Miracles

[Smith] A miracle may be defined to be a plain and manifest exercise by a man, or by God at the call of a man, of those powers which belong only to the Creator and Lord of nature; and this for the declared object of attesting that a divine mission is given to that man. It is not, therefore, the wonder, the exception to common experience, that constitutes the miracle, as is assumed both in the popular use of the word and by most objectors against miracles. No phenomenon in nature, however unusual, no event in the course of God’s providence, however unexpected, is a miracle unless it can be traced to the agency of man (including prayer under the term agency), and unless it be put forth as a proof of divine mission. Prodigies and special providences are not miracles. (A miracle is not a violation of the laws of nature. It is God’s acting upon nature in a degree far beyond our powers, but the same king of act as our wills are continually exerting upon nature. We do not in lifting a stone interfere with any law of nature, but exert a higher force among the laws. Prof. Tyndall says that “science does assert that without a disturbance of natural law quite as serious as the stoppage of an eclipse, or the rolling of the St. Lawrence up the falls of Niagara, no act of humiliation, individual or nation, could call one shower from heaven.” And yet men by firing cannon during battle can cause a shower: does that cause such a commotion among the laws of nature? The exertion of a will upon the laws does not make a disturbance of natural law; and a miracle is simply the exertion of God’s will upon nature.—ED.) Again, the term “nature” suggests to many persons the idea of a great system of things endowed with powers and forces of its own—a sort of machine, set a-going originally by a first cause, but continuing its motions of itself. Hence we are apt to imagine that a change in the motion or operation of any part of it by God would produce the same disturbance of the other parts as such a change would be likely to produce in them if made by us or by any other natural agent. But if the motions and operations of material things be produced really by the divine will, then his choosing to change, for a special purpose, the ordinary motion of one part does not necessarily or probably imply his choosing to change the ordinary motions of other parts in a way not at all requisite for the accomplishment of that special purpose. It is as easy for him to continue the ordinary course of the rest, with the change of one part, as of all the phenomena without any change at all. Thus, though the stoppage of the motion of the earth in the ordinary course of nature would be attended with terrible convulsions, the stoppage of the earth miraculously, for a special purpose to be served by that only, would not of itself be followed by any such consequences. (Indeed, by the action of gravitation it could be stopped, as a stone thrown up is stopped, in less than two minutes, and yet so gently as not to stir the smallest feather or mote on its surface.—ED.) From the same conception of nature as a machine, we are apt to think of interferences with the ordinary course of nature as implying some imperfection in it. But it is manifest that this is a false analogy; for the reason why machines are made is to save us trouble; and, therefore, they are more perfect in proportion as they answer this purpose. But no one can seriously imagine that the universe is a machine for the purpose of saving trouble to the Almighty. Again, when miracles are described as “interferences with the law of nature,” this description makes them appear improbable to many minds, from their not sufficiently considering that the laws of nature interfere with one another, and that we cannot get rid of “interferences” upon any hypothesis consistent with experience. The circumstances of the Christian miracles are utterly unlike those of any pretended instances of magical wonders. This difference consists in— (1) The greatness, number, completeness and publicity of the miracles. (2) In the character of the miracles. They were all beneficial, helpful, instructive, and worthy of God as their author. (3) The natural beneficial tendency of the doctrine they attested. (4) The connection of them with a whole scheme of revelation extending from the origin of the human race to the time of Christ. [Nave] –CATALOGUE OF .Creation of the world Ge 1 .The great flood Ge 7 ; 8 .The confusion of languages Ge 11:1-9 .The fire on Abraham’s sacrifice Ge 15:17 .The conception of Isaac Ge 17:17 ; 18:12 ; 21:2 .The destruction of Sodom Ge 19 .Lot’s wife turned into a pillar of salt Ge 19:26 .The closing of the wombs of Abimelech’s household Ge 20:17 , 18 .The opening of Hagar’s eyes Ge 21:19 .The conception of Jacob and Esau Ge 25:21 .The opening of Rachel’s womb Ge 30:22 .The flaming bush Ex 3:2 .The transformation of Moses’ rod into a serpent Ex 4:3 , 4 , 30 ; 7:10 , 12 .Moses’ leprosy Ex 4:6 , 7 , 30 .The plagues in Egypt Nu 16:46-50 .See PLAGUES .The pillar of cloud and fire Ex 13:21 , 22 ; 14:19 , 20 .Passage through the Red Sea Ex 14:22 .The destruction of Pharaoh and his army Ex 14:23-30 .Sweetening the waters of Marah Ex 15:25 .Manna Ex 16:4-31 .Quails Ex 16:13 .The defeat of Amalek Ex 17:9-13 .The transfiguration of the face of Moses Ex 34:29-35 .Water from the rock Ex 17:5 , 7 .Thundering and lightning on Mount Sinai Ex 19:16-20 ; 24:10 , 15-17 ; De 4:33 .Miriam’s leprosy Nu 12:10-15 .Judgment by fire Nu 11:1-3 .The destruction of Korah Nu 16:31-35 ; De 11:6 , 7 .The plague Nu 16:46-50 .Aaron’s rod buds Nu 17:1-9 .Water from the rock in Kadesh Nu 20:8-11 .The scourge of serpents Nu 21:6-9 .The destruction of Nadab and Abihu Le 10:1 , 2 .Balaam’s donkey speaks Nu 22:23-30 .The preservation of Moses De 34:7 .The Jordan River divided Jos 3:14-17 ; 4:16-18 .The fall of Jericho Jos 6:20 .The Midianites destroyed Jud 7:16-22 .Hailstones on the confederated kings Jos 10:11 .The sun and the moon stand still Jos 10:12-14 .Dew on Gideon’s fleece Jud 6:37-40 .Samson’s strength Jud 14:6 ; 16:3 , 29 , 30 .Samson supplied with water Jud 15:19 .The falling of the god Dagon 1Sa 5:1-4 .Even nursing cows return the ark of the covenant (walking away from their calves) 1Sa 6:7-14 .The plague of hemorrhoids on the Philistines 1Sa 5:9-12 ; 6:1-18 .The destruction of the people of Beth-shemesh 1Sa 6:19 , 20 .Thunder 1Sa 12:16-18 .The death of Uzzah 2Sa 6:1-8 .The plague in Israel 1Ch 21:14-26 .Fire on the sacrifices .Of Aaron Le 9:24 .Of Gideon Jud 6:21 .Of Manoah Jud 13:19 , 20 .Of Solomon 2Ch 7:1 .Of Elijah 1Ki 18:38 .Jeroboam’s hand withered 1Ki 13:3-6 .The appearance of blood 2Ki 3:20-22 .The panic of the Syrians 2Ki 7:6 , 7 .Elijah .Is fed by ravens 1Ki 17:6 .Is fed by an angel 1Ki 19:1-8 .Increases the widow’s meal and oil 1Ki 17:9-16 ; Lu 4:26 .Raises the widow’s son 1Ki 17:17-24 .Rain in answer to Elijah’s prayer 1Ki 18:41-45 .Brings fire down upon Ahaziah’s army 2Ki 1:10-12 .Divides the Jordan River 2Ki 2:8 .Is transported to the heavens 2Ki 2:11 .Elisha .Divides the Jordan River 2Ki 2:14 .Sweetens the waters of Jericho 2Ki 2:19-22 .Increases a widow’s supply of oil 2Ki 4:1-7 .Raises the Shunammite woman’s child 2Ki 4:18-37 .Renders the poisoned stew harmless 2Ki 4:38-41 .Feeds one-hundred men 2Ki 4:42-44 .Cures Naaman 2Ki 5:1-19 .Strikes down Gehazi with leprosy 2Ki 5:26 , 27 .Causes the ax to float 2Ki 6:6 .Reveals the counsel of the king of Syria 2Ki 6:12 .Causes the eyes of his servant to be opened 2Ki 6:17 .Strikes the army of the king of Syria with blindness 2Ki 6:18 .The dead man was restored to life 2Ki 13:21 .The destruction of Sennacherib’s army 2Ki 19:35 ; Isa 37:36 .Return of the shadow on the sun dial 2Ki 20:9-11 .Hezekiah’s cure Isa 38:21 .The deliverance .Of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego Da 3:23-27 .Of Daniel Da 6:22 .The sea was calmed when Jonah was thrown into it Jon 1:15 .Jonah in the belly of the great fish Jon 1:17 ; 2:10 .Jonah’s gourd Jon 4:6 , 7 .The conception by Elizabeth Lu 1:18 , 24 , 25 .The incarnation of Jesus Mt 1:18-25 ; Lu 1:26-80 .The appearance of the star over Bethlehem Mt 2:1-9 .The deliverance of Jesus Mt 2:13-23 –OF JESUS, IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER .Water converted into wine Joh 2:1-11 .Heals the nobleman’s son Joh 4:46-54 .The catch of fish Lu 5:1-11 .Heals the demoniac Mr 1:23-26 ; Lu 4:33-36 .Heals Peter’s mother-in-law Mt 8:14-17 ; Mr 1:29-31 ; Lu 4:38 , 39 .Cleanses the leper Mt 8:1-4 ; Mr 1:40-45 ; Lu 5:12-16 .Heals the paralyzed man Mt 9:1-8 ; Mr 2:1-12 ; Lu 5:17-26 .Healing of the immobile man Joh 5:1-16 .Restoring the withered hand Mt 12:9-13 ; Mr 3:1-5 ; Lu 6:6-11 .Restores the centurion’s servant Mt 8:5-13 ; Lu 7:1-10 .Raises the widow’s son to life at the village of Nain Lu 7:11-16 .Heals a demoniac Mt 12:22-37 ; Mr 3:11 ; Lu 11:14 , 15 .Stills the storm Mt 8:23-27 ; 14:32 ; Mr 4:35-41 ; Lu 8:22-25 .Throws demons out of two men of Gadara (Gerasa) Mt 8:28-34 ; Mr 5:1-20 ; Lu 8:26-39 .Raises the daughter of Jairus from the dead Mt 9:18 , 19 , 23-26 ; Mr 5:22-24 , 35-43 ; Lu 8:41 , 42 , 49-56 .Cures the woman with the issue of blood Mt 9:20-22 ; Mr 5:25-34 ; Lu 8:43-48 .Restores two blind men to sight Mt 9:27-31 .Heals a demoniac Mt 9:32 , 33 .Walks upon Lake Galilee Mt 14:22-33 ; Mr 6:45-52 ; Joh 6:16-21 .Heals the daughter of the non-Jewish, Syro-Phoenician woman Mt 15:21-28 ; Mr 7:24-30 .Feeds more than four-thousand people Mt 15:32-39 ; Mr 8:1-9 .Restores the deaf-mute man Mr 7:31-37 .Restores a blind man Mr 8:22-26 .Heals the epileptic boy Mt 17:14-21 ; Mr 9:14-29 ; Lu 9:37-43 .The temple tax money obtained from a fish’s mouth Mt 17:24-27 .Restores ten lepers to wholeness, only one of them returns to thank Jesus Lu 17:11-19 .Opens the eyes of a man born blind Joh 9 .Raises Lazarus from the dead Joh 11:1-46 .Heals the woman with the spirit of infirmity Lu 13:10-17 .Cures a man with dropsy Lu 14:1-6 .Restores sight to two blind men near Jericho Mt 20:29-34 ; Mr 10:46-52 ; Lu 18:35-43 .Condemns a fig tree Mt 21:17-22 ; Mr 11:12-14 , 20-24 .Heals the ear of Malchus Lu 22:49-51 .The second catch of fish Joh 21:6 –OF THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS .By the seventy (the best mss. have “seventy-two”) Lu 10:17-20 .By other disciples Mr 9:39 ; Joh 14:12 .By the apostles Ac 3:6 , 12 , 13 , 16 ; 4:10 , 30 ; 9:34 , 35 ; 16:18 .Peter .Cures the sick Ac 5:15 , 16 .Heals Aeneas Ac 9:34 .Raises Dorcas from the dead Ac 9:40 .Causes the death of Ananias and Sapphira Ac 5:5 , 10 .Peter and John cure a lame man Ac 3:2-11 .Peter and other apostles were delivered from prison Ac 5:19-23 ; 12:6-11 ; 16:26 .Philip carried away by the Spirit Ac 8:39 .Paul .Strikes Elymas (Bar-Jesus) with blindness Ac 13:11 .Heals a cripple Ac 14:10 .Throws out evil spirits, and cures sick people Ac 16:18 ; 19:11 , 12 ; 28:8 , 9 .Raises Eutychus to life Ac 20:9-12 .Shakes a viper off his hand and is unharmed Ac 28:5 .Paul cured of blindness Ac 9:3-6 , 17 , 18 –CONVINCING EFFECT OF Ex 4:28-31 ; 10:7 , 16 , 17 ; 12:31-33 ; 14:25 , 31 ; Jud 6:17-22 , 36-40 ; 7:1 ; Da 3:28 , 29 ; 4:2 , 3 ; Lu 5:4-11 ; Joh 2:11 , 22 , 23 ; 4:48-53 ; 7:31 ; 11:43-45 ; 12:10 ; 20:30 , 31 ; Ac 8:6 ; 9:32-42 ; 13:8-12 ; 19:13-18 ; Ro 15:18 , 19 .See MIRACLES, DESIGN OF, below –DESIGN OF Ex 3:19 , 29 ; 4:2-9 ; 7:5 , 17 ; 8:8-10 , 22 ; 9:14-16 , 29 ; 10:1 , 2 , 16 , 17 ; 11:1 , 7-9 ; 12:29-33 ; 14:4 , 18 , 24 , 25 , 31 ; 16:4-6 ; 19:4 , 5 , 9 ; Nu 14:11 ; 16:28-35 ; 17:1-13 ; De 4:33-35 ; 11:1-8 ; 29:5 , 6 ; Jos 2:9-11 ; 3:10 , 11 ; 4:23 , 24 ; 5:1 ; Jud 2:7 ; 1Sa 6:6-18 ; 12:17 , 18 ; 1Ki 18:24 , 37-39 ; 2Ki 5:14 , 15 ; 2Ch 7:1-3 ; Ps 78:10-32 ; 106:9-12 ; Jer 32:20 ; Da 2:47 ; 3:28 , 29 ; 6:20-27 ; Jon 1:14-16 ; Zec 2:9 ; Mt 4:3 ; 11:3-5 ; Mr 2:9-12 ; 18:42 , 43 ; Joh 2:11 ; 4:48 ; 5:36 ; 9:3 ; 11:4 , 40-42 ; Ac 2:22 ; 3:1-10 ; 4:21 , 22 ; 1Co 1:22 –MIRACULOUS GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT .Foretold Isa 35:4-6 ; Joe 2:28 , 29 .Of different kinds 1Co 12:4-6 .Enumerated 1Co 12:8-10 , 28 .Christ was endued with Mt 12:28 .Poured out on the day of Pentecost in thirty A. D Ac 2:1-4 .Communicated on preaching the gospel Ac 10:44-46 .By laying on of the apostles’ hands Ac 8:17 , 18 ; 19:6 .For the confirmation of the gospel Mr 16:20 ; Ac 14:3 ; Ro 15:19 ; Heb 2:4 .For the edification of the assembly 1Co 12:7 ; 14:12 , 13 .To be sought after 1Co 12:31 ; 14:1 .Temporary nature of 1Co 13:8 .Not to be neglected 1Ti 4:14 ; 2Ti 1:6 .Or despised 1Th 5:20 .Or purchased Ac 8:20 –MISCELLANY OF MINOR SUB-TOPICS .Called .MARVELOUS THINGS Ps 78:12 .MARVELOUS WORKS Isa 29:14 ; Ps 105:5 .SIGNS AND WONDERS Jer 32:21 ; Joh 4:48 ; 2Co 12:12 .Performed .Through the power of God Joh 3:2 ; Ac 14:3 ; 15:12 ; 19:11 .Of the Holy Spirit Mt 12:28 ; Ro 15:19 ; 1Co 12:9 , 10 , 28 , 30 .In the name of Christ Mr 16:17 ; Ac 3:16 ; 4:30 .Faith required in those who perform Mt 17:20 ; 21:21 ; Joh 14:12 ; Ac 3:16 ; 6:8 .Faith required in those for whom they were performed Mt 9:28 ; Mr 9:22-24 ; Ac 14:9 .Power to work, given the disciples Mr 3:14 , 15 ; 16:17 , 18 , 20 .Demanded by unbelievers Mt 12:38 , 39 ; 16:1 ; Lu 11:16 , 29 ; 23:8 .Alleged miracles performed by magicians Ex 7:10-12 , 22 ; 8:7 .Performed by other impostors Mt 7:22 .Performed through the powers of evil 2Th 2:9 ; Re 16:14 .Performed in support of false religions De 13:1 , 2 .Performed by false messiahs Mt 24:24 .Performed by false prophets Mt 24:24 ; Re 19:20 .Performed by the witch of En-dor 1Sa 28:7-14 .Simon the Sorcerer (Magus) Ac 8:9-11 .Not to be regarded De 13:3 .Deceive the ungodly 2Th 2:10-12 ; Re 13:14 ; 19:20 .A mark of apostasy 2Th 2:3 , 9 ; Re 13:13