Theological Term of the Week

This is not an easy term to define. Theologians I respect define “miracle” differently, and all have reasons for their particular definition. 

miracle
“[T]hose [events] not explainable solely by natural processes but which require the direct causal agency of a supernatural being, usually God”1; “an out-of-the-ordinary direct and divine intervention in the world”2; “any event within the sphere of human observation which is brought about by the direct volition of God, normally, but not always, as distinguished from the ordinary manifestations of divine power operating according to intelligible laws … “3; see other definitions under Learn more below.

• From scripture, one of Jesus’ miracles:

Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her andsaid to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country. (Luke 7:11-17, ESV)

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Theological Term of the Week

saints
The body of Christ; all believers worldwide, both living and dead.

• From scripture:

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building upthe body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, (Ephesians 4:11-13, ESV)

• From the Second Helvetic Confession:

Chapter 17

What Is the Church? The Church is an assembly of the faithful called or gathered out of the world; a communion, I say, of all saints, namely, of those who truly know and rightly worship and serve the true God in Christ the Savior, by the Word and Holy Spirit, and who by faith are partakers of all benefits which are freely offered through Christ.

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Theological Term of the Week

norma normans non normata
Latin for “the norm of norms that is not normed”; used to describe Scripture as the standard according to which all other standards or rules of the Christian faith are measured, and the one standard which has no higher standard against which it is measured; frequently shortened to norma normans. 

• From the Second Helvetic Confession:

Chapter 1 - Of The Holy Scripture Being The True Word of God

SCRIPTURE TEACHES FULLY ALL GODLINESS. We judge, therefore, that from these Scriptures are to be derived true wisdom and godliness, the reformation and government of churches; as also instruction in all duties of piety; and, to be short, the confirmation of doctrines, and the rejection of all errors, moreover, all exhortations according to that word of the apostle, “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof,” etc. (II Timothy 3:16-17). Again, “I am writing these instructions to you,” says the apostle to Timothy, “So that you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God,” etc. (I Timothy 3:14-15). SCRIPTURE IS THE WORD OF GOD. Again, the selfsame apostle to the Thessalonians: “When,” says he, “You received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it, not as the word of men but as what it really is, the Word of God,” etc. (I Thess. 2:13) For the Lord himself has said in the gospel, “It is not you who speak, but the Spirit of my Father speaking through you”; therefore “He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me” (Matt. 10:20; Luke 10:16; John 13:20)

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