1. The Story-Line of Christian Miracle Rhetorolect LESSON 6: MIRACLE RHETOROLECT IN NEW TESTAMENT LETTERS This lesson focuses on references to miracles in the letters of Paul and the Epistle of James in the New Testament.  Click to read more about Christian miracle rhetorolect in the letters of Paul and James.

2. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: Authentic (Undisputed) Letters of Paul and the Epistle of James There are references to miracles, but no stories of healing or other miracles, in five of the authentic (undisputed) Letters of Paul (1 Thessalonians; 1 Corinthians; 2 Corinthians; Galatians; Romans). In addition, there are specific guidelines for community healing in the Epistle of James.  Click to read more about Christian miracle rhetorolect in New Testament letters.

3. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: The “Disputed” Letters of Paul There are no references to miracles in the “disputed” letters of Paul (the deutero-Pauline letters). This means there are no references to miracles in the Pastoral Letters attributed to Paul (1-2 Timothy; Titus). Also, there are no references to miracles in 2 Thessalonians; Ephesians; Colossians.  Click to read about Christian miracle rhetorolect in 1 Thessalonians.

4. 1 THESSALONIANS CONTAINS ONE REFERENCE THAT APPEARS TO BE EARLY CHRISTIAN MIRACLE RHETOROLECT  Click for next slide.

5. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect in Paul: 1 Thessalonians 1:5 1 Thessalonians 1:4 We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen, 1:5 and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we showed oursleves to be among you for your sake. [“IN POWER” SUGGESTS THE PRESENCE OF MIRACLE RHETOROLECT]  Click for Christian miracle rhetorolect in 1 Corinthians.

6. 1 CORINTHIANS CONTAINS REFERENCES TO POWER, HEALINGS, AND MIRACLES AS CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCES  Click for next slide.

7. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect in Paul: 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 1 Corinthians 2:4 My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 2:5 that your faith wouldn’t stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. [“A DEMONSTRATION OF POWER” SUGGESTS THE PRESENCE OF MIRACLE RHETOROLECT]  Click for continuation of Christian miracle rhetorolect in 1 Corinthians.

8. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect in Paul: 1 Corinthians 12:8-11, 28-30 1 Corinthians 12:8 For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; 12:9 to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit; 12:10 and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages.  Click for continuation of Christian miracle rhetorolect in 1 Corinthians 12.

9. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect in Paul: 1 Corinthians 12:8-11, 28-30 cont. (1) 1 Corinthians 12:10 and to another workings of mireacles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages. 12:11 But the one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.  Click for continuation of Christian miracle rhetorolect in 1 Corinthians.

10. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect in Paul: 1 Corinthians 12:8-11, 28-30 cont. (2) 1 Corinthians 12:28 God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages. 12:29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers? 12:30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak with various tongues? Do all interpret?  Click for continuation of Christian miracle rhetorolect in 2 Corinthians.

11. 2 CORINTHIANS 12 CONTAINS REFERENCES TO “SIGNS, WONDERS, AND MIGHTY WORKS” OF A TRUE APOSTLE  Click for next slide.

12. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect in Paul: 2 Corinthians 12:11-12 2 Corinthians 12:11 I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for in nothing was I inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing. 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty works.  Click for continuation of Christian miracle rhetorolect in 2 Corinthians.

13. IN THE CONTEXT OF 2 CORINTHIANS 12 PAUL REVEALS THAT HE IS UNABLE TO CONVINCE GOD TO HEAL HIM  Click for next slide.

14. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect in Paul: 2 Corinthians 12:7b-10 2 Corinthians 12:7b there was given to me a thorn I the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively. 12:8 Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 12:9a He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Click for continuation of Christian miracle rhetorolect in 2 Corinthians 12.

15. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect in Paul: 2 Corinthians 12:7b-10 cont. 2 Corinthians 12:9b Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.  Click for Christian miracle rhetorolect in Galatians 3.

16. GALATIANS 3 REFERS TO “GOD WORKING MIRACLES AMONG YOU”  Click for next slide.

17. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect in Paul: Galatians 3:1-5 Galatians 3:1 Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth among you as crucified? 3:2 I just want to learn this from you. Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? 3:3 Are you so foolish? Have begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh?  Click for continuation of Christian miracle rhetorolect in Galatians.

18. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect in Paul: Galatians 3:1-5 cont. Galatians 3:4 Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain? 3:5 He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you, and works miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?  Click for continuation of Christian miracle rhetorolect in Romans.

19. ROMANS 15 REFERS TO “THE POWER OF SIGNS AND WONDERS”  Click for next slide.

20. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect in Paul: Romans 15:18-19 Romans 15:18 For I will not dare speak of any things except those Christ worked through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed, 15:19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s Spirit, so that from Jerusalem, and as far around as Illyricum, I have fully preached the good news of Christ;  Click for Christian miracle rhetorolect in James.

21. JAMES 5 CONTAINS GUIDELINES FOR MIRACULOUS COMMUNITY HEALING  Click for next slide.

22. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect in the Epistle of James (5:14-18) James 5:14 Is any among you sick? Let them call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord, 15:15 and the prayer of faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will raise them up. If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.  Click for continuation of Christian miracle rhetorolect in James.

23. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect in the Epistle of James (5:14-18) cont. James 5:16 Confess your offenses to each other, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective. 15:17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it didn’t rain on the earth for three years and six months. 15:18 He prayed again, and the sky gave rain, and the earth brought forth its fruit.  Click for a summary.

24. Good Work! In this lesson you have learned that: There is reference in five of Paul’s authentic (undisputed) letters to miracles (1-2 Corinthians; 1 Thessalonians; Galatians; Romans). There are no references to miracles in the “disputed” (deutero-Pauline) letters attributed to Paul (2 Thessalonians; Ephesians; Colossians; 1-2 Timothy; Titus).  Click to continue the summary.

25. aExcellent! The Epistle of James has guidelines for community miraculous healing, supported by reasoning about the power of Elijah’s prayers.  Click to continue the summary.

26. Congratulations!!!! THIS WAS THE SIXTH LESSON on the Christian Miracle Story-Line. Every good wish as you continue with Lesson 7, which is the final lesson in this unit.