The Miracles of Christ (Limited Classical Reprint Library)

The miracles recorded in the Bible, and particularly those recounted on the pages of the New Testament, have posed problems for rationalistic skeptics as well as reverent students of Scripture. In studying the miracles of the New Testament, it is important for us to realize that they do not appear on the page of Scripture randomly, or without assignable reason. They belong to periods of God's progressive revelation and appear only when God is speaking to His people through His accredited messengers (cf. John 5:36). They, therefore, become a means whereby He declares His gracious purposes to His people. The challenge before us as we study the New Testament is twofold: first, to acknowledge and defend the integrity of the biblical record; and second, to understand what lesson is being taught by means of each miracle. The former requires a diligent study of the original text, whereas the latter necessitates an acute awareness of the theme and purpose of each biblical writer. These lectures [originally delivered in such form on the Ely Foundation at Union Theological Seminary in New York] provide a vigorous, scholarly apologetic aimed at assessing the historical interpretative problems, and of providing, wherever possible, a suitable and satisfactory solution. Imbedded in this study is also the question, What did the Lord Jesus desire to communicate to either the nation or His auditors or His disciples, by each miracle? While Glasgow professor Bruce's treatment is avowedly to defend the biblical record, this does not mean that exegesis is ignored. As always, this respected academician's handling of the evidence is grounded in a thorough understanding of the original text. [From the Foreword]