How Did Jesus Attest Himself? The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me…” John 10:24, 25 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. John 14:11

Miracles Has anyone here witnessed a miracle? What different kinds of things do we call miracles?

Miracles: Proof or Problem? Biblical writers and early Christians saw miracles as proofs of their faith.

Miracles: Proof or Problem? “I cannot record all the miracles I know, and doubtless several of our adherents, when they read what I have narrated, will regret that I have omitted many which they, as well as I, certainly know. Even now I beg these persons to excuse me and to consider how long it would take me to relate all those miracles, which the necessity of finishing the work I have undertaken forces me to omit. . . . Even now, therefore, many miracles are wrought, the same God who wrought those we read of [in the Bible is] still performing them, by whom he will and as he will” Augustine, City of God

Miracles: Proof or Problem? Biblical writers and early Christians saw miracles as proofs of their faith. Modern Christians (and skeptics) see miracles as a problem for faith. What can we say about the miraculous?

What Is a Miracle? A sign A violation of the laws of nature An event with no scientific explanation An act of God A coincidence with spiritual significance An event operating by a higher law Everything is a miracle

What the Bible Calls Miracles The word “miracle” (Latin miraculum) does not appear in Scripture. “Signs and wonders” – 16 times in NT semeia et tereta Acts 2:22 adds dunamis “act of power” Erga – “works” Where do the biblical words for miracles point? Events that are significant for faith Events that cause wonder

A Definition of a Miracle An event that is: A spiritually significant sign Beyond the power of natural agents (physically impossible) Done by God

Consider the Definition Does it fit biblical miracles? Miracles are not violations of the laws of nature. Not everything is a miracle. Coincidences are not miracles. Miracles are possible if God exists.

Problems for Miracles God doesn’t play by His own rules. Miracles are physically impossible, thus “scientifically” impossible. We believe in miracles on testimony, which can be doubted. Miracles cast doubt on the historical veracity of Scripture.

Miracles and Science It is impossible to use electric light and the wireless and to avail ourselves of modern medical and surgical discoveries, and at the same time to believe in the New Testament world of spirits and miracles. --Rudolf Bultmann

Miracles and Science Has science shown that miracles don’t happen? Do laws of nature exclude miracles? Does the method of science (investigation of causes) exclude belief in miracles? Science as science does not preclude miracles—only beliefs about science.

Miracles and Evidence …no testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle unless the testimony be of such a kind that its falsehood would be more miraculous than the fact which it endeavors to establish… --David Hume

Hume on Miracles Laws of nature are established by a uniform human experience over long periods—the whole human race testifies to it. Any miracle has only the testimony of a relatively few people in its favor. So it is always more likely that those who testify to a miracle are lying or deceived than that a law of nature has been broken.

Miracles and Evidence If we follow Hume’s rule, how could we believe in any unique event? There is a kind of circularity going on—Hume’s rule boils down to an assertion that miracles do not happen. What kind of evidence might be given for Hume’s rule?

Miracles Today Why aren’t miracles more frequent? Cessationism Pentecostalism Miracles occur, but are rare and reserved to times of God’s special activity. Even in Scripture Missionary contexts

Miracles Today Praying for miracles Assessing miracle claims For acts of God other than healing? For things that have already happened? For what we feel to be impossible? Assessing miracle claims From other Christians? From other faiths? Discernment about what we call a “miracle”

Works of Providence God’s arrangement of events Based on foreknowledge Of our needs Of our prayers Providential coincidences Aren’t necessarily miracles Yet we rightly thank God for them Reserve “miracle” for that which is truly beyond the power of nature

Miracles Today Biblical miracles are primary. Accept present-day miracles with humility. Not being “credulous” people. The Incredulity of Father Brown, Chesterton “When a man stops believing in God, he’ll believe in anything.”