Schooling and reforming Anglobaptacostatractaholics: Words From Mr. (Rev. Dr. Prof.) Francis Nigel Lee.
Reforming the unreformed, Anglicanobaptacostalistictract
We regret that some Hebrew and Greeks words did not transfer. We will insert [ ] to indicate the loss in transmission, but now, for Mr. Lee.
"Thomas Aquinas said: 3 "The name 'mir-acle' is taken from 'ad-mir-e.'" Compare too the function of the root of our word 'mir-acle' -- in everyday English words like 'ad-mir-e' and 'mir-ador' and 'mir-ror' etc. A 'miracle' is thus, very linguistically speaking, simply something seen which arouses man's ad-mir-ation.
"However, in this present work of ours we shall use the word in its normal theological sense—viz., a supranatural act of God (whether humanly admitted to be so or not) which changes something within the physical world in a humanly inexplicable manner to the glory of God in Christ. Our work consists of seven parts.
"First, as above, we shall attempt to define miracles. A survey of past definitions offered, will soon show just how difficult such a task is.
"Second, we shall trace the history of miracles. That will range from their very first inception until their suspension at the inscripturation of the completed Bible -- till their next reoccurrence at Christ's final coming, miraculously to consummate the ages at the very end of world history.
"Third, we shall strongly argue that the apostolic offices and miraculous gifts and also all miracles whatsoever ceased during the apostolic age. By this, we mean miracles that last occurred before the death of the last Apostle who had personally seen the risen and ascended Christ as the 'Absolute Miracle.'
"Fourth, we shall show that there is no patristic evidence whatsoever which establishes that miracles indeed continued during the post-apostolic age(s). Properly interpreted, all patristic references to miracles only very clearly relate to occurrences during the apostolic age (or even earlier)—and not to occurrences during the subsequent patristic age.
"Fifth, we shall demonstrate that much patristic and subsequent evidence affirms that all such miracles indeed ceased. They did so at the very completion of the inscripturation of the Bible.
"Sixth, we shall discuss (real and imagined) still-continuing deceptions. Together with this, we shall also take a very good look at Satan's super-natural yet non-miraculous 'lying wonders' or pseudo-miracles.
"Finally (seventh), we shall summarize our findings. There, our conclusion will be that while pseudo-miracles in varying degrees indeed keep recurring till the end of world history--all true miracles terminated at the inscripturation of the last book in the Holy Bible. Indeed, miracles will not recur again -- till the miraculous return of Jesus on the clouds of Heaven, to raise the dead and to meet His saints in the air.
"PART I: WHAT ARE TRUE MIRACLES?
"What are true miracles? Are they simply wonderful signs? Is God alone wonderful? Did miracles occur at creation? Are unusual events: 'miracles'? Are 'lying wonders' miracles, or even 'wonders' at all? What is the true character of miracles? Does Scripture give any definition of them?
"To answer the above questions, after the Holy Bible we also need to study the views of those who have carefully scrutinized the teachings of the Holy Bible on these questions. Here we shall present the in-depth views about miracles of: Augustine; Albert the Great; Thomas Aquinas; Luther; Calvin; the Westminster Standards; John Owen; Voetius; the two Hodges; Godet; Shedd; Dabney; Thornwell; Warfield; Dr. Abraham Kuyper Sr.; Geesink; Bavinck; Hepp; Machen; Honig; Berkhof; Professor John Murray (of Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia); Berkouwer; Buswell; Hoeksema; Potgieter; Heyns; Boice; Erickson; Van Genderen; Velema; Morton H. Smith; Wayne Grudem; and Francis Nigel Lee.
"The Biblical words translated 'miracles' and 'wonders'
"Study of the Biblical use of the word "miracle" shows this phrase is often used to translate various Biblical words. In the Old Testament Hebrew, there is the word.
(Exodus 7:9; Deuteronomy 29:3; First Kings 13:35; Second Chronicles 32:24; etc.). Other words used there include: (Numbers 14:22 & Deuteronomy 11:3) and (Exodus
34:10 cf. Judges 6:13).
"In the New Testament Greek, there is the word dunamis. Mark 9:39; Acts 2:22; 8:13; 19:11; First Corinthians 12:10,28-29; Galatians 3:5; Hebrews 2:4. Then there is also the word semion. Luke 23:8; John 2:11,23; 3:2; 4:54; 6:2,14,26; 7:31; 9:16; 10:41,47; 12:18,37; Acts 4:16,22; 6:8; 8:6; 15:12.
"Means: 'miracle'; 'wonder'; 'sign'; or 'type.' Means 'singular' or 'amazing' or 'marvellous.' [Ed. Again, some of the Greek and Hebrew terms did not transfer. Ergo, we will use [ ] at places that are not clear. We refer the reader to the URL above for further information] [ ] simply means 'sign' (whether miraculous or not). The word dunamis essentially means 'power.' Indeed, the word semeion merely means 'sign.' Not just the word 'miracle' (as above) but even the word 'wonder' is similarly used, in many cases, to translate these same Hebrew or Greek words. For 'wonder' translates the word[ ] in: Exodus 4:21 & 7:3 & 11:9,10 & 34:10f; Deuteronomy 4:32-34 & 6:22 & 7:19 & 13:12 & 26:8 & 28:46 & 34:11; First Chronicles 16:12; Second Chronicles 32:31; Nehemiah 9:10; Psalms 78:17-32, 43 & 105:27 & 106:22f & 135:9; and Jeremiah 32:20-21.
"The same word 'wonder' translates the word [ ]—in Exodus 3:20 & 15:10-12; Joshua 3:5; Judges 13:19f; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalms 77:11-14 & 78:4,11f & 106:1f & 136:4f and Micah 7:15. It so renders also the word [ ] -- a 'miracle' or a 'wonder' -- in Daniel 4:2-3 & 6:27
"On the other hand, the word 'wonder' is not used to translate [ ] or 'sign'). Yet it does sometimes translate semion (in Revelation 12:1-3) and 'great [pseudo-]wonders' of Satanic deceit (in Revelation 13:13).
"The word 'wonder' is used to translate also teras (a 'prodigy'). At Matthew 24:24 and Mark 13:22, it means false and anti-christian 'signs and wonders.' Yet elsewhere, it is also used to describe true miracles -- viz. at John 4:38f; Acts 2:19-22,43f & 4:30 & 5:12f & 6:8 & 7:36 & 14:3 & 15:12; Romans 15:19; Second Corinthians 12:12; and Hebrews 2:4.
"There are also other words in the Holy Bible sometimes used to describe the concept of miracle. Such word include: 1, [ ] means: 'a new thing' or 'a new creation.' It is used in Scripture but once (Numbers 16:30). There, however, it clearly refers to a miracle. The word nip-pel [ ] 'amazing things' -- from [ ](as above) -- clearly carries the same meaning of 'newness' in Exodus 34. Indeed -- compare too the similar usages of [ ] at Genesis 1:1 & Jeremiah 31:22.
"For ktisis and its derivatives, see later below. This clearly seems to be the New Testament equivalent of [ ] ('a new creation'), and is to be addressed in our next section (2 below). [ ] (or 'mighty power') is sometimes used to describe a miracle. See its usage in Psalms 106:2-8 & 145:4-12 & 150:2. Ma'assooth simply means 'works.' This is so seen in Psalms 8:6 & 19:1, compare 1:14f.
God willing, more to follow.
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