Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts

by Craig S. Keener

On the other hand, he averred that any Christian can work miracles where needed, “especially in a missionary situation”;[112] God will still do miracles “whenever they are required.”[113] In practice, he thought them unnecessary in his time, but acknowledged that extraordinary times might require them.[114] On one hand, he regarded sickness and suffering as normal and a means of grace.[115] On the other, he notes miraculous healings of himself, his wife, and Melanchthon in answer to prayer; Melanchthon returned from apparent death following Luther’s own prayer.[116] A year before he died, Luther taught on prayer for the sick, both privately and in churches, following Jas 5:14–15. In a letter he noted “prayer for healing by the laying on of hands” occurring in Wittenberg.[117]