Miracles

A miracle in Scripture denotes an extraordinary act of power by which God intervenes directly and visibly in the natural order to accomplish his purposes — an act that transcends ordinary natural causation and serves as a sign of his presence and authority. The OT uses several terms: ot (sign), mofet (wonder), niflaot (marvels). The NT uses semeion (sign), teras (wonder), and dynamis (power). The great clusters of miracles occur at decisive moments of redemptive history: the Exodus plagues and wilderness journey (Exod. 7–17), Elijah and Elisha's ministries (1 Kings 17–2 Kings 6), and supremely the ministry of Jesus and the apostolic age. Jesus's miracles — healing disease, exorcising demons, raising the dead, calming storms, multiplying loaves — are integral to his identity as the Christ and serve as signs that the kingdom of God has arrived (Matt. 12:28; Luke 11:20). John calls them "signs" revealing Christ's glory (John 2:11; 20:30–31). Paul's letters testify to miracles in the apostolic churches (1 Cor. 12:10; Gal. 3:5), while Hebrews 2:3–4 grounds their significance as God's testimony to the message of salvation.