Spiritual Gifts
&
Application in Ministries
Brother Rajan Thomas
Bahrain
SPIRITUAL GIFTS = GRACE GIFTS
PNEUMATIKON = THINGS OF THE SPIRIT = 1 COR.12:1
CHARISMA = GRACE GIFTS
Out of 17 times in the NT, 13 instances it is used as “ Divine
enablement for believers in the power of the Holy Spirit”.
DEFINITIONS
“ EXTRAORDINARY POWERS, DISTINGUISHING CERTAIN
CHRISTIANS AND ENABLING THEM TO SERVE THE
CHURCH OF CHRIST, THE RECEPTION OF WHICH IS
DUE TO THE POWER OF DIVINE GRACE OPERATING IN
THEIR SOULS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT” - J.H.THAYER, GREEKENGLISH LEXICAN OF THE NT.
“Divine enablement for Believers in the power of the Holy
Spirit” – John F.Walvood
“ God given ability for service: - Charles Ryrie
Natural Talents, Acquired abilities &
Spiritual Gifts
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Natural Talents are interwoven in a person by birth, skills,
abilities to sing, painting, writing, etc.
Acquired abilities are learned such as cooking, sewing,
Eng., Med., computer knowledge, scientific knowledge, etc
Spiritual Gifts are given by the Holy Spirit by the new birth
( 1 Cor.12:7)
As natural abilities are latent in a newborn babe - the Holy
Spirit invest certain spiritual gifts in a spiritually newborn
believer according to God’s plan to use a Believer in His
ministries.
Exactly how a child on his/her growth has to develop the
natural abilities, a born again believer while on spiritual
growth must “ stir” (exercise) the spiritual gifts –
◦ a) 1 Tim 4:14 – under Elders
◦ b) 2 Tim 1: 6- under other Lord’s Servants.
Distinctiveness of Spiritual Gifts
1.
Spiritual Gifts are sovereignly bestowed (1
Cor.12:11)
2.
Every born again Christian has some gifts.

1 Cor.12:11 in the context of previous verses.

1 Cor.12:7 in the context of following verses.
3.
Gifts differ in value (1 Cor.12:31 & 14:4).
4.
Spiritual Gifts to be used in love (1 Cor.13:1)
5.
No Christian has all the gifts (1 Cor 12:28-30)
6.
Exercise of Gifts is not necessarily the sign
of true spirituality - 1 Cor.1:7
PURPOSE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS
1.
2.
Common profit (1 Cor.12:7)
Spiritual edification (1 Cor., 14: 12, 14:26,
Eph.4:13)
3.
Perfecting of the saints, for the work of
the ministry (Eph.4:12).
LIST OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS
1 Cor.12:8-10 – AD.55
1 Cor.12:28 – AD.55
Romans 12:6-8 –
AD.57
Ephesians 4:11- AD.60
1 Pet 4:11 –AD 63,64.
1.Word of Wisdom (
logos sophias )
1.Apostles(apostolous)
1. Prophecies
(Propheteian)
1. Apostles (apostolous)
1. Whosoever
speaks(lalei)
2.Word of Knowledge
(logos gnoseos)
2.Prophet(prophetas)
2. Serving (Diaknian)
2.Prophet (prophetas)
2. Whosoever renders
service ( diakonei)
3.Faith ( pistis)
3.Teacher(didaskalous)
3. Teaching
(Didaskon)
3.Evangelist
(euggelistas)
4.Healing(lamaton)
4.Miracles(dunameis)
4. Exhortation
(Parakalon)
4.PastorTeacher(poinensas kai
didaskalou)
5.Miracles (denameon)
5.Healings(lamaton)
5. Giving (
metadeidous)
6.Prophecy(propheteia)
6.Helps(antilempseis)
6. Ruling
(proistamenos)
7.Distinguishing
between spirits
(diakriseis pnematon)
7.Administration
(govering -kubernEsis)
7. Mercy (Eleon)
8.Tongues
( Glosson)
8.Tongues(Glos-son)
9.Interpretatio-n of
Tongues
( hermeneia Glosson)
Peter’s Classification of Gifts
(1PET.4:11)
Speaking Gifts
1. Word of Wisdom
2. Word of Knowledge
3. Faith
4. Healing
5. Miracles
6. Distinguishing
between spirits
7. Tongues
8. Interpretation of
Tongues
9. Exhortation
Ministering Gifts
1. Apostles
2. Prophets
3. Teacher
4. Helps/Serving
5. Administration/Ruli
ng
6. Giving
7. Evangelist
8. Pastor-Teacher
9. Mercy
Temporary & Permanent Gifts
Temporary
1.
Faith
1.
2.
Miracles
3.
Apostleship
2.
4.
Prophet
5.
Healing
6.
Tongues
7.
Interpretation of
Tongues
8.
Discerning spirits
7.
9.
Word of Wisdom
8.
10.
Word of Knowledge
3.
4.
5.
6.
Permanent
Exhortation
Teacher
Administration/Rul
ing
Serving/Helps
Giving
Evangelist
Pastor-Teacher
Showing mercy
Permanent Gifts
Definitions and Descriptions
1.
Gift of Exhortation
Romans 12:8 – Practical application of preaching ministry. The word
‘parakalon’ embodies the idea of encouragement, comfort,
admonishment and entreaty. 1 Thess.2:3, 2 Cor.1:4-7.
2.
The Gift of Teaching – didaskonRomans 12:7, Acts 13:1, 1 Cor.12:28, Eph.4:11 - Supernatural ability to
explain and apply the truths based on the illumination of the already
revealed Word of God.
3.
Gift of Administration – proistemi
Rom 12:8, kybernesis 1 Cor.12:28 – presiding, leading, protecting, caring,
guiding, directing - Gift that needed for the ones who rules ( Elders) –
Heb.13:17 & 13:24.
Definitions and Descriptions
4.
Gift of Serving – diakoniaRoman 12:7 and antilempsis 1Cor.12:28 are close together - Service or
Ministry- Providing loving services and helpful deeds especially to the
sick. e.g. Phebe – Romans 16:1
5.
Gift of Giving – metadidomi Rom 12:8 – sharing - especially to the Poor ( 1.Cor.13:3)
6.
Gift of Showing Mercy – EleeoRomans 12: 8 – mercy, compassion, pity – kindness or good will towards
the miserable and afflicted, joined with a desire to relieve them.
7.
Evangelist – euangelistes - Eph.4:11
Well messenger – occurs elsewhere only in Acts 21:8, 2 Tim 4:5.
8.
Pastor-Teacher – poimeinas kai didaskalous - Eph 4:11 –
The concept is evident in 1 Tim 5:17, Titus 1:9. “The teaching of God’s
truth is basic to all pastoral care”.
Temporary Gifts
Definitions and Descriptions
9. Gift of Apostleship - apostolos - 1 Cor. 12:27, Eph.4:11- Delegate, one
sent forth with orders, etc. Only meant the 12 Apostles who were directly
chosen by Christ and have seen the risen Christ, including Paul. Paul claims
that he is the ‘last’ Apostle. Limited to 12 only in view of Rev.21: 14.
Apostles were the recipients of revelations ( Eph.3:5) . Signs of
Apostleship are defined in Heb.2:3 and 2 Cor.12:12.
10. Gift of prophecy ( prophet) – prophetas , Romans 12: 6, 1 Cor.12:10, 1
Cor.12:28, Eph.4:11 – Recipients of revelations as the Apostles ( Eph.3:5) –
e.g. Augubus. List of prophets in Acts 13:1, four Daughters of Philip in
Acts21:9. ‘Mysteries’ and ‘knowledge’ are received through prophecies as
indicated in 1 Cor.13:2.
When compared Ephesians 4:11with 2:11, it is evident that both these
gifted positions were discontinued by the foundation work of the Church
was complete, which is the completion of the New Testament doctrines by
AD.96.
Temporary Gifts
Definitions and Descriptions
11. Gift of distinguishing spirits - diakriseis pnematon- 1
Cor.12;10, 14:29. Why? ‘cos 1 Thess. 5:20. Therefore, 1
John 4:1-6. This gift is associated with the Gift of prophecy
and discontinued with the same. Instead, 1 Cor.2:15 and
be like the Berean Believers
12. Word of Wisdom ( sophia) &
13. Word of Knowledge (gnosis) - ‘Word’ here means
utterance. In the absence of NT, these divinely granted gifts
were given to as in the case of Peter in Acts 5:3-4. This
could be what Paul intended in 1 Cor.13:4 ‘ all knowledge’
and associated with the Gift of prophecy, hence
discontinued with prophecies.
Temporary Gifts …..
14. Gift of Faith – pistis- 1 Cor.12:8-10 & 1 Cor.12:28. Not saving
faith or faith defined in Heb.11:1. This is the faith lacked by the
disciples to do miracles as indicated in Mt.17:14-21. This this Gift
is the prerequisite of the ‘healing’ and ‘miracles’.
15. Gift of Healing – iaomai – 1 Cor. 12:8-10, 1 Cor.12:28 – Not the
healing by prayer, but healing power as a Gift as exercised by
Christ and Apostles. Healing as a Gift subsequently got waned as
evident in Paul , Timothy, Triphimas ( 2 Tim.4:20)
16. Gift of Miracles –Dunamis – 1 Cor.12: 8-10, 12:28 In 12:28 it is shown as secondary Gifts after the supporting Gifts.
These three Gifts were given to authenticate the revelations of
God to the Apostles and prophets as in the case of Moses and
Joshua and Elijah and Elisha. As per Hebrews 2: 3&4, these Gifts
were in order to ‘confirm’ the NT revelations.
Temporary Gifts ….
17. Gift of other tongues &
18. Gift of Interpretation of Tongues –
1 Cor. 12:8-10, 12:28.
These Gifts ceased themselves by the completion
of revelations as per 1 Cor.13:8.
Functional Division
Sign Gifts -1Cor.12:810, 28
Service Gifts –
Romans 12:6&10
Supporting Gifts –
Ephesians 4:11,
Rom12:28
Word of Wisdom, Word Serving,
of Knowledge
Apostles
Faith, Healing, Working
of Miracles, Prophecy,
Discerning of spirits
Giving
Prophets
Tongues, Interpretation
of Tongues,
Showing Mercy
Evangelists
Teachers
Pastor -Teachers
Administration /ruling
CESSATION OF SIGN GIFTS
1 COR. 12:8, 9 & 10 groups the whole 9 sign
gifts into three by the usage of Greek word ‘
heteros’, means ‘another kind’.
Paul confirm these three groups in 1 Cor. 13:8.
A. Gifts of knowledge ( 1 Cor.13:8)
Word of wisdom & Word of knowledge
B. Gifts of Prophecy ( 1 Cor.13:8)
Faith, Healing, Working of miracles,
prophecy, discerning spirits.
C. Gifts of Tongues ( 1 Cor.13:8)
Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues
Cessation of Sign Gifts ( Cont.)
.. But whether there be prophecies (pl), they shall fail (
shall be being discarded - future passive voice)
whether there be tongues (pl) they shall cease
( future middle voice rendering a meaning shall cease
itself) whether there be knowledge(pl) it shall
vanish away
( shall be being discarded) - 1 Cor13:8
WHEN? Verse 9 & 10.
Cessation …..
That which is perfect ( to teleion) is used as an
adjective in neutral gender.
* Cannot be related to the Lord Jesus Christ Noun used in masculine gender.
*Cannot be related to the coming of Christ as the
related Greek words Parousia, Ephiphania,
Apokalupsis, etc. are used in feminine gender.
*Cannot be related to Eternity as the Greek word
Aion is used in feminine gender.
But, what is to teleion? The Greek words used for
Bible are Biblion & Rhema and used in neutral
gender.