The Resurrection

[Belacqua]

couldn't find the word miracle in the Bible. You'll find terms such as wonders and signs, but the idea of a miracle appears to be external the Bible itself.

That's the way I learned it. People in those days used different categories than we do, so they didn't think in terms of natural/supernatural the way we do now. 

The Greek word translated as "miracle" is usually either dunamis (δύναμις), which is a mighty or powerful deed. From the same root as "dynamite." Or sēmeion (σημεῖον), "sign" or "token." Same root as "semiotics." Or teras (τέρας), "wonder" or "marvel." 

So powerful, amazing, significant things, but not necessarily supernatural. 

There are several words which have come to indicate supernatural things which didn't originally have that sense. So "occult" just meant "hidden," either because people hadn't figured out the cause yet or because practitioners kept their knowledge hidden from lay people. 

Also "monster" comes from the word for "portent" or "warning." Same root as "demonstration." So for example if a cow was born with a deformity this was taken as a sign of things to come, or a warning that bad things were happening. 

So in biblical times miracles were rare or powerful signs or warnings. Separating the natural -- as things we expect or can explain -- from the supernatural -- as things we can't -- has distorted the meaning.