Wonder-working, often referred to as the performance of miracles, is a significant theme throughout the Bible, demonstrating the power and presence of God in the world. Miracles serve as signs that authenticate the divine message and the messengers of God, revealing His sovereignty over creation and His compassionate intervention in human affairs.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, wonder-working is prominently displayed through the acts of God and His prophets. The plagues of Egypt (Exodus 7-12) are classic examples of divine intervention, where God, through Moses, performs miraculous signs to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites from bondage. These acts are described as "great wonders" (Exodus 7:3), showcasing God's supremacy over the Egyptian gods and His commitment to His covenant people.

Elijah and Elisha, prophets of the Northern Kingdom, are also notable figures associated with wonder-working. Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:20-39) culminates in a miraculous display of God's power as fire descends from heaven to consume the sacrifice. Elisha, Elijah's successor, performs numerous miracles, including the multiplication of oil for a widow (2 Kings 4:1-7) and the raising of the Shunammite's son (2 Kings 4:32-37), demonstrating God's ongoing care and provision for His people.

New Testament Context

The New Testament presents Jesus Christ as the ultimate wonder-worker, whose miracles affirm His divine identity and mission. The Gospels record numerous miracles performed by Jesus, including healing the sick, casting out demons, and raising the dead. One of the most significant miracles is the feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14), where Jesus multiplies five loaves and two fish to feed a multitude, illustrating His compassion and divine provision.

Jesus' miracles are not merely acts of power but are deeply symbolic, pointing to the inbreaking of God's kingdom. In John 2:11 , the turning of water into wine at the wedding in Cana is described as "the first of the signs through which He revealed His glory," indicating that Jesus' miracles are signs that reveal His divine nature and the inauguration of a new covenant.

The apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit, continue the ministry of wonder-working in the early church. The Book of Acts records numerous miracles performed by the apostles, such as Peter healing a lame man at the temple gate (Acts 3:1-10) and Paul raising Eutychus from the dead (Acts 20:9-12). These acts serve to confirm the apostolic message and demonstrate the continued presence of the Holy Spirit in the church.

Theological Significance

Wonder-working in the Bible underscores the reality of God's active involvement in the world. Miracles are not random acts of power but are purposeful, serving to reveal God's character, affirm His messengers, and advance His redemptive plan. They invite faith and obedience, calling individuals to recognize the authority of God and respond to His revelation.

The Bible also warns against false wonder-working, cautioning believers to discern true miracles from deceptive signs performed by false prophets and the Antichrist (Matthew 24:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:9). True wonder-working aligns with God's character and purposes, leading to the glorification of God and the edification of His people.

In summary, wonder-working is a testament to the divine power and presence of God, manifesting His glory and advancing His kingdom purposes throughout biblical history.(a.) Doing wonders or surprising things.

The Order of the Gospels.
... They were confident indeed in their trust in the divine and wonder-working power
which was granted unto them by the Saviour, but they did not know how, nor did ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xxiv the order of the.htm

Letters to Olympias.
... themselves to be cast into the fire; and then, when all they who beheld despaired
of their rescue, suddenly, and beyond all hope, the wonder-working power of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chrysostom/on the priesthood/letters to olympias.htm

God's Providence
... providence in my preaching, and I thought it quite as well to devote a whole sermon
to explain what I believe are God's great wonder-working processes which we ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 54 1908/gods providence.htm

The Shadow of Disappointment.
... The divine, wonderworking, risen Jesus, is the necessary counterpart of the amazed,
believing, erring hoping, desponding, rejoicing fishermen and publicans. ...
/.../chapin/the crown of thorns/the shadow of disappointment.htm

Thou Shalt not Steal.
... after him, and money wait on his favor, and let him love none of these things nor
set his heart on them; then he is the true, generous, wonderworking, happy man ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/luther/a treatise on good works/thou shalt not steal.htm

Strong Faith in a Faithful God
... If God makes a spider spin a web to save his servant's life, David traces his
deliverance not to the spider, but to the wonder-working Jehovah, and he saith ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 61 1915/strong faith in a faithful.htm

Introduction
... "Spiritual" has always been one of these wonder-working words. St. Paul, in Christian
circles, was the first to give the word its unique value. ...
/.../jones/spiritual reformers in the 16th and 17th centuries/introduction.htm

Preface.
... at any strange apparition, the best remedy is to lead him up to it; and when men
have been accustomed to pay homage to some wonder-working image, the most ...
//christianbookshelf.org/neander/light in the dark places/preface.htm

His Schools and Schoolmasters.
... We can believe in the wonder-working power of God on the distant horizon of the
past, or on the equally distant horizon of the future; but that He should have ...
/.../meyer/john the baptist/iii his schools and schoolmasters.htm

The Sun Rising Upon a Dark World
... angels can only take part in the chorus, and admire and adore, when they behold
the brightest displays of the glory of the wonder-working God, manifested in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon viii the sun rising.htm

Wonder-working (4 Occurrences)
Wonder-working. Wonder-workers, Wonder-working. Wondrous . Noah Webster's
Dictionary ... Multi-Version Concordance Wonder-working (4 Occurrences). ...
/w/wonder-working.htm - 7k

Wonder-workers (16 Occurrences)
Wonder-workers. Wonder-worker, Wonder-workers. Wonder-working . Multi-Version
Concordance ... (BBE). Wonder-worker, Wonder-workers. Wonder-working . ...
/w/wonder-workers.htm - 12k

Wondrous (41 Occurrences)

/w/wondrous.htm - 18k

Naaman (19 Occurrences)
... Afflicted with leprosy, he heard from a Hebrew slave-maid in his household
of the wonder-working powers of an Israelite prophet. ...
/n/naaman.htm - 15k

Users (9 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 12:28 And God has put some in the church, first, Apostles; second,
prophets; third, teachers; then those with wonder-working powers, then those ...
/u/users.htm - 9k

Guides (24 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 12:28 And God has put some in the church, first, Apostles; second,
prophets; third, teachers; then those with wonder-working powers, then those ...
/g/guides.htm - 13k

Inspire (3 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 47:12 Go on now with your secret arts, and all your wonder-working, to which
you have given yourself up from your earliest days; it may be that they ...
/i/inspire.htm - 8k

Miraculous (54 Occurrences)
... natural causes. 2. (a.) Supernatural; wonderful. 3. (a.) Wonder-working.
Multi-Version Concordance Miraculous (54 Occurrences). Matthew ...
/m/miraculous.htm - 20k

Powers (43 Occurrences)
... Acts 8:11 And they gave attention to him, because for a long time his
wonder-working powers had kept them under his control. (BBE). ...
/p/powers.htm - 20k

Childhood (10 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 47:12 Go on now with your secret arts, and all your wonder-working, to which
you have given yourself up from your earliest days; it may be that they ...
/c/childhood.htm - 10k

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