Topical Bible: Miracles: Marvellous Works

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Definition and Nature

Miracles, often referred to as "marvellous works" in the Bible, are extraordinary events that manifest divine intervention in the natural order. These acts are characterized by their supernatural origin and purpose, serving as signs of God's power and presence. The term "miracle" is derived from the Latin "miraculum," meaning "wonder," and in the biblical context, it signifies acts that inspire awe and reveal God's glory.

Old Testament Examples

In the Old Testament, miracles are frequently associated with the deliverance and guidance of God's people. One of the most notable examples is the parting of the Red Sea, where God enabled the Israelites to escape from the pursuing Egyptian army. As recorded in Exodus 14:21-22 , "Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left."

Miracles also served as a means of authenticating God's messengers. The prophet Elijah, for instance, performed numerous miracles, including the raising of the widow's son in 1 Kings 17:22 : "And the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah, and the life of the child returned to him, and he lived."

New Testament Examples

The New Testament is replete with miracles, particularly those performed by Jesus Christ, which demonstrate His divine authority and compassion. Jesus' miracles include healing the sick, casting out demons, and raising the dead. One of the most significant miracles is the feeding of the five thousand, as described in Matthew 14:19-21 : "And He directed the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He blessed them. Then He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. About five thousand men were fed, in addition to women and children."

The resurrection of Jesus is the pinnacle of New Testament miracles, affirming His victory over sin and death. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 , "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."

Purpose and Significance

Miracles in the Bible serve multiple purposes. They are signs that confirm the truth of God's message and the authority of His messengers. In John 20:30-31 , the apostle John states, "Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name."

Furthermore, miracles are expressions of God's compassion and care for His creation. They often meet immediate human needs, such as healing and provision, while also pointing to the ultimate restoration and redemption found in Christ.

Theological Implications

The occurrence of miracles underscores the sovereignty of God over creation. They reveal that God is not bound by natural laws but can intervene in the world He created. This divine intervention serves to strengthen the faith of believers and challenge the unbelief of skeptics.

Miracles also highlight the eschatological hope of Christianity, foreshadowing the new creation where God's kingdom will be fully realized. As such, they are not merely past events but continue to inspire and encourage believers to anticipate the fulfillment of God's promises.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 29:14
Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 105:5
Remember his marvelous works that he has done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Synopsis. --A Clearer Conception of Miracle Approached. --Works of ...
... not incredible that some of the mighty works of Jesus ... speculations concerning the
relation of miracles to other ... by those to whom the marvellous is synonymous ...
/.../miracles and supernatural religion/iv synopsis a clearer conception of.htm

Miracles Deemed an Essential Sign of Messiahship.
... and dying; the revelations and mighty works of Divine ... and were said to do many
marvellous things. In short, it is sufficiently proved that miracles were deemed ...
/.../section 90 miracles deemed an.htm

Of the Life and Miracles of Jesus, and Testimonies Concerning Them ...
... time He began to perform the greatest miracles, not by ... For they announced some
marvellous wonders, of which neither the ... them both by His word and by His works. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xv of the life and.htm

Synopsis. --Biblical Miracles the Effluence of Extraordinary Lives ...
... the world's magician and miracle worker; its miracles now termed ... More of its marvellous
capability is latent in common ... The works of which any man is naturally ...
/.../v synopsis biblical miracles the effluence.htm

Letter xxvi. To C??sarius, Brother of Gregory.
... a kindness, but, to the best of our ability, to narrate the marvellous works of
God ... become in very deed what I, grounding my belief on the miracles wrought in ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter xxvi to caesarius brother.htm

Matt. xx. 17-19.
... For when they considered His miracles, the possessed persons whom He had delivered,
the dead whom He had raised, all the other marvellous works which He was ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxv matt xx 17-19.htm

Celsus, Moreover, Unable to Resist the Miracles which Jesus is ...
... themselves He might gain over many to the marvellous doctrine of ... promise of Jesus,
His disciples performed even greater works than these miracles of Jesus ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xlviii celsus moreover unable.htm

But after This, Celsus, Having a Suspicion that the Great Works ...
... having a suspicion that the great works performed by ... disciples have recorded as of
a marvellous nature; and ... his purpose, he compares the (miracles) related of ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter lxviii but after this.htm

Contents and Character of the Extant Works.
... (d) Of the historical works, (i) the ... a disciple of the "prosaic and critical" school
of Antioch, accepts and repeats marvellous tales of the miracles of his ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/ix contents and character of the.htm

Of the Miracles Wrought by the True God through the Ministry of ...
... listen to those who maintain that the invisible God works no visible miracles; for
even ... happens in this world, it is certainly less marvellous than this ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 12 of the miracles wrought.htm