Does the Bible teach that life begins at conception?

Answer

The Bible teaches that life begins at conception. The perception of when human life starts varies across cultures, evolving with changes in societal values, moral standards, and understanding of embryonic development. Before the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling permitting abortion on demand, developing embryos were recognized as unborn individuals. Presently, even a fetus capable of independent survival outside the mother’s womb may be terminated under specific medical conditions. This illustrates that an unborn child is not universally acknowledged as a full-fledged human being.

According to science, human life commences at conception. Upon fertilization, the child’s genetic composition is already established. Factors such as gender, height, hair, eye color, and skin tone are predetermined. The embryo simply requires time for growth and maturation to become a fully developed individual.

Furthermore, God’s Word reveals that life indeed begins at conception, and He recognizes us even before that moment “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”, (Jeremiah 1:5). King David acknowledged God’s involvement in our creation by stating: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb . . . your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” “For thou hast possessed my reins: Thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.”, (Psalm 139:13,16).

(Psalm 139:13,16) «Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.», (Psalm 139:13,16).

Society consistently attempts to diminish the value of unborn lives, establishing its own interpretations of humanity based on skewed moral perspectives. However, the indisputable truth is that life commences at conception, and a human being is formed as soon as he or she is conceived. God is present at our inception; indeed, He is our Creator. Our worth as individuals created in His likeness is established even before our existence.