The Spiritual Gifts

THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS

One day, my small group tried to figure out what the spiritual gifts are. We found the following verses that listed spiritual gifts:

Now about spiritual gifts... To one there is given through the Spirit... wisdom, to another... knowledge..., to another faith..., to another gifts of healing..., to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in... tongues, and to... another the interpretation of tongues.	I Corinthians 12:1,8,9,10 NIV
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues... But eagerly desire the greater gifts.	I Corinthians 12:28,31 NIV
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.	Romans 12:6-8 NIV
Eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God.	I Corinthians 14:1-2 NIV
"He... gave gifts to men." It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers...	Ephesians 4:8,11 NIV

This table summarizes the gifts found in the verses above.

	Spiritual Gifts	I Corinthians 12:1,8-10	I Corinthians 12:28,31	Romans 12:6-8	I Corinthians 14:1-2	Ephesians 4:8,11
1.	administration		administration
2.	apostleship		apostles			apostles
3.	discernment	distinguishing between spirits
4.	encouragement			encouraging
5.	evangelism					evangelists
6.	faith	faith
7.	giving			contributing to the needs of others
8.	healing	healing	healing
9.	interpreting tongues	interpretation of tongues
10.	knowledge	knowledge
11.	leadership			leadership
12.	miracles	miraculous powers	workers of miracles
13.	pastoring					pastors
14.	prophesy	prophesy	prophets	prophesying	prophecy	prophets
15.	serving		help	serving
16.	mercy			showing mercy
17.	teaching		teachers	teaching		teachers
18.	tongues	tongues	tongues		speaks in a tongue
19.	wisdom	wisdom

The total number of different spiritual gifts found in these verses is 19.

This raises some questions:
Are all of these gifts being given today?
Are there any more spiritual gifts to be found in the Bible?
Are there any spiritual gifts that are not listed in the Bible?
How many gifts can one believer have?
When does a believer receive spiritual gifts?

Are all of these gifts being given today?

According to McLean Bible Church in northern Virginia, the gifts of "prophesy" and "tongues" and, therefore, "interpretation of tongues" have not been given since the first century of Christianity. They also claim that there are no more "apostles". (However, some would say that missionaries are apostles). So, if they are right, then only 15 spiritual gifts are available today.

Are there any more spiritual gifts to be found in the Bible?

A Bible search on the terms "spirit" and "gift" don't come up with any others.

Are there any spiritual gifts that are not listed in the Bible?

We haven't found any Bible verses that imply there are only 19 spiritual gifts. Warren suggests that there are a limited number of gifts by using the word "all" when he says, "... no individual receives all the gifts." But are there more than 19 gifts? What about athletics, beauty, wealth, reasoning, empathy, intelligence, creativity, compassion, listening, hospitality, etc.? And consider this verse:

... But eagerly desire the greater gifts.

I Corinthians 12:31 NIV

This verse is at the end of chapter 12, after listing 13 spiritual gifts in verses 8-10 and 28. Should we interpret this to mean that the remaining 6 gifts, encouragement, evangelism, giving, leadership, pastoring, and mercy, are the greater gifts? Or are there more gifts?

How many gifts can a believer have?

Warren suggests that a person may have more than one spiritual gift by using the plural word "gifts" when he says, "Have you taken the time to discover your spiritual gifts?" And, the following verses suggest that each believer has at least one spiritual gift.

...Each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.	I Corinthians 7:7 NIV
...To each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given... To one there is given through the Spirit... wisdom, to another... knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues... The... Spirit... gives them to each one... We were all given the... Spirit...	I Corinthians 12:7-11,13 NIV
We have different gifts...	Romans 12:6 NIV

When does a believer receive spiritual gifts?

Based on the following verse, nobody gets any spiritual gifts before they receive the Holy Spirit.

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

I Corinthians 2:14 NIV

From my personal experience, I have supporting evidence:

The gift of giving: I most certainly was not a giver before I received the Holy Spirit. I was very selfish, with a gather-and-hoard mentality. But since I first met God, I have been giving away my money whenever God presents me with a worthy cause, as long as I have more than I really need. Currently, I only have enough money to pay my regular monthly bills. If I should be hit with an unexpected expense, I might go into debt. But I trust God to take care of me. (Meanwhile, God has just presented me with an opportunity to donate about $400, so I'm scrambling to find the money.)
The gift of knowledge: It's true that I had a lot of knowledge before, but since I was born again, I have gained all kinds of knowledge about God.
I might also have received the gifts of serving, wisdom, and miracles at the time I received the Holy Spirit.


New International Version. 1984. International Bible Society. http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/?action=getVersionInfo&vid=31

Warren, Rick. (2002) The Purpose Driven Life. Zondervan. Grand Rapids, Michigan. 236-237.

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Last updated: 4/12/09
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