Wonderen in de Bijbel

Samenvatting

Miracles in the Bible are not unnatural. Rather, they are singular events or stories about singular events which make people wonder or evoke reactions. Some of these events are historical such as the exodus of Israel from Egypt. Others, such as Gods descent on Mount Sinai remain beyond normal history, or they relate a divine act which initiates history, or put it into a new perspective, such as the narrative about creation and the birth and resurrection of Jesus. These do not represent normal historical discourse. Still others, the parables and Jonah, correct human thoughts and attitudes. When reflecting on miracles in the Bible, therefore, it is important to take into account the literary genre and the character of events which are told. It is not sufficient or often not even possible to answer the question: ‘Did it really happen or not?’ The biblical miracle stories tell us about God and Jesus in whom He manifested himself, both of which are beyond human comprehension and rationality, as is the Resurrection.