Miracles, Tongues, and Healings

by Chris Simmons

There are a variety of spiritual gifts described in the New Testament. We read in I Corinthians 12:7-10, “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.” The previous article established the purpose for and the temporary nature for these spiritual gifts. That is, they existed until the “perfect” and completed revelation came (cf. I Corinthians 13:9-10; James 1:25). Despite this truth, many today continue in their desire to want to believe that various spiritual gifts continue to exist. In particular many want to believe in continuance of miracles, tongues, and healings. We need to accurately understand what the Holy Spirit meant by these terms and compare the truth to what is claimed to take place by people today.

The word “miracles” comes from the Greek word dunamis which simply means “force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself)” Strong’s Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. This word is most often translated in the New Testament as “mighty works,” “power,” “strength,” or “miracles” and is where we get our English word “dynamite.” Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words defines the word “miracles” as a word “… used of works of a supernatural origin and character, such as could not be produced by natural agents and means.” Thus we understand that miracles represent specific exhibitions of God’s power that are outside of the scope of “natural agents and means.” Many today refer to a loved one’s recovery from an illness or disease as a “miracle,” when in fact what took place was simply the body’s natural means to heal or the response of the body to medicine or other medical treatments. Biblical miracles were indisputably beyond the scope of “natural agents and means.” Notice the miracle performed upon the lame man in Acts 3:6-8. The one who could not formerly walk was not now staggering, limping, or relying upon instruments such as a cane, but rather was observed “walking and leaping.” The miracle was convincing, conclusive, and undeniable. Those who opposed the teaching the apostles did could do or say nothing about the miracle that took place, “the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it” (Acts 4:16). Such undeniable, conclusive, and complete miracles truly indicated during the first century that such came from God (cf. John 9:33).

Extremely popular today is the idea that people can still speak in tongues. But what exactly was the spiritual gift of “various kinds of tongues” and how does that differ from what is claimed to be performed today? First look to Acts 2:4-11, “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because they were each one hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and marveled, saying, ‘Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs – we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.’” Notice how that when the Holy Spirit gave the apostles the ability to “speak with other tongues,” that these tongues represented real discernible languages that those present could hear with understanding. Speaking in tongues was never demonstrated to be babbling, jabbering, or carrying on in indiscernible language.

Additionally, specific directions were given to those who were blessed with this spiritual gift in the New Testament in the context of I Corinthians 14:6-29. God imposed strict guidelines upon the exercising of the gift of speaking in tongues. It should be done by two or three at the most and done “in turn” (verse 27). The tongues spoken were to be real, discernible, and clear languages as we read in Acts 2:11 and also in I Corinthians 14:9-11. Also, there was to be one who can interpret and if there wasn’t, the one with the ability to speak in tongues was to “keep silent in the church” (verse 28).

The Holy Spirit in I Corinthians chapter 14 sets the purpose of these stipulations concerning tongues. One, so that “unbelievers” would not deem those with such a gift to be “mad” (verse 23). Two, so that God is glorified and worship is directed towards Him (verses 24-25). Third, so the “other man,” and all in the church would be edified and grow (verses 5, 12, 17, 26).

Regarding miraculous healing in the New Testament, there are several things we need to understand. As noted earlier from the lame man who was healed in Acts chapter 3, the miraculous healing was complete and not a minor improvement in the person’s physical condition. It was instantaneous, as we read of the woman healed of a “hemorrhage” that “could not be healed by anyone” else who later told others “how she had been immediately healed” (Luke 8:44, 47). Miraculous healing was not limited to specific conditions but in fact included “every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people” (Matthew 4:23). Miraculous healing in the scriptures was not limited to certain people but in fact, God’s power was able to heal “all who were ill” (Matthew 8:16). Thus, Jesus healed regardless of whether they had faith in Him, as exemplified by the slave of the High Priest in Luke 22:51 who had his ear healed by Jesus. Jesus healed even when it was not even known who healed the person, such as with man who was healed in John 5:1ff who “did not know who it was” who healed him (verse 13). These characteristics of miraculous healing are not true of those who purport or claim to do such today.

The purpose for miracles, tongues, and healings was long ago fulfilled when God’s word had been fully revealed to man. Let us therefore love, treasure, and diligently study that word which was so overwhelmingly attested and confirmed through such indisputable signs and wonders and miracles.