Treasures New and Old
Treasures New and OldExercising Our Spiritual Gift(s) – Bible Organization of Gifts
Spiritual gifts became a serious area of contention in the early church and has occasionally raised its ugly head in the church over the last 2,000 years. Why? Mostly because of pride and greed. John speaks in tongues – why can’t I? Susie has the gift of healing. Shouldn’t everybody have that gift? From pride, jealousy, and greed springs forth the contention that divides the church. Indeed, there are denominations today that consider you less a Christian if you do not a least speak in tongues – a clear outward sign that you have had the baptism of the Holy Spirit (or baptism in the Holy Spirit). These phrases don’t exist in the Bible, and the Holy Spirit does not baptize us. In John 1:33, John the Baptist tells us that Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit.
There are several spiritual gifts lists in the Bible as well as unique situations in the Old Testament where a gift is manifested (as in Saul having the Spirit of God fall upon him and Saul prophesies). The main lists are all in the New Testament and are as follows:
- Romans 12
- 1 Corinthians 12 (two sections – verses 1-6 and 27-31)
- Ephesians 4 (scattered in several places)
A closer look at 1 Corinthians 12:1-6 provides an insight into spiritual gifts that helps us to understand them better. Let’s look . . .
God’s Apparent Design for Understanding Spiritual Gifts
1 Corinthians 12:1-6: “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.”
Distinction #1
“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.”
- Diversities: diairesis: differences (Strong’s G5479), divisions, different assignments.
- Gifts: charisma (Strong’s G5486): gift given by grace (Note that joy is chara (Strong’s G5479) and charis (Strong’s G5485) is grace, and charisma is gift).
- Spirit is pnema: breath, spirit, wind – in this context it is Holy Spirit (Strong’s G4151).
Expanding that verse we find the following:
“Now there are diversities [differences, divisions, different assignments] of gifts [a gift given by God’s grace with joy], but the same Spirit [breath, spirit, wind – referring to the Holy Spirit].”
So the Holy Spirit has the job of distributing the spiritual gifts to believers.
Distinction #2
“And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.”
- Diversities: diairesis: (Strong’s G1243): differ, differences, diverse. Same Greek word translated diversities.
- Administrations: diakonia: ministry, ministering, service, serving, office (Strong’s G1248).
- Lord: kyrois: Lord, Master, sir, owner (Wordsearch’s Strong’s G2962) – same meaning as Adonai in Hebrew – refers to Jesus Christ.
Expanding that verse we find the following:
“And there are differences [divisions, assignments, etc.] of administrations [service, ministry areas, offices within the Church], but the same Lord [Lord, Master – Jesus Christ].”
So the Lord Jesus has the job of assigning the ministries, offices, service areas to the believers.
Distinction #3
“And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.”
- Diversities: diairesis: differences (Strong’s G1243), divisions, different assignments. Same as above.
- Operations: energema: energy, working, operations; taken from energeo (Strong’s G1754) – effect (Strong’s G1755).
- God: Theos: God, deity, supreme deity, refers to God the Father (Strong’s G2316).
Expanding that verse we find the following:
“And there are diversities [differences, divisions] of operations [power, energy, manifestations], but it is the same God [the Father] which worketh all in all.”
So God the Father has the job of assigning power levels of manifestations to the believers.
Let’s translate these three phrases from 1 Corinthians 12:4-6:
1. The Holy Spirit assigns different spiritual gifts to the believers (some see this primarily as the Romans 12:6-9 list).
2. Jesus assigns the different ministries or offices to the believers (some see this as the lists in 1 Corinthians 12:27-31, and Ephesians 4:11-12).
3. God the Father assigns the different levels of power and scope of those ministries to the believers (Some see this as the manifestations lists in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11).
1 Corinthians 12:12 reminds us that we are one body – and every joint supplies, and not everyone is the eye, the mouth, the hand etc. Although Paul encourages seeking spiritual gifts, he does so with caution:
1 Corinthians 14:1: “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.”
1 Corinthians 14:12: “Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.”
So the main reason that we might seek a spiritual gift is to edify the church (not ourselves) and out of love, share God’s truth (prophesy).
Maranatha Emanuel!
May God bless you all!
Bro. Joe
References
Strong, J. Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. Meyers, R. (2005). e-Sword. [computer software] . Franklin, TN: Equipping Ministries Foundation. (Original work published 1539)
Strong, J. Strong’s Talking Greek_Hebrew Dictionary. Wordsearch. (2020). Wordsearch Bible. [computer software] . Nashville, TN: LifeWay Christian Resources. (Original work published 1890).