (who wants a stinky, dead fish off a beach anyway?!).

Of course, another glaring problem with their natural explanation for this miracle is the bread—where did the loaves come from? They certainly didn’t float up from the bottom of the lake and wash ashore!

Also consider that, after Jesus fed the 5,000, the crowd was astonished and tried to make Jesus a king by force (John 6:14). Why would the crowd be so amazed that a man’s followers gathered a bunch of dead fish off a beach and handed them out that they try to make him their king, presumably to take down the Romans? It doesn’t make any sense.

What about the miraculous catch of fish—could a die-off explain that? That event happened twice, once at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry (Luke 5:1–11) and again after his resurrection (John 21:1–14). So these researchers are suggestion a rare die-off event occurred four times during Jesus’ ministry—and he just happened to be able to capitalize off of it every time! And the disciples, seasoned fishermen actually on the water, didn’t see the fish bobbing up to the surface, but Jesus on the beach did see them? Again, it doesn’t match the details provided in the text!

Miracles in the Bible are not problems that need to be plausibly or scientifically explained away. Jesus is God; he spoke everything into existence.

But miracles in the Bible are not problems that need to be plausibly or scientifically explained away. Jesus is God; he spoke everything into existence. Turning a handful of loaves and fish into a feast for a multitude or commanding a large school of fish to swim into a net is nothing for him!

You can learn more about attempts to explain away the miracles in the Bible in this article by AiG’s Avery Foley and Troy Lacey: “Supernatural or Science: How Do We Explain Miracles?”

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This item was discussed today on Answers News with cohosts Patricia Engler, Rob Webb, and Jessica DeFord. Answers News is our weekly news program filmed live before a studio audience here at the Creation Museum, broadcast on our Answers in Genesis YouTube channel, and posted to Answers TV. We also covered the following topics:

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Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.