Direct Bible Discovery
By Ronald W. Leigh
Appendix B2 - Sample Results - Topic Study - Spiritual Gifts

Step 1 -- Pray         覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧

Step 2 -- Delimit

Out of the many questions that could be raised about spiritual gifts, the following are basic:

Step 3 -- Recall         覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧

Step 4 -- Find and sort

Passages can be found by searching a complete concordance (or using an electronic Bible) under the terms "spiritual" and "gifts."  Passages using the English words can be found first, then a search can be conducted using the root Greek terms.  Other reference works, such as Naves Topical Bible, may supply a few additional passages.

Below is a list of relevant passages (NIV) sorted into the following four categories.

1.  Definitive-long
2.  Definitive-short
3.  Inferential
4.  Vague
Category One - Definitive-long passages
Rom 12:3-8  For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 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. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 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.

1 Cor 12:1 - 14:40  Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 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. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. 12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 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. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.

13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. 3 But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified. 6 Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? 7 Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? 8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church. 13 For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. 16 If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. 20 Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 21 In the Law it is written: "Through men of strange tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me," says the Lord. 22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, 25 and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!" 26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two--or at the most three--should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God. 29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the congregations of the saints, 34 women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. 35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.  36 Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37 If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. 38 If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored. 39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

Eph 4:1-16  As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."  9 (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

I Peter 4:8-11 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Category Two - Definitive-short passages
Matt 10:1,8  He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. . . . Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Acts 2:4  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Heb 2:4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Category Three - Inferential passages
Matt 7:15-20 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Acts 19:6  When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

1 Cor 4:7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

1 Thes 5:20  . . . do not treat prophecies with contempt.

Eph 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Category Four - Vague passages
Matt 25:24-30 "Then the man who had received the one talent came. `Master,' he said, `I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'  26 "His master replied, `You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.  28 " `Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Rom 1:11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong--

1 Cor 1:7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.

1 Tim 4:11-14 Command and teach these things. 12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

2 Tim 1:3-8 I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner.

Step 5 -- Scrutinize         覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧

Observation 1:  The various lists of spiritual gifts are different in each of the passages.  There is a lot of repetition, but each list is unique.  Also, some of the gifts appear to be similar to other gifts or inclusive of other gifts.
 

1.   Apostles, 1 Cor 12:28;  Eph 4:11
2.   Evangelist, Eph 4:11
3.   Prophesying/prophecy/prophets, Rom 12:6, 1 Cor 12:10, 28;  13:2, 8; 14:1;  Eph 4:11
4.   Teaching/teachers/speaking, Rom 12:7; 1 Cor 12:28;  1 Pet 4:11
5.   Pastors and teachers, Eph 4:11
6.   Encouraging, Rom 12:8
7.   Showing mercy, Rom 12:8
8.   Message of wisdom, 1 Cor 12:8
9.   Message of knowledge/fathom all mysteries and all knowledge/
      knowledge/word of instruction, 1 Cor 12:8;  13:2, 8;  14:16
10.  Revelation, 1 Cor 14:26, 30
11.  Faith, 1 Cor 12:9;  13:2
12.  Healing, 1 Cor 12:9, 28;  Matt 10:1,8
13.  Miraculous powers/workers of miracles, 1 Cor 12:10, 28
14.  Distinguishing between spirits, 1 Cor 12:10
15.  Authority to drive out evil spirits, Matt 10:1, 8
16.  Tongues, Acts 2:4;  1 Cor 12:10, 28;  13:1, 8, 14:2 etc.
17.  Interpretation of tongues, 1 Cor 12:10, 30
18.  Contributing to others' needs/giving, Rom 12:8;  13:3
19.  Serving/helping others, Rom 12:7;  1 Cor 12:28;  1 Pet 4:11
20.  Leadership, Rom 12:8
21.  Administration, 1 Cor 12:28
22.  Hymn (music?), 1 Cor 14:26
       (counted as a spiritual gift because it is listed alongside 4 others)

Observation 2: In the context of each passage in category 1, the lists serve only to illustrate and emphasize other points such as

In fact, there are no injunctions to "find your gift" or "know your gift."

Observation 3:  The nature of tongues in Acts 2:4 is obviously human foreign languages, for the various nations and regions are mentioned in verses 5-12.  However, the nature of tongues in 1 Cor 14 is not so easy to determine.  Paul's discussion of tongues in 1 Cor 14 appears at first to be equivocal as far as the nature of tongues is concerned.  That is, you could read through the entire passage substituting "heavenly language" for "tongue" and each verse would make sense.  At the same time, you could substitute "human foreign language" for "tongue" and each verse would also make sense.

However, there is one exception, namely, verse 21, which is a quotation from Isaiah 28:11 (and possibly the end of verse 12).  In its context, Isaiah 28:11 is part of a woe upon Israel ("Ephraim," v. 1).  The phrase "foreign lips and strange tongues" is a reference to the language of the Assyrians who were soon to conquer Israel in 722 BC.  At the time Isaiah was addressing these Israelites they were unbelieving.  They had not heeded God's earlier messages and God was going to have to "speak" to them through the Assyrian captivity and occupation.  Paul's point appears to be this:  you might expect to hear tongues when you are disbelieving and under God's judgment (for this is what happened to Israel), but in the church the use of prophecy in the common language is more appropriate.  Thus, verse 21 is univocal -- it can refer only to a human foreign language.  If tongues in 1 Corinthians 14 are heavenly languages, then Paul's injection of this reference to a human foreign language by quoting Isaiah 28:11 would be a non sequitur.

But it is clear that Paul intends his reference to the language of the Assyrians to be relevant to his discussion of tongues in the remainder of the chapter, for in verse 22 he says "Tongues, then, are a sign . . . for unbelievers."  Thus, verse 21 can be seen as a key to the interpretation of the nature of tongues in the entire chapter.  In other words, "tongues" throughout the entire chapter is a reference to human foreign languages.

This fact (that when the believing church gathers, prophecy in the common language is more appropriate than tongues) is something which should be evident to the Corinthians.  Just before citing the Isaiah passage Paul tells the Corinthians to "stop thinking like children" (verse 20).  And immediately after making the point that tongues are a sign for unbelievers, he shows that even nonbelievers who observe their meetings would understand this.  This is the basis for Paul's comments in verse 23 that unbelievers who observe the church trying to communicate in foreign languages will say that "you are out of your mind."  In contrast, these same unbelievers will be convinced of the church's sanity when they hear believers prophesying in the common language, will understand the discussion, and will say that "God is really among you."

Unfortunately, J. B. Phillips, in his paraphrase, alters verse 22 to say that tongues "are a sign . . . to those who already believe."  There is no textual evidence for such a reading.  Phillips' includes a footnote which explains that he feels that the alteration is needed because either Paul or a copyist made a mistake here.  Phillips fails to see the connection between the "unbelievers" of verse 22 and the "this people" of verse 21.  Instead, he mistakenly equates the "unbelievers" of verse 22 with the "unbelievers" of verses 23 and 24.

Note on an apparent problem in Eph 4:8:  This verse is a quotation from Psalm 68:18, but there appears to be a discrepancy, for Eph 4:8 reads "gave gifts to men" whereas the psalm reads "received gifts from men."  The NIV Study Bible incorrectly suggests that Paul is quoting the Septuagint (see its note on Ps 68:18), but the Septuagint actually gives the literal rendering "You did take ...".  Instead, Paul's quotation is an interpretation which sees the taking/receiving of gifts as having only one purpose, to give them to others.  Paul thus uses a figure of speech similar to a synecdoche in which he reads the means (taking/receiving gifts) but writes the end (giving gifts to men).  This is the same interpretation given in the Aramaic Targum, the interpretive translation of the passage from Hebrew into Aramaic. (See Gleason Archer's discussion of Eph 4:8 in Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, Zondervan, 1982)

Step 6 -- Synthesize

Here is a definition of spiritual gifts which attempts to build on the way they are discussed in the above passages:  A spiritual gift is an activity which is powered by the Holy Spirit and which contributes to the spiritual life and growth of another person.  This definition views a spiritual gift as an activity rather than as an ability possessed by a believer (compare 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, "gifts . . . service . . . working").  It also allows an external focus on others rather than in internal focus, which is consistent with the purpose of gifts -- the common good, the meeting of others' needs, and the building up of the body toward Christian maturity.

Observation 1 (from step 5 above) would lead one to conclude that the lists are not intended as a formal or complete list of gifts, as though believers should limit their understanding of how they can serve the body to these particular gifts.

Observation 2 (from step 5 above) shows that the focus in these passages is not on the gifts, or the person possessing the gifts, but on the needs of others.  If a person is sensitive to the needs of others (Eph 4:29) and with God's help tries to further the spiritual life and growth of others, he is using his spiritual "gift" in the proper way.

This leads to a "dynamic" view of gifts.  That is, a person's way of helping others may be different in different groups.  If at one time you are in a group that needs your knowledge and insight, your "gift" to them should be in line with that need.  But if at another time you are in a group which has more knowledge and insight than you, then you may find a different way to make a contribution.  This is just the opposite of a "static" view of gifts in which a person focus on himself and his gifts, and is thus less sensitive to the needs of those around him.

To what degree are spiritual gifts supernatural and miraculous?  On the one hand the term "gift" is applied to some things that are obviously spiritual and miraculous, such as salvation (Ezek 11:19;  Rom 5:15-16;  6:23;  8:32;  John 1:12;  Eph 2:8-9).  Also, some gifts, such as miraculous powers, are obviously spiritual in themselves.  On the other hand, some of God's gifts are natural and received by all, such as life (Isa 42:5) and rain (Matt 5:45).  Also, just because God gives a gift does not mean that it has to be unique, for he gives wisdom to all believers who ask (James 1:5).  Thus some of the gifts may be natural talents received from the Lord, even received and partially developed before one becomes a believer.  In the case of these non-miraculous gifts, it may well be that what makes the gift spiritual is not the gift itself, but the spiritually mature attitude of the believer as he uses the gift to serve others.

What about Paul's restriction on a woman speaking in the church (1 Cor 14:33-35)?  Does this restriction refer specifically to the woman speaking in tongues?  Although this is introduced by an appeal to consistency -- "as in all the congregations of the saints" -- one wonders how to understand this consistency in light of the exceptions, such as the woman who prophesies (1 Corinthians 11:5) and the instruction given to Apollos by Priscilla and Aquilla (Acts 18:24).

Step 7 -- Compare         覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧

Step 8 -- Apply         覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧
 
 

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Copyright © 2001, Ronald W. Leigh