About Spiritual Gifts (Part 1)

First Corinthians 12-14 is a detailed discussion about spiritual gifts in the functioning of the church in Corinth. Paul immediately informed his readers that they did not have to be ignorant in regard to what the gifts were, their purpose, duration, and the order that should have existed when the congregation was assembled and the gifts were employed. In turn, today’s reader of these three chapters should not be ignorant either! The first thing addressed was that the gifts were diverse (1 Cor. 12:4-6). Paul enumerates the gifts in verses 8-10 and we will define each so that we will not be ignorant. Also, it should be noticed that each member of the Godhead is referenced in the same context (v. 4-6 - Spirit...Lord...God). It should be clear from the very start that the members of the church in Corinth were not left up to their own devices regarding these gifts. Nor were they instructed to “experiment” with different gifts until they found one. They were not told to take a six-week course to “discover” their particular gift. The gifts were distributed by the Holy Spirit “as He will” (1 Cor. 12:11). No classes. No “discovery.” No experimentation. No “go talk to your pastor so he can help you discover your gift.” These are all methods of “spiritual gift discovery” that I have heard preached and have read in various articles online.

What were the gifts? Paul gives a specific list in First Corinthians 12:8-10. The stated purpose of this “manifestation of the Spirit” was for the profit of everyone (1 Cor. 12:7). The gifts were…

1. Word of wisdom (σοφία) was a gift to an individual of revelation from God in relation to the wisdom of God and the preaching of God’s “mystery” (1 Cor. 2:9-16).

2. Word of knowledge (γνῶσις) was a gift involving the ability to know God’s will and communicate it to others (Eph. 3:1-8).

3. Faith (πίστις) was not just ordinary belief produced by the word of God (Rom. 10:17). This was a miraculous faith (1 Cor. 13:2).

4. Gifts of healing (ἰαμά) was the ability to heal various sicknesses.

5. Working of miracles (δυνάμεων) was the power to do other types of miracles, perhaps such as casting out demons.

6. Prophecy (προφητεία) was the ability to both miraculously forth-tell and foretell God’s will.

7. Discerning of spirits refers to the miraculous ability to identify different types of teachers/influences that would arise within the church (1 Jn. 4:1-6).

8. Tongues is clearly defined in Acts 2:1-8. The apostles were baptized in power from the Holy Spirit and were able to speak in known human dialects (Acts 2:6-8).

9. Interpretation of tongues is self-explanatory. Those with the ability to speak in tongues were forbidden from speaking if no interpreter was present (1 Cor. 14:27-28).

While it is important to understand what the gifts were, it is also necessary to understand how the gifts were given. Paul stated that he had a desire to visit the Romans that he “may impart unto you some spiritual gift” (Rom. 1:11). Acts 8:14-21 is another important text in this matter. The Samaritans heard, believed, and obeyed the gospel when they heard Philip preaching and “seeing the miracles which he did” (Acts 8:6). It becomes clear that, while Philip could perform miracles, he did not have the ability to give that power to anyone else. That being the case, the apostles in Jerusalem sent Peter and John to Samaria, “that they (the Samaritans) might receive the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:15). Of note, the text also says, “For as yet He had fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 8:16). The Holy Spirit was not received until apostles were present and even Simon saw “that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given” (Acts 8:18). Simon then offered money so that he himself could pass on “the gift of God,” i.e., the gift of the Holy Spirit, which is clearly identified as the “same gift” given to Cornelius and Peter and the other apostles as recorded in Acts 2 (Acts 10:44-45; 11:15-18). The ability to pass on the Holy Spirit was only possessed by the apostles. The next edition will address the duration of the spiritual gifts.