Spiritual gift

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"Gifts of the Holy Spirit" redirects here. For the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Catholic tradition, see Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

According to Christian theology, the spiritual gifts (or charismata) are gifts that are supernaturally bestowed on Christians, each having his or her own proper gift (or gifts) to strengthen the church. They are described in the New Testament, primarily in First Corinthians 12, Romans 12, and Ephesians 4.

Many believe their operation was limited to early Christianity. According to some Protestant denominations, some of the spiritual gifts, for example speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues, were enjoyed only for a short time and were suited to the Church's infancy, not to later times. This view is known as cessationism.

Pentecostalism, along with Charismatic, Pentecostal, Apostolic, and other Holiness denominations of Christianity take an opposing view, believing that the spiritual gifts are still given by the Holy Spirit today, and Pentecostal meetings often involve ordinary parishioners displaying the use of these gifts (1 Cor 14).

Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and many other Protestant denominations also continue to believe in and make use of spiritual gifts.

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[edit] Enumeration of the gifts

Some Christian scholars say that there are nine gifts and others say there may be as many as twenty-seven. Bill Bright, C. Peter Wagner, Jack Deere, Billy Graham and D.A. Carson have various opinions on the very number. Other Christian scholars say that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are limited in number or they are not active today like in the early church. Commonly called Cessationism, this opinion is held by John F. MacArthur, Jr., Robert L. Thomas and many other conservative main line Christian denominations. Some Christian scholars such as Zola Levitt maintain that the number of gifts cannot be determined, because, as Levitt puts it, "A spiritual gift is anything that a person can do supernaturally well."

The teaching on there being nine gifts of the Spirit originated from Dr. Howard Carter, an early Pentecostal evangelist. This is based on the text from 1 Corinthians 12:27-30 giving the gifts and listing them as the "gifts of the Spirit". They were later taught and popularized by Dr. Lester Sumrall, who accompanied Carter on many missionary journeys in his youth. Modern Bible teachers and scholars have came to the conclusion that there are other gifts of the Spirit listed in Scripture, as seen in the chart below.

[edit] Biblical lists of the gifts

THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
1 Corinthians 12:4-14 1 Corinthians 12:27-30 Romans 12:6-8 Ephesians 4:11
  • Word of Wisdom
  • Word of Knowledge
  • Faith
  • Healings
  • Working of miracles
  • Prophecy
  • Discernment of spirits
  • Speaking in tongues
  • Interpretation of tongues
  • Apostles
  • Prophets
  • Teachers
  • Miracles
  • Healings
  • Helps
  • Administrations
  • Varieties of tongues
  • Prophecy
  • Ministry
  • Teaching
  • Exhortation
  • Giving
  • Leading
  • Showing mercy
  • Apostles
  • Prophets
  • Evangelists
  • Pastors and teachers*

Note: Some authorities distinguish between Pastors and Teachers in list contained in Ephesians.

[edit] List of Spiritual Gifts

There are various opinions as to the number of spiritual gifts. There are also different ways of categorizing the gifts proposed.

Many items appearing as spiritual gifts are also required by the Bible of all Christians, such as faith, prayer, evangelism and so on. One explanation is that the spiritual gift of faith means faith despite the circumstances, or a particularly strong faith in God. The spiritual gift of prayer could mean a supernatural confidence in prayer, or a special ability to pray. All believers are encouraged to share Jesus with other people, but the gift of evangelism could mean a particular gift to reach others.

Note: Links are sometimes to a general context, not a specific context as a spiritual gift per se. For example, "faith" links not to the spiritual gift of faith per se, but to faith in a more general context.

[edit] Charismatic Gifts (1 Corinthians 12)

Also known as the "manifestation gifts" or "miraculous gifts". Some limit the term "spiritual gifts" to just the charismatic gifts. Cessationism claims that these gifts ceased to operate (through individuals) early in Christian history. Its counterpart continuationism claims that they still operate today. They are believed by some to be transmitted through the laying on of hands.

"Speaking in tongues" and "interpretation of tongues" are sometimes viewed as one gift, "tongues". The TNIV footnote has "languages" as a possible translation for "tongues".

[edit] Other commonly listed gifts

  • apostles, 1 Cor 12:28, Eph 4:11. Some believe that the gift of apostleship was for the first apostles (Christian leaders/disciples) only.
  • teachers / teaching, 1 Cor 12:28, Rom 12:7, Eph 4:11
  • helps / helping, 1 Cor 12:28
  • administrations / guidance, 1 Cor 12:28
  • ministry / serving, Rom 12:7
  • encouragement / exhortation, Rom 12:8
  • giving, Rom 12:8
  • leading, Rom 12:8
  • showing mercy, Rom 12:8
  • evangelists, Eph 4:11
  • pastors, Eph 4:11. Some take "pastors and teachers" to be combined.

[edit] Other Gifts

There is less consensus about other gifts, not mentioned usual lists of gifts:

  • hospitality
  • celibacy
  • (voluntary) poverty


Gifts of the spirit are clearly distinguished from the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22). Jesus predicted the occurrence of false gifts, particularly in the end time (Matthew 24:24, 7:22,23). Hence while spiritual gifts are very important for a Christian, the fruit of the spirit is a better test of the genuineness of a person.

[edit] External links

This entry incorporates text from the public domain Easton's Bible Dictionary, originally published in 1897.

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