Jesus the Miracle Worker: A Historical and Theological Study

by Graham H. Twelftree

Publisher:

IVP

, 1999

Overview

Few today doubt that Jesus was viewed by many of his contemporaries as a miracle worker. And many scholars today would agree that Jesus was a healer and an exorcist. But what does this mean? Was Jesus simply a master at relieving psychological distress, a healer of psychosomatic illness, a purveyor of paranormal therapy? What distinguished Jesus from other miracle workers of the ancient world? And what should we make then of his stilling the storm, his walking on the sea, his feeding of the five thousand?

In this study of the miracles of Jesus, Graham Twelftree extensively examines the miracles within each Gospel narrative. He evaluates Jesus’ own understanding of the miracles, weighs the historical reliability of the miracle stories, and considers the question of miracles and the modern mind.

This book maps and explores the borderlands between the affirmations of faith and the conclusions of historical method. Are some miracles simply more open to historical verification than others? With the historical study of Jesus once again capturing the attention of the media and the public, this timely book courageously steps forward to investigate the hard questions.

Jesus the Miracle Worker is a comprehensive and textbook study of the miracles of Jesus, written by a recognized expert in the historical investigation of the exorcisms of Jesus.

With Logos Bible Software, Jesus the Miracle Worker: A Historical and Theological Study is easily searchable. Scripture passages appear on mouse-over, and all cross-references are linked to the other resources in your digital library, making this collection more powerful and easier to access than ever before for scholarly work or personal Bible study. With the advanced search features of Logos Bible Software, you can perform powerful searches by topic or Scripture reference, such as finding every mention of “miracle” or “Jesus.”

Key Features

• Provides a comprehensive introduction to the miracles of Jesus
• Gives a scholarly study of the miracles within the setting of the Gospels
• Investigates issues of historical authenticity of each miracle

Contents

Top Highlights

“Donald Guthrie, a conservative scholar, did not discuss the miracles at all in his one-thousand-page New Testament Theology.” (Page 19)

“A study of the miracles of Jesus is important because in ancient biographical writing there was a deeply-rooted convention that what a person did was an important part of summing up the character of that person. This was more important than any reflection by a commentator.¹⁸ Given that Jesus is portrayed as working many miracles, any understanding of him, or at least how he was remembered in the traditions, must include a substantial discussion of his miracles.” (Pages 19–20)

“He goes on to say that it was the miracles that attracted the crowds to whom Jesus then proclaimed the good news” (Page 19)

“96 percent of the members of the Jesus Seminar agreed that the virgin birth never happened” (Page 17)

“We can in turn expect John to portray evidence of that glory not only” (Page 195)

Praise for the Print Edition

Graham Twelftree’s study makes a significant contribution to what has been called the third quest of the historical Jesus.

—Bruce D. Chilton, Bernard Iddings Bell Professor of Religion, Bard College

The combination of exegetical, historical, and theological perspectives in this single volume makes Jesus the Miracle Worker an especially remarkable work.

—John P. Meir, professor, University of Notre Dame

A masterful study of an important aspect of the ministry of the historical Jesus . . . A significant contribution to the field.

—Craig A. Evans, Payzant Professor of New Testament, Acadia Divinity College

Twelftree . . . masterfully guides his readers through issues of theology and historicity, demonstrating the trustworthiness of most all of the major thrusts of the Gospel miracles (and not a few minor ones). . . . A very welcome and important addition to the ‘third quest.’

—Craig L. Blomberg, distinguished professor of New Testament, Denver Seminary

It is a pleasure and enrichment to read his new work. . . . A very timely and well-conceived book.

—Colin Brown, senior professor of systematic theology, Fuller Theological Seminary

Richly documented and cogently argued, the book will offer a challenge to all recent bids to see Jesus as other than a wonderworking Messiah who announces by his signs the presence of the Kingdom.

—Ralph P. Martin, distinguished scholar in residence, Fuller Theological Seminary

The work of an expert . . . who sees the problem of Jesus the Miracle Worker not only from an exegetical New Testament point of view but also in its relations to philosophical, theological, and scientific problems. . . . A valuable contribution to the better understanding of the Gospels.

—Martin Hengel, professor emeritus of New Testament and early Judaism, University of Tubingen

This fine study of the miracle traditions in the Gospels faces squarely the awkward philosophical and historical questions.

—Graham N. Stanton, Lad Margaret’s Professor Emeritus of Divinity, University of Cambridge

Product Details

• Title: Jesus the Miracle Worker: A Historical and Theological Study
• Author: Graham H. Twelftree
• Publisher: IVP
• Publication Date: 1999
• Pages: 470

About Graham H. Twelftree

Graham H. Twelftree (Ph.D., University of Nottingham) is Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He is the author of numerous books, including Christ Triumphant and Jesus the Exorcist.