BOOK REVIEW

“WE HAVE HERE PERHAPS THE BEST BOOK EVER WRITTEN ON MIRACLES IN THIS OR ANY AGE.”

Ben Witherington III, Asbury Seminary

Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts, 2 vols. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2011, 1,172 pages.

Craig Keener is an Ordained AG minister, graduate of AGTS, with a PhD from Duke University, and a premier New Testament scholar. He has written 25 books, including highly regarded commentaries on Matthew, John, Acts, and Galatians. Miracles grew from a footnote in Acts to what scholars are calling the most comprehensive book on miracles ever written. Miracles covers the entire spectrum of issues associated with supernatural miracles, from those in Scripture to the present day. Keener deals with all philosophical objections to miracles, as well as with the problems of false claims, psychosomatic illnesses, alternative explanations, and miracles in other religions. His documentation meet the highest scholarly standards, but his writing is warm and easy to read.

The author states his two-part thesis early on: 1) eyewitnesses do offer miracle claims beginning in the gospels and continuing to the present day, and 2) although supernatural claims are not always suitable explanations, they should be fully considered as possible explanations. He examines the ancient evidence for miracles, first with Jesus and his followers, then among Jewish and pagan sources. He compares these, demonstrating similarities and differences, revealing that the ancients were often skeptical, not gullible, about miraculous claims.

Keener then deals with the anti-supernatural arguments and bias pervasive in the West since the advent of rationalism. He provides an extensive explanation of anti-supernaturalism’s development and its effect on Western culture. He carefully explores the many weaknesses of rationalist arguments, and shows them to be based on inadequate data, personal experience, and biased presuppositions.

In Part 3 Keener surveys the vast amount of testimony to miracles from antiquity to the present day. His methodology is to seek reliable verification, carefully identify false claims, differentiate organic and psychosomatic diseases, and consider alternative explanations. The survey spans the entire historical and geographical expanse of Christianity, examining miracle reports from all faith traditions and from non-Christian religions. The author addresses the decline in frequency of miracles once the Church is established in a region.

Throughout his writing Keener interacts with primary sources, testimonies, and verifications, as well as objections or alternative explanations. One chapter organizes even more accounts according to the kinds of miracles claimed These amazing stories glorify God page after page! A final section gives detailed answers to objections offered by unbelievers, and then provides further examples of medically verified miracles from Western contexts. Keener includes his own eyewitness accounts and those of trustworthy family and friends.

The author deals with theological problems related to miracles, such as the “prosperity” or “hyper- faith” false teachings. He clearly affirms God’s sovereign right to grant or withhold miracles, regardless of the “faith” or “confession” of the one praying or in need. Numerous examples of unbelieving or non-Christian people receiving miracles are also included. Keener consistently writes from a solid biblical, historical, and theological base After 768 pages of research, substantiated throughout with copious documentation, Keener concludes with over 400 pages of appendices, bibliography, and indices. Subjects treated there include spirit possession and exorcism in antiquity and today, and miraculous dreams and visions.

Miracles is regarded by historians and missiologists as the best book on miraculous phenomena ever written. It’s scholarly acumen, documentation, and orthodoxy guarantees its powerful impact on Western Christianity for many years. Keener has done the entire Christian Church a monumental service. Pentecostal ministers should have this amazing book in their library.

- Michael D. Sharp, Network Secretary-Treasurer