Meaning of “miracle”
Miracle — an event in the external world brought about by the immediate agency or the simple volition of God, operating without the use of means capable of being discerned by the senses, and designed to authenticate the divine commission of a religious teacher and the truth of his message (John 2:18; Matt. 12:38). It is an occurrence at once above nature and above man. It shows the intervention of a power that is not limited by the laws either of matter or of mind, a power interrupting the fixed laws which govern their movements, a supernatural power. "The suspension or violation of the laws of nature involved in miracles is nothing more than is constantly taking place around us. One force counteracts another: vital force keeps the chemical laws of matter in abeyance; and muscular force can control the action of physical force. When a man raises a weight from the ground, the law of gravity is neither suspended nor violated, but counteracted by a stronger force. The same is true as to the walking of Christ on the water and the swimming of iron at the command of the prophet. The simple and grand truth that the universe is not under the exclusive control of physical forces, but that everywhere and always there is above, separate from and superior to all else, an infinite personal will, not superseding, but directing and controlling all physical causes, acting with or without them." God ordinarily effects his purpose through the agency of second causes; but he has the power also of effecting his purpose immediately and without the intervention of second causes, i.e., of invading the fixed order, and thus of working miracles. Thus we affirm the possibility of miracles, the possibility of a higher hand intervening to control or reverse nature's ordinary movements. In the New Testament these four Greek words are principally used to designate miracles: (1.) Semeion, a "sign", i.e., an evidence of a divine commission; an attestation of a divine message (Matt. 12:38, 39; 16:1, 4; Mark 8:11; Luke 11:16; 23:8; John 2:11, 18, 23; Acts 6:8, etc.); a token of the presence and working of God; the seal of a higher power. (2.) Terata, "wonders;" wonder-causing events; portents; producing astonishment in the beholder (Acts 2:19). (3.) Dunameis, "might works;" works of superhuman power (Acts 2:22; Rom. 15:19; 2 Thess. 2:9); of a new and higher power. (4.) Erga, "works;" the works of Him who is "wonderful in working" (John 5:20, 36). Miracles are seals of a divine mission. The sacred writers appealed to them as proofs that they were messengers of God. Our Lord also appealed to miracles as a conclusive proof of his divine mission (John 5:20, 36; 10:25, 38). Thus, being out of the common course of nature and beyond the power of man, they are fitted to convey the impression of the presence and power of God. Where miracles are there certainly God is. The man, therefore, who works a miracle affords thereby clear proof that he comes with the authority of God; they are his credentials that he is God's messenger. The teacher points to these credentials, and they are a proof that he speaks with the authority of God. He boldly says, "God bears me witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles." The credibility of miracles is established by the evidence of the senses on the part of those who are witnesses of them, and to all others by the testimony of such witnesses. The witnesses were competent, and their testimony is trustworthy. Unbelievers, following Hume, deny that any testimony can prove a miracle, because they say miracles are impossible. We have shown that miracles are possible, and surely they can be borne witness to. Surely they are credible when we have abundant and trustworthy evidence of their occurrence. They are credible just as any facts of history well authenticated are credible. Miracles, it is said, are contrary to experience. Of course they are contrary to our experience, but that does not prove that they were contrary to the experience of those who witnessed them. We believe a thousand facts, both of history and of science, that are contrary to our experience, but we believe them on the ground of competent testimony. An atheist or a pantheist must, as a matter of course, deny the possibility of miracles; but to one who believes in a personal God, who in his wisdom may see fit to interfere with the ordinary processes of nature, miracles are not impossible, nor are they incredible. (See LIST OF MIRACLES, Appendix.)
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Bible Search for “miracle”
Exodus Chapter 7 Verse 9 — When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Show a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent. Numbers Chapter 14 Verse 22 — Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Deuteronomy Chapter 11 Verse 3 — And his miracles, and his acts, which he did in the midst of Egypt unto Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and unto all his land; Deuteronomy Chapter 29 Verse 3 — The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles: Judges Chapter 6 Verse 13 — And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. Mark Chapter 6 Verse 52 — For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened. Mark Chapter 9 Verse 39 — But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. Luke Chapter 23 Verse 8 — And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. John Chapter 2 Verse 23 — Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. John Chapter 2 Verse 11 — This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. John Chapter 3 Verse 2 — The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. John Chapter 4 Verse 54 — This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee. John Chapter 6 Verse 26 — Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. John Chapter 6 Verse 14 — Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. John Chapter 6 Verse 2 — And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. John Chapter 7 Verse 31 — And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done? John Chapter 9 Verse 16 — Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. John Chapter 10 Verse 41 — And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. John Chapter 11 Verse 47 — Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. John Chapter 12 Verse 37 — But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: John Chapter 12 Verse 18 — For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle. Acts Chapter 2 Verse 22 — Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Acts Chapter 4 Verse 22 — For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed. Acts Chapter 4 Verse 16 — Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. Acts Chapter 6 Verse 8 — And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. Acts Chapter 8 Verse 13 — Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Acts Chapter 8 Verse 6 — And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. Acts Chapter 15 Verse 12 — Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. Acts Chapter 19 Verse 11 — And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 Verse 29 — Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 Verse 28 — And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 Verse 10 — To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: Galatians Chapter 3 Verse 5 — He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Hebrews Chapter 2 Verse 4 — God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? Revelation Chapter 13 Verse 14 — And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. Revelation Chapter 16 Verse 14 — For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Revelation Chapter 19 Verse 20 — And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
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