Research Standards & Methodology

Finding Truth Ministry approaches the relationship between Scripture and academic research with a commitment to careful investigation, intellectual honesty, and transparency. Our purpose is not to prove that every scientific discovery confirms a particular interpretation of Scripture. Instead, we ask a broader question: Can the available evidence be understood within a framework that is consistent with Scripture?

Scripture as the Foundation

Finding Truth Ministry approaches these questions from a Christian worldview and recognizes Scripture as the theological foundation of our work. At the same time, we recognize an important distinction between what Scripture actually states and what people have historically inferred from it.

Traditional interpretations are therefore considered seriously, but they are not automatically treated as equivalent to the biblical text itself. When Scripture permits more than one interpretation, alternative possibilities may be examined and tested against the larger biblical narrative.

Following the Evidence

Scientific and academic evidence is evaluated on its own terms. Depending upon the subject, our research may incorporate peer-reviewed scientific studies, genetics and ancient DNA research, archaeology, anthropology, historical records, ancient literature, linguistics, biblical scholarship, and other relevant academic disciplines.

Evidence is not rejected simply because it appears challenging to a traditional interpretation of Scripture. Such challenges may instead provide an opportunity to reconsider whether the conflict lies with Scripture itself or with assumptions that have been placed upon Scripture.

Distinguishing Evidence from Interpretation

A central principle of our research is distinguishing between evidence and the interpretation of evidence.

A genetic sequence, archaeological artifact, ancient manuscript, fossil, inscription, or statistical observation represents evidence. The explanation offered for what that evidence means is an interpretation.

Interpretations may be extremely well supported, moderately supported, disputed, or speculative. Scientific and historical models can also change as new evidence becomes available.

For this reason, Finding Truth Ministry seeks to identify as clearly as possible what has actually been observed, what researchers conclude from those observations, and what assumptions are necessary to move from the evidence to a particular conclusion.

Testing Multiple Explanations

Where appropriate, competing explanations are compared rather than presenting only the interpretation that best supports our own framework.

This may include conventional scientific explanations, established theological interpretations, historical Jewish and Christian interpretations, alternative academic proposals, and new hypotheses arising from patterns identified during our research.

An alternative interpretation is not considered stronger merely because it agrees with our expectations. It must account for the available evidence and survive reasonable objections.

Degrees of Certainty

Not every conclusion carries the same evidentiary weight. Our research therefore seeks to distinguish among:

Established evidence: Observations, texts, artifacts, or findings that can be directly documented.

Strong inference: A conclusion supported by multiple independent lines of evidence but not directly demonstrated.

Possible interpretation: An explanation that is consistent with the evidence but for which other reasonable explanations remain.

Hypothesis: A proposed explanation that generates questions or predictions that can be further investigated.

Speculation: A possibility for which insufficient evidence currently exists to reach a meaningful conclusion.

These distinctions are particularly important when exploring subjects where Scripture, ancient history, and modern science intersect.

Canonical Testing

Biblical hypotheses should not depend upon a single isolated verse. When proposing an interpretation, we examine how it functions across the larger biblical narrative.

Relevant passages are compared across Scripture, including evidence that appears to support the proposal and passages that may challenge it. Typological parallels, repeated language, theological themes, and patterns between the beginning and end of Scripture may be considered, but these are distinguished from explicit biblical statements.

A model becomes more compelling when it explains multiple passages without requiring those passages to say something they do not actually say.

Counterevidence Matters

Evidence that challenges a proposed model is just as important as evidence that supports it.

Finding Truth Ministry therefore seeks to identify counterarguments and contrary evidence rather than removing them from consideration. When an objection exposes a weakness in a hypothesis, the hypothesis should be revised, limited, or rejected.

Our objective is not to protect a theory. It is to determine how much of that theory the evidence can reasonably support.

Science and Scripture

Finding Truth Ministry does not claim that the Bible was written as a modern scientific textbook. Scripture and science frequently address questions from different perspectives and for different purposes.

Science investigates the observable physical world through evidence, measurement, experimentation, and models. Scripture addresses God, humanity, creation, purpose, morality, redemption, and the relationship between the Creator and creation.

Because both may address the same creation from different perspectives, areas of meaningful intersection deserve careful investigation.

Where apparent conflicts arise, we consider several possibilities: our scientific understanding may be incomplete, our interpretation of Scripture may be incomplete, the available evidence may permit more than one explanation, or the two disciplines may be addressing different aspects of the same question.

Responsible Use of Sources

Whenever possible, research should trace claims back to primary or authoritative sources rather than relying exclusively upon popular summaries.

Scientific claims should be connected to scientific literature. Historical claims should be evaluated against historical evidence. Archaeological claims should be connected to archaeological research. Biblical arguments should identify the relevant passages so readers can examine them independently.

We also recognize that academic consensus carries significant evidentiary weight. Departing from consensus requires stronger evidence and argument, not simply disagreement with the consensus.

An Invitation to Investigate

Finding Truth Ministry does not ask readers to accept every proposed interpretation presented in our research.

We encourage readers to examine the sources, read the biblical passages in context, investigate competing explanations, identify weaknesses in our reasoning, and reach conclusions based upon the evidence.

Some investigations may strengthen an existing interpretation. Others may require us to revise one. Still others may remain unresolved.

We are comfortable saying, “We do not know.”

Truth does not require us to be afraid of unanswered questions.

Our commitment is simple: follow the evidence wherever it leads, distinguish what we know from what we propose, test every interpretation carefully, and remain anchored in Christ while continuing to search for truth.

Continue to the drop-down menu under the Research Home navigation page for available reports.