TOUGH QUESTIONS A BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING OF MIRACLES iblical miracles are broadly defined as a divine act of God used as a means to reveal His character, will, and power. Biblical miracles are often associated with the work of God for His people’s salvation, and with the understanding and acceptance of His message. Examples of miracles include healings, demonic expulsions, control over natural phenomena, and personal encounters. These miraculous acts could be performed by Him or through His servants (e.g., prophets, the 12 disciples, Paul).
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How Should Christians View
Miracles? Miracles are prevalent in every world religion – supernatural events attributed to the intervention by a higher being. Are they all the same? Do they all come from the same source? How, then, should Christians view and react to miracles? 9 2
In the Old Testament, miracles were broadly categorized as “signs” (ʾōt) and “wonders” (môpēt). Signs can be a part of one’s daily activities (e.g., the writing on the wall in Daniel 5:5) as well as an unexpected divine action (e.g., provision of an offering in Genesis 22:13). Wonders describe God’s supernatural activity, a special manifestation of His power (e.g., the 10 plagues). These terms are synonyms and often occur together in the same text, their definitions remaining relatively unchanged in the New Testament (e.g., Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22; John 4:48; Acts 2:43). For the purpose of this article, the terms “signs,” “wonders,” and “miracles” will be used interchangeably and synonymously.
THE BIBLICAL PURPOSE OF MIRACLES There are two main reasons why God uses miracles. The first is to bring