Kim, S: The Literary and the Theological Functions of OT Mir

A belief in miracles is at the heart of Christianity. As for the biblical miracles and their interpretations, however, some serious epistemological questions have been raised by scholars. A current issue in the study of the two major OT miracle narratives is that they show unusual parallels between them, though representing different historical periods and environments. This writing is a study of the literary and the theological functions of the miracle narratives associated with Moses/Joshua and Elijah/Elisha. This study of the two major OT miracle narratives argues the proposition that they are conspicuously distinguished from other infrequent OT miracle narratives in their density and significance. This study also shows that the two pairs of miracle narratives portray a comprehensive biblical theology. This signifies that the miracles in the two periods were God‘s careful interventions at Israelites‘ religious crises with respect to His kingdom ideal. This study brings fresh insights into current epistemological questions among scholars, and suggests the linkage between OT miracle narratives and NT miracle narratives.