Why are miracles and healing included in the list of gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:28? Text of 1 Corinthians 12:28 “And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those having gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.” Canonical Setting Paul’s catalog appears within a larger unit (1 Corinthians 12–14) that addresses the unity and diversity of spiritual gifts. His ordering is neither random nor merely historical; it reflects divine intention for the church’s edification (12:7), evangelistic witness (14:24-25), and doctrinal integrity (14:37-38). Old Testament Continuity • Yahweh self-reveals as “I am the LORD who heals you” (Exodus 15:26). • OT miracles—from the Exodus plagues to Elijah’s fire (1 Kings 18:36-39) and Elisha’s resurrections (2 Kings 4:32-37)—establish a precedent that God’s redemptive acts are often public, physical interventions authenticating His word and covenant. • Prophetic expectation: Isaiah 35:5-6 foretells eyes of the blind opened and the lame leaping when salvation arrives. Christological Foundation • Jesus’ ministry intertwines proclamation and power: “Believe Me that I am in the Father… or at least believe because of the works themselves” (John 14:11). • Miracles and healings validate messianic identity (Matthew 11:4-5) and preview kingdom restoration (Luke 11:20). • The resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-8) is the climactic miracle, historically attested by multiple early, independent sources within five years of the event (e.g., the creed of 1 Corinthians 15:3-5; Acts 2:22-32). Archeological corroborations—such as the Nazareth Inscription forbidding tomb-robbery of a “deified” corpse—confirm the early Christian proclamation of an empty tomb. Apostolic Commission • The risen Christ promises, “These signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons… they will lay hands on the sick, and they will be well” (Mark 16:17-18). • Hebrews 2:3-4 states that God “testified to [the gospel] by signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit,” linking gifts to gospel authentication. • Acts records continuity: Peter’s healings (3:6-8), Paul’s extraordinary miracles (19:11-12), and communal prayer resulting in signs (4:29-31). Ecclesiological Purpose 1. Edification: Miracles and healing address physical needs, relieving suffering and thus enabling believers to serve (Galatians 6:2). 2. Instruction: They demonstrate doctrinal truths tangibly—e.g., forgiveness and healing are paralleled in Psalm 103:3. 3. Unity: Because sickness and crisis are universal, gifts foster interdependence (1 Corinthians 12:21-26). 4. Evangelism: Visible acts prompt outsiders to glorify God (Acts 9:34-35). Historical Testimony Beyond the NT • Justin Martyr (Apol. 2.6) writes of exorcisms and healings “even to this day.” • Irenaeus (Adv. Haer. 2.32.4) notes the church raises the dead “often,” underscoring continuity with apostolic practice. • Augustine, initially skeptical, catalogues seventy attested healings in Hippo within two years (City of God 22.8). • Modern missionary accounts—e.g., the 1960s Congo Lassa fever outbreak checked after corporate prayer—mirror Acts-style deliverances. Philosophical Coherence and Intelligent Design Miracles are not violations of natural law but higher-order intrusions by the law-giver. Just as specified information in DNA points to an intelligent cause transcending material processes, a miracle points to a personal Mind free to act within His creation. Young-earth chronology emphasizes a recent, purposeful cosmos; punctuated divine acts (creation, Flood, Red Sea, resurrection) align with a God who intervenes rather than a deistic absentee. The Continuation Question 1 Cor 13:10’s “when the perfect comes” refers contextually to eschatological completeness, not the canon’s closing; hence gifts remain until faith becomes sight. James 5:14-16 prescribes prayer for the sick without expiration clause, and no Scripture repeals Jesus’ commission. Safeguards and Discernment Scripture mandates testing (1 John 4:1). Genuine gifts exalt Christ, affirm Scriptural truth, and bear good fruit (Matthew 7:16-20). Counterfeits exist (Exodus 7:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:9) but do not negate the authentic any more than forged currency nullifies real money. Summary Miracles and healing occupy their place in 1 Corinthians 12:28 because they: • Reveal God’s compassionate character and redemptive plan. • Validate apostolic and subsequent gospel proclamation. • Strengthen, unify, and equip the church for service. • Provide empirical signposts to unbelievers. • Demonstrate a coherent worldview where the Creator remains sovereign over His creation. Thus, the gifts of miracles and healing are indispensable, Christ-centered instruments through which the church glorifies God and advances His kingdom until the consummation of all things. |
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