Miracles in Christianity

Christianity is the world’s largest religion, with over two-and-a-half billion followers worldwide. It is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life of Jesus of Nazareth. The Bible is full of miracles, from healing to prophecy.

The Church is the continuation of Jesus’ ministry in the world. The ministry of the Church is to proclaim the Christian gospel. The gospel is good news that meets practical needs and provides assurance for the afterlife.

Christianity represents one third of the world’s population. One of the primary ways people in the Global South came to faith was through healing. However, Christians in the Middle Ages expected healing to be very rare. After Constantine converted to Christianity in 312 AD, healing drifted to the margins.

The New Testament describes several miraculous events, including the resurrection of the dead and raising the deaf-mute man. Other biblical miracles involve healing and discerning of spirits.

In the New Testament, Jesus gave the apostles power to cast out unclean spirits. The anointing of the sick became a sacrament in the twelfth century. Anointing of the sick with oil was also used as a spiritual preparation for heaven.

Many Protestants reported a “second blessing”: an infilling of the Holy Spirit. This brought freedom from pollution of sin. They also believed that prayer could restore a person from sickness or sin.

In the fourth century, the church grew rapidly. During this time, revivals spread across the globe. Every generation, over half a million new converts were added.