Biblical Spiritual Gift of Miracles

The biblical spiritual gift of miracles represents one of the most powerful supernatural abilities given by the Holy Spirit to certain believers in the early Christian church. This extraordinary gift enabled individuals to perform supernatural acts that could only be attributed to the power of God, serving as divine confirmation of the gospel message.

Understanding the Gift of Miracles

The spiritual gift of miracles appears in 1 Corinthians 12:10, where different Bible translations call it “miraculous powers,” “the working of miracles,” or simply “miracles.”

Miracles are supernatural events that occur outside the normal bounds of what is natural. By definition, they are rare and extraordinary occurrences that demonstrate God’s power breaking into the physical world. These events cannot be explained by natural causes or human ability alone.

Biblical Examples and Recipients

The New Testament provides several clear examples of the gift of miracles in action. The apostles certainly possessed this gift as they laid the foundation of the early church. Beyond the apostles, other believers also demonstrated miraculous powers, including Stephen and Philip.

Specific examples include the casting out of demons, the striking of Elymas blind, and the raising of Tabitha from the dead. Philip performed signs and miracles in Samaria, where unclean spirits came out of many people and paralyzed and lame individuals were healed. These supernatural demonstrations served to validate the gospel message being preached.

Purpose and Function

The primary purpose of miraculous gifts was to validate the message about Jesus during the early days of the church. Paul specifically mentions that “the things that mark an apostle—signs, wonders and miracles—were done among you with great perseverance.” These supernatural displays served as God’s credentials for His messengers, proving that their message came from divine authority.

The miraculous gifts helped establish the credibility of the gospel in a world where people needed tangible proof of spiritual claims. Jesus Himself was “accredited” by miracles, wonders, and signs, and similarly, the apostles were marked as genuine messengers from God through the miracles they performed.

Relationship to Church Foundation

Some scholars understand the specific gift mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:10 to be unique to the apostles, particularly their power to confer miraculous gifts to others through the laying on of hands. This ability to transfer gifts was something that set the apostles apart from other believers and greatly aided in spreading the gospel everywhere.

The church is described as being “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets.” Since this foundation has been laid once and for all, many believe there is no longer a need for apostles and prophets in the same capacity, and consequently, the miraculous gifts that validated their ministry may no longer be necessary in the same way.

Contemporary Perspective

There exists significant debate among Christians today about whether the gift of miracles continues in its original form. Some believe that with the completion of the Bible, the need for new miraculous validation has ended, since God’s revelation is now complete. Others maintain that God still grants such gifts according to His sovereign will.

However, this debate does not question whether God still performs miracles today. Christians across all perspectives agree that God continues to heal people, work amazing miracles, and perform signs and wonders. The question centers on whether the specific spiritual gift of miracles, as described in the New Testament, continues to operate in the church today in the same manner as it did during the apostolic era.

The gift of miracles served a crucial role in establishing the early church and validating the gospel message. Whether understood as a continuing gift or as having served its foundational purpose, it demonstrates God’s supernatural power working through His people to accomplish His purposes in the world.

References

GotQuestions.org articles on the spiritual gift of miracles and miraculous gifts
1 Corinthians 12:10 and related passages from the English Standard Version
The Gospel Coalition resources on cessationism and miraculous gifts
Acts chapters 6-8 describing miraculous works by Stephen and Philip