History of Chemistry

Chapter One
Foundations of Chemistry

Chemistry in the Old Testament

The Egyptians made pottery and coated it with dyes, glazes, and ceramics. The Phoenicians, who are credited with being the first to
make soap, used snails to make a dye that served as the basis of a
thriving textile business. Their purple cloth was a prized commodity
at the time King Solomon was rebuilding the temple.
The development of processed iron had a great influence on
determining the military powers of the ancient world. Iron swords
were used throughout the Middle East and Greek peninsula over one
thousand years before Christ. Until then, the best armament had
been bronze swords, but those shattered into pieces under a heavy
blow from the stronger iron weapons. When the Philistines occupied
Canaan during the days of Saul, they did not allow the Israelites to
make iron weapons (1 Sam. 13:1922).

The Chemistry of the Alchemists

BJU Press. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

Alchemists often dabbled in astrology, incantations, and other activities that seemed to them to link the spiritual with the scientific.
You may wonder if a Christian should be involved in such a science
that had its root in occultism and black magic. A Christian, through
his practice of chemistry, can reshape the science to bring God glory.
A Christian practice of chemistry involves wisely using the resources
God has given us for mankinds benefit and discovering the intricacies in Gods creation, which reveals to us a little of His wonderful
character.
Francis Bacon noted the contribution of the alchemists to the
field of chemistry when he wrote the following:
Alchemy was like the man who told his sons he had left
them gold buried somewhere in his vineyard; where they by
digging found no gold, but by turning up the [dirt] about the
roots procured a plentiful vintage.
Alchemy made its first steps toward modern chemistry under
the guidance of the Swiss alchemist Philippus Paracelsus. In the early
1500s, Paracelsus promoted the use of chemicals to treat disease.
This application of chemistry to medicine became the forerunner
of modern pharmacology. Pharmacology is the science of making,
using, and studying the effects of medicinal drugs. The relationship
between chemistry and medicine is even more important today. As
a result, all students studying to be medical doctors, nurses, or pharmacists are required to study chemistry.

Philippus Paracelsus (14931541) was an

alchemist born in Einsiedeln, Switzerland.
He spent most of his adult life traveling
through Europe, Asia, and Russia as a physician. His experimental approach revolutionized the field of medicine.