Book

Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts

📖 Overview

Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts examines historical and contemporary miracle claims through academic research and documentation. Craig Keener presents extensive case studies and analysis spanning multiple continents and time periods. The two-volume work includes interviews, medical records, and scholarly assessments of miracle reports from antiquity to modern day. The research connects New Testament miracle accounts with documented supernatural occurrences across cultures and contexts. The text addresses philosophical arguments both for and against the possibility of miracles, while examining the role of worldview in miracle interpretation. Keener analyzes miracle claims through historical-critical methodology and cross-cultural perspectives. This study bridges historical biblical scholarship with contemporary phenomenology, raising questions about the intersection of faith, empirical evidence, and human experience. The work challenges both skeptical dismissal and uncritical acceptance of miracle accounts.

👀 Reviews

Readers value the book's extensive research and documentation of miracle claims, with many noting Keener's thorough academic approach and inclusion of both historical and contemporary accounts. What readers liked: - Comprehensive bibliography and footnotes - Balance of scholarly rigor with readable prose - Inclusion of modern medical documentation - Cross-cultural examination of miracle reports What readers disliked: - Length and repetitive sections - Dense academic writing style - Price point ($65+) - Some wanted more analysis of specific biblical miracles Ratings: Amazon: 4.7/5 (154 reviews) Goodreads: 4.4/5 (89 ratings) Reader quotes: "The footnotes alone are worth the price" - Amazon reviewer "Could have been condensed to one volume" - Goodreads review "Presents evidence without forcing conclusions" - Christianity Today reader "More about miracle claims in general than biblical analysis" - Seminary student review

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🤔 Interesting facts

🔹 The book spans over 1,200 pages across two volumes and contains several hundred documented modern-day miracle accounts from various cultures and continents. 🔹 Author Craig Keener was once a staunch atheist before becoming a Christian, and his academic journey led him to become one of the world's foremost New Testament scholars. 🔹 The research includes multiple cases of medically verified healings, including Keener's own wife's healing from malaria, which helped inspire the book's creation. 🔹 The work examines miracle accounts from over 70 countries and features extensive analysis of anthropological studies on supernatural phenomena across different cultures. 🔹 While researching for the book, Keener conducted personal interviews with over 300 individuals who claimed to have witnessed or experienced miraculous events firsthand.