As we look at miracles in the Bible, it helps to look at, well, miracles in the Bible. There were basically three periods of time in the Bible when men regularly performed miracles. It’s easy to lose sight of the fact that miracles were not the norm during Bible times; great men of God like Noah, Abraham, David, etc. were not known for performing miracles. Did God perform miracles outside of these three periods of time? Of course. But these were the only times that miracles were common:
- The time of Moses: when God revealed the Law through Moses, he accompanied that new revelation with miraculous activity.
- The time of Elijah and Elisha: Elijah came to represent the prophets, so much so that he appeared to Jesus on the mount of transfiguration, along with Moses. Elisha received a “double portion” of the spirit that Elijah had. They were symbolic of the prophetic word, the revealing of God’s Word through the voice of his servants.
- The time of Jesus and the apostles (which we’ll be studying more in depth)
Some have affirmed that, since God is unchanging, the miraculous activity that was present in the church in the first century must be present today as well. But that goes against what we see in the Bible of the unchanging God. He used miraculous activity at certain times, the times when he was revealing himself in a new or special way. God confirmed the new type of revelation by way of miracles, then ceased to use the miracles when the new type of revelation was established.
Should we surprised if God chose to use a similar pattern in New Testament times?
I find no reason to expect God to change, right on so far. But I must warn you, if I fully agree with you, nobody else will :)
The very balance of the universe is in danger when we agree. ;-)
To what do you attribute miracles today? Is God not still working through the Holy Spirit? We’re told that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us — for what do we use or need that power, if not to heal and help? I’m not trying to be combative, but I’ve never heard or seen in the Bible a reason to believe that God is not still revealing himself using miraculous activity.
I’ll get to some of this, but here are a few thoughts:
(1) God still does miracles today, just as he always has. I don’t believe, however, that he is doing them in the same way that he did in the first century, that is, working them through particular men.
(2) The Bible does talk about miracles ceasing (1 Corinthians 13:10) and Hebrews 2:4 talks about miracles in the past tense.
(3) Speaking in tongues, for example, is never mentioned again after the Corinthians letters (if memory serves). There is little mention of other miraculous activity except for the letter to that immature church.
(4) Church history shows that in the second and third centuries, miracles were seen as a thing of the past.
Hope that helps.
Grace and peace,
Tim
Hi, Tim…
None of those is clear or convincing evidence to me. I have seen and experienced some miraculous things, all clearly in the name of Jesus Christ, and that could not be attributed to anything but Jesus Christ.
I won’t keep arguing; I do look forward to the the cotinuation of your kitchen musings (which I know are much more researched and thought about than half-baked thoughts!)
You are a blessing — thanks for all your work on this site — what a treat for the rest of us!
Hi Kim,
Let me say that I believe in miracles. God answers prayer. God heals. God does wonders. But I don’t believe that men are empowered as they were in the first century, empowered to decide when and where God will do a miracle.
Grace and peace,
Tim
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