Spiritual Gifts – Part Three – An Introduction

By Michael K. Farrar

God’s Breath Publications

 

In this third part of this series on spiritual gifts I will cover the scriptures where spiritual gifts are mentioned and the various categories or types of spiritual gifts that are distributed by the Holy Spirit to followers of Christ when they accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

 

Following are the lists of the gifts as they appear in selected scripture passages and some information as to the purpose that the book of the Bible was written. It is important we consider the intent behind why these letters were written to early followers of Christ because it helps us understand the issues that were at hand as the early church was forming. Spiritual gifts were very important to the nourishment and stability of the early church foundation as it began to form and grow in the first century. These gifts are just as critical to the modern day church as God builds upon the early church foundation.

 

While Ephesians was a letter written to the church at Ephesus it would be circulated among followers of Christ living in various first century cities in the surrounding region as well. The intent of the book of Ephesians, as it relates to spiritual gifts, was to address broad uses of spiritual gifts within local church fellowships.

 

In the epistles of Romans and 1 Corinthians the emphasis was different. Here the specific local churches in Rome and Corinth are addressed and each had their own issues and problems. Romans is a letter thick with theological doctrine that gives an excellent spiritual foundation for any follower of Christ. Christians in Rome needed this doctrinal base to strengthen their faith and spiritual life. The church in Corinth was especially plagued with problems that threatened not only the church fellowship but also the spiritual maturity of individual Christians. Paul wanted to address these problems and call the followers of Christ at Corinth to a more mature, consistent and Christ-like lifestyle.

 

Ephesians

In the book of Ephesians Paul is stating the specific function of these four types of gifted people. The verb he uses in Ephesians 4:12 for “perfecting of the saints” is in the Greek “katartismos” and is a fishing or nautical term meaning to mend, repair, make whole or perfect. It is often used in reference to the mending of fishing nets. It is a verb that implies a repairing ministry to restore and repair broken lives much like how fishing nets are repaired so they can be used again. It is a verb that also implies a preparing ministry to set a course for a follower of Christ for further future service, like a ship is prepared before going out to sea.

 

Ephesians 4:11: Apostleship, Prophesying, Evangelizing, Pastor-Teacher.

 

Romans

The book of Romans emphasizes the interrelationship of the members of the body of Christ and their spheres of service to one another.

 

Romans 12:6-8: Prophesying, Ministering, Teaching, Exhorting, Giving, Ruling, Showing Mercy

 

1 Corinthians

In the book of 1 Corinthians Paul addresses the gifts which were at the center of controversy in the church and covers their use and priority for edification of the church.

 

1 Corinthians 12:6-10: Word of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miracles, Prophesying, Discerning of spirits, Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues

 

1 Corinthians 12:28: Apostleship, Prophesying, Teaching, Miracles, Healing, Helping, Administering, Tongues

 

1 Corinthians: 12:29-30: Apostleship, Prophesying, Teaching, Miracles, Healing, Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues

 

As you can see in these verses, some scriptures mention the same gifts and some introduce other gifts not mentioned in other passages. This variation in the ways spiritual gifts are mentioned in scripture had to do with the issues with the local churches that needed to be addressed by Paul as he was inspired to write through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

 

1 Peter

Peter organizes the spiritual gifts into specific categories due to their nature and function which include speaking and serving.

 

1 Peter 4:10-11

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ,”

 

Notice that Peter tells us that whether we are using a speaking gift or a serving gift we are glorifying God in the process – “so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” So this adds another dimension to the purpose for spiritual gifts that God gives us. Our Heavenly Father gives us spiritual gifts so we can edify others and grow them in Christ, but He also distributes them through the person of the Holy Spirit so that it might bring Him glory. If we were to place spiritual gifts into these two categories according to 1 Peter we might see them as follows:

 

SPEAKING GIFTS

Prophesying

Apostleship

Teaching

Pastor-teacher

Evangelism

Tongues

Interpretation of Tongues

Discernment

 

SERVING GIFTS

Giving

Administration

Mercy

Faith

Healing          

Miracles

Helping

 

There is debate among followers of Christ whether all of the spiritual gifts are functional today and if some were only temporary for the building of the foundation of the early church. Ones which are accepted by most Christians as permanent gifts are prophecy in the form of preaching, faith, teaching, helps, hospitality, administration, exhortation, giving, hospitality, mercy, evangelism, words of wisdom and knowledge, and leadership. Apostleship is considered to no longer be a valid spiritual gift since the original apostles are no longer alive. The gift of prophecy, as far as revealing new revelation, is considered no longer valid since we now have a completed Bible. Prophecy in the form of preaching is considered a contemporary spiritual gift. This we know because the prophets of the Old and New Testament both prophesized new revelation, but also taught and preached God’s truths and laws as well. Many Christians believe that discernment of spirits, word of wisdom and word of knowledge are very likely valid spiritual gifts for today. Confirming gifts that confirmed the apostles and validated their teachings are miracles, healings, tongues and interpretation of tongues. These four sign gifts are considered by most Christians and theologians to no longer be functional today, but many charismatic and Pentecostal believers feel that they are. Stating that the sign gifts of miracles and healing are not valid today does not mean that God does not cause miracles or healings to occur today. It just means He is not using these spiritual gifts in specific individuals for them to take place. This issue of some gifts no longer being valid for contemporary use will be covered in more detail later in this series.

 

Below is another way to categorize spiritual gifts according to most contemporary theologians and includes a brief description of each gift.

 

SPEAKING GIFTS – Five Spiritual Gifts

 

Prophecy – This is preaching which corrects behavior. It disturbs those who are comfortable and motivates through the influence of the Spirit empowering words spoken from Holy Scripture.

Teaching – This is communicating the truth in God’s Word to build a systematic foundation of doctrine. It comforts those who are disturbed and imparts God’s doctrine and precepts for them to live by.

Exhortation – This is counseling and is person oriented. A Christian having this gift is “called alongside of someone.” They are a loving encourager, calling others to a higher level of spiritual obedience and dedication.

Wisdom – The person with this spiritual gift ministers to others enabling them to apply God’s wisdom contained in His Word to their actions, behavior and decisions.

Knowledge – The follower of Christ with this gift speaks the knowledge of God’s Word that enables people to know the truth in Holy Scripture that can help them apply it to their actions, behavior and decisions.      

 

SERVING GIFTS – Six Spiritual Gifts

 

Leadership/Ruling – A people oriented gift that is also task oriented. The person with this gift organizes people to accomplish ministry and grow in faith as well.

Administration – A gift which seeks efficiency in spiritual tasks and projects and assures that they are achieved as planned. While it is task oriented, it also involves the management of people and their spiritual gifts to edify the body of Christ and  bring glory to God in the process.

Ministering – This describes a deacon or deaconess, a person who supplies the physical needs of people as well as their emotional support and encouragement.

Mercy – An especially needed gift that is person oriented, ministering to their responses to hardship, trials and difficulties. Those with the gift of mercy show love and compassion with a cheerful spirit that uplifts those facing burdens and the storms of life.

Faith – An enabling gift that can encourage others to grow in their trust of God and His written Word. While we all have faith, this gift is demonstrably strong in those who have it and it strengthens others to step out and serve and/or obey God in situations of life.

Distinguishing spirits/Discernment – This is the ability to discern truth and falsehood as well as the character or intentions of a person. This was needed to detect false teachers and their heresy in the first century and the need for this gift today has not diminished.

 

SUPPORT GIFTS – Three Spiritual Gifts

 

Helps – The gift that is intensely focused on how others can be helped in hardships and trials in whatever way possible. Sometimes this is expressed through providing practical assistance and at other times in the form of emotional comfort and support.

Giving – The person with this gift has a spiritual motivation for being generous in numerous ways. Sometimes this gift of giving is through financial support or generosity of donating possessions and at other times is through sharing their time or their natural talents.

Hospitality – This gift a follower of Christ may possess is the ability to express hospitality without complaining or grumbling. They have no second thoughts about being hospitable towards others whether they are old or new friends. They are especially motivated to be friendly and cordial to strangers for these are people that may need special attention to help them either understand the faith or become incorporated into a local fellowship.

 

 

SIGN GIFTS – Four Spiritual Gifts

 

Healing – The ability to heal physical ailments through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Miracles – The ability to perform supernatural acts which clearly demonstrate God’s power. This can also include acts of healing.

Speaking in tongues – The ability to speak praises to God in a known human language that you do not personally know.

Interpretation of tongues – The ability to interpret someone speaking in tongues (praises to God in a known human language), when you do not know the specific known human language.

 

In the next part of this series I will begin covering the various spiritual gifts Jesus Christ gives us through the agency of the Holy Spirit according to the divine will of our Heavenly Father. These will first be the equipping spiritual gifts that serve as the foundation of the church. They are the gift of an Apostle, prophet, evangelist and pastor/teacher.