Historical View Of The Biblical Miracles example essay topic

Miracles The first issue is to try and define what a miracle is. A miracle is hard to define, especially today. Miracles are a rarity in today's world. The technical definition of a miracle, is a kind of supernatural or extremely unusual event. In a biblical sense, a miracle is a special act of God in the world; a supernatural interference into nature; a special divine interaction. As Christians, the biblical definition is what we put our faith in.

Now we need to know the history of miracles and if they really exist in today's world. Biblical miracles claim to be historical events. If they are not historical, then the foundation of Christianity is false. Some theologians and others think that since miracles such as the virgin birth, raising the dead and walking on the water, do not occur today, then these events cannot be known to have happened in history. This means that biblical miracles are historically unknowable.

"In response, it has been shown that this argument engages in special pleading and begging the question in favor of naturalism" (Geisler 1992: 82). As Christians we believe in the historical view of the biblical miracles. Christians believe that the Bible is God's revelation of His involvement int he history of the world. "When God acts in history, He leaves behind His fingerprints'. By examining the biblical record we can discover those distinctive characteristics of God's imprint" (Geiser 1988: 24). Raising of the dead is an event that shows the power of God.

The most compelling act recorded in the Bible is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. This is the foundation of Christianity and our relation to God (Romans 10: 9-10). The Bible has several other instances in 1 Kings 17: 22, John 11: 43-44, 2 Kings 4: 33-34, and Matthew 27: 52. These miracles show that God has power over life and death. The demonstration of this supernatural power is one aspect of the fingerprint of God. Another mar of the supernatural is power over nature, excluding humans.

The accounts of Moses and Jesus show the power of God. The power of healing is a topic of today. Although in order to be the same as the biblical miracles, they will have to include all kinds of diseases. God has power over all kinds of diseases.

Some of the basic characteristics that help us recognize God's fingerprints are: miracles are always successful; miracles are immediate; miracles have no relapses; and miracles give confirmation of God's messenger. Ancient history is based on documents, witnesses and on firsthand information. The New Testament, as a historical document, is of quality. There are more manuscript copies of an earlier date and better quality then any other book of antiquity. There are also witnesses that are more capable and honest then in any other event of the ancient world. We know that they happened in history, but do they happen today in the modern world Modern scientists object to miracles because they believe they are events that only happen once and science deals only with things that happen regularly.

Some contradict themselves because some believe in the Big Bang theory, which only happened once. All of the scientists believe in some form of evolution which only happened once. Also many scientists believe that the supernatural has no place in science. The scientific evidence points to a supernatural beginning of the world. If there is a supernatural cause, then events of the supernatural are possible. If God exists, then the miracle of creation has already been done, to which scientific evidence points.

If God exists, then other miracles are possible. C.S. Lewis, the former atheist, put it this way: "If we admit God, must we admit Miracles Indeed, you have no security against it. That is the bargain" (Lewis in Geisler 1988: 128). God is performing thousands of miracles through people who are experiencing the new creation. "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5: 17). Creation is the greatest miracle of all and the Bible makes a comparison of salvation to creation (2 Corinthians 4: 6).

Miraculous conversions happen everyday, all over the world. God also answers prayer and heals the sick in many ways. God heals through the bodily processes He has created, he heals by inspiring good attitudes in us, He heals through providing our health and intervenes in answer to prayer. Miracles have not been proved to be impossible or incredible. They have not been shown as unscientific or unidentifiable. Biblical miracles are not mythological but historical.

Miracles cannot be said as nonessential to Christianity nor undefinable. Although miracles are unusual, they are not anti natural. "For if God exists, then miracles are possible because of His control over the world, and they are definable in terms of His character manifest in the world" (Geiser 1982: 135). Miracles are identifiable in a theistic universe, the Bible provides us with the characteristics of identifying a miracle, and the resurrection of Christ have these characteristics. Miracles are possible and actual.