“while God confirmed their witness with signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will” (Hebrews 2:4 NET).
We can find a brief but useful definition of a “miracle” in the words of the following commentary: “Miracles were any displays of supernatural power which contravened the laws of nature. The purpose of all these miracles was to attest to the truth of the gospel, especially to the Jewish people, who traditionally asked for some sign before they would believe.” (1)
A genuine miracle involves a God-ordained suspension of the laws that govern the course of nature. In other words, a miracle represents an act of God that overrides the established patterns that normally exist within our natural world. Scholar and author Norman Geisler summarizes this idea by saying, “In brief, a miracle is a divine intervention into the natural world. It is a supernatural exception to the regular course of the world that would not have occurred otherwise.” (2)
Dr. Geisler continues with the following observations…
“In the Bible’s pattern, a miracle has several dimensions:
- First, miracles have an unusual character. It is an out-of-the-ordinary event in contrast to the regular pattern of events in the natural world. As a ‘wonder’ it attracts attention by its uniqueness. A burning bush that is not consumed, fire from heaven, and a person strolling on water are not normal occurrences. Hence, they draw the interest of observers.
- Second, miracles have a theological dimension. A miracle is an act of God that presupposes a God who acts. The view that a God beyond the universe created it, controls it, and can interfere in it is theism.
- Third, miracles have a moral dimension. They bring glory to God by manifesting his moral character. Miracles are visible acts that reflect the invisible nature of God. No true miracle, then, is evil, because God is good. Miracles by nature aim to produce and/or promote good.
- Fourth, miracles have a doctrinal dimension. Miracles in the Bible are connected directly or indirectly with ‘truth claims’ They are ways to tell a true prophet from a false prophet (Deut. 18:22). They confirm the truth of God through the servant of God (Heb. 2:3–4). Message and miracle go hand-in-hand.
- Fifth, miracles have a teleological dimension. Unlike magic, they are never performed to entertain (see Luke 23:8). Miracles have the distinctive purpose to glorify the Creator and to provide evidence for people to believe by accrediting the message of God through the prophet of God.” (3)
(1) William Macdonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary Edited by Arthur Farstad Thomas Nelson Publishers p.2161
(2) Norman Geisler Miracles and the Modern Mind: A Defense of Biblical Miracles [pg.14]
(3) Geisler, N. L. (1999). Miracle. Baker encyclopedia of Christian apologetics (p. 451). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.