The Gift Of Miracles

To another the working

of miracles, to another

prophecy, to another 

discerning of spirits, 

to another different 

(not in original Manuscripts)

kinds of tongues, to

another the interpretation

of tongues.

But one and the same

Spirit works all these

things, distributing 

to each one individually

as He wills.

1Corinthians 12:10-11

     The actual Greek word used in verse 10 in the above Scripture that is translated "miracles" is "δυνάμεων" and has its meaning that of power, or the meaning as of the meaning of languages: "Therefore, if I do not know the meaning (δυνάμιν) of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me" (1Corinthians 14:11). The literal translation is: "If, then, I do not know the power, (meaning) of the sound (the word for languages, glossalia, is not present, the word for sound is) I will be...... In 1Peter 3:22: Ephesians 1:21, the same Greek word used in 1Corinthians 12:10 is translated as power. In Mark 5:30 where the woman with the ailment of blood touch the hem of His garment and was healed, a power (the same word used in the above verses) went out from Him, a miraculous power. Luke 1:35 records the same word for the miraculous power that came upon Mary and she became pregnant with Jesus. With these verses of various uses, and other uses of the word for "power" it is understandable that the translators would understand that Paul was referring to miraculous power in 1Corinthians 12:10. 

     Allow me to define the word "miracle." The word "miracle" is derived from the word "miror", to wonder, that which excites wonder. Therefore the word may be used to designate any extraordinary event that would excite surprise or rouse attention. With this word have indefinite meaning it is not surprising that the writers of Scripture used the word in a very loose sense. Those events that were wonderful, by could not be discovered by natural means, was indicated to be a miracle. Luther says: "conversion is the greatest miracle of all miracles." Every day miracles occur when the Gospel is preached and the truth maintained by the hearers of the Gospel, and is greater as a miracle than any healing or speaking in tongues. The etymology of the word "miracle" nor does the usage of the word lead us to a definite idea of the nature of a miracle, we can attain an idea of a "miracle" only by examining of some confessed miraculous event. 

     The Westminster Confession states: "God, in ordinary providence making use of means, yet is free to work without, above, or against them at pleasure."  Often people are so excited about events that seem to have no answer, and forget that there are events that are due to ordinary operations of second causes, as upheld and guided by God. That is, God has decreed all things, but works often within second causes, working those events to fulfill His purpose. What are some of those events? The process of nature, the growth of plants and animals, the orderly movement of stars and planets, etc., even such unusual events; i.e., earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, wars that have been agitated within human societies. There are those events that are caused by the Holy Spirit when He works on the hearts of men, such as regeneration, sanctification, spiritual illumination, etc. Then there are events that do not belong to either of the above two classes of events that have distinguishing characteristics: First of all they take place in the external world, such as being within the sphere of the observation of the senses, and that they are cause simply by the volition of god, with the intervention of any subordinate cause. To this class of events belong such as the creation, in which all the events of second causes could not have intervened to cause it to occur. Therefore, a miracle, may be defined to be an event, in the external world, brought about by the immediate efficiency, or simple volition of God. 

     When we examine miracles as recorded in Scripture we will establish the correctness of this definition. Example: The raising of Lazarus from the dead. This event occurred in the outward world, an event seen and could be verified by the testimony of the senses. This event did not occur either in whole or in part by any efficiency of natural causes. This event was due to the simple word, or volition, or immediate agency of God. Other similar events: i.e., the daughter of the ruler of the synagogue, the healing of lepers, Jesus walking on water, the multiplication of the fishes and loaves of bread, the fact that Jesus calmed the winds and sea simply by a command; there is no cooperation of physical causes for there are not just ignored, but the by the clearest of intimation, denied.

     There are those who will object to the above definition and I will examine those objections in the next blog.

For thus says the LORD,

     who created the heavens,

who is God, who formed 

     the earth and made it,

who established it, who

    did not create it in vain,

who formed it to be inhabited:

     "I am the LORD, and there

is no other."

                               Isaiah 45:18

Recall To Your Mind: God

Richard L. Crumb