Gifts of the Holy Spirit

 

8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gift of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kind of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.          1 Corinthians 12:8-10

28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that, miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.               1 Corinthians 12:28

6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.              Romans 12:6-8

11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.               Ephesians 4:11-12 

9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint. 10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God   1 Peter 4:9-10

The above passages contain references to spiritual gifts, as Paul and Peter have reported in their letters. From those Scriptures, the list of gifts with a brief explanation below is derived. A separate chapter entitled "The Holy Spirit and the Common Good" covers the basic ground rules for the individual exercise of spiritual gifts, as defined most clearly in 1 Corinthians 12 by the Apostle Paul. It is evident that church members demonstrated many spiritual gifts, but their exercise was being abused. Spiritual gifts must originate from the Holy Spirit, and He apportions these gifts to each individual, just as He wills. The perversion of these gifts, as recognized in Corinth, continues until this day and has caused great division within Christianity. When properly employed, they provide fullness to the Body of Christ. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25).

1.      Leadership: encouraging and helping others to build the kingdom of God (Romans 12:8)

2.      Administration: helping with long-term goals and remaining on task (1 Corinthians 12:28)

3.      Teaching: instructing in truths and doctrines of God’s Word (Romans 12:7)

4.      Knowledge: teaching and discipleship. The ability to learn, know, and explain God’s Word (1 Cor. 12:8)

5.      Wisdom: the ability to discern works of the Holy Spirit and apply teaching and actions (1 Cor. 12:8)

6.      Discernment: being able to recognize the truth about a situation (1 Corinthians 12:10)

7.      Exhortation: enthusiastic about the Lord and can motivate others (Rom 12:8)

8.      Shepherding: looking out for the spiritual welfare of others (Romans 12:8)

9.      Faith: trusting God to fulfill His plan. People with this gift are encouragers. (1 Corinthians 12:9)

10.  Evangelism: the building up of the church so others will be led to Christ (Ephesians 4:11)

11.  Apostleship: motivators, church planters, missionaries: people who look beyond the walls (1 Cor. 12:28)

12.  Service/Helps: helping those in need of practical assistance (Romans 12:7)

13.  Mercy: The person with this gift shows acts of compassion (Romans 12:8)

14.  Giving: People with this gift will give freely and with joy to further His kingdom (Romans 12:8)

15.  Hospitality: Making people feel welcome, appreciated, and wanted (1 Peter 4:9)

16.  Prophecy - This refers not to ordinary religious discourses for the edification of the Church but to such a forth speaking of the mind of God in relation to truth, duty, or coming events as the inward action of the Holy Spirit on the mind may produce. That the gift of foretelling (predicting) future events was possessed in the early Church, we see from such instances as Acts 2:27,28; 21:11, etc., but the prophetic of the New Testament does not generally relate to this; it usually has reference to the utterance of doctrine given by revelation from God.              Spiros Zodhiates

17.  Tongues - It is clear from the study of the NT that there were two distinct uses of the word "tongue." One was the promised gift of languages (glossai) other than one's own native language. Corinth was a prosperous Roman city during Paul’s time. There were many languages spoken, including Greek, Latin, Italian, Hebrew, and Aramaic. This gift was for those who were going to be baptized in the Holy Spirit into the body of Jesus Christ, and they were to be used to affirm the Gospel as happened in the historical context of Jerusalem at Pentecost and involving Jewish believers. Whenever the word glossa in the sing. with a sing. subj. or pron. is used, translated in the KJV "unknown tongue" (1 Cor 14:2,4,13,14,19,26,27), it refers to the Corinthian practice of speaking in incoherent sounds not comprehended and, therefore, not an ordinarily spoken language. Such was the unknown language of the priestesses spoken in the oracles at Delphi.            Spiros Zodhiates

18.   Interpretation (Translation) of Tongues        

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned but do not have love, it profits me nothing.                         1 Corinthian 3:1-3

1 Corinthians 12 discloses the individual gifts, 1 Corinthians 13 (including the last verse in chapter 12 and the first in chapter 14) speaks of the absolute necessity of love as the foundational motivation of every spiritual gift, and 1 Corinthians 14 addresses the public use of three gifts: prophecy, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues. Chapter 14 includes the most controversial conversation dealing with these three. Spiros Zodhiates, according to many, the foremost Greek scholar of the twentieth century, wrote extensively on the subject of prophecy, speaking in tongues, and their interpretation and may be the correct source in understanding the Apostle Paul and his treatment of the subject in 1 Corinthians 14.

1 Pursue [chase after] love [agape], yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy [propheteuo – speak forth the oracles and commandments of God, knowable]. 2 For [in truth, in fact] one who speaks in a tongue [glossa – incoherent sounds] does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands [akouei – hear with the ear of the mind], but in his spirit [not the Holy Spirit] he speaks mysteries. 3 But one who prophesies speaks to [all] men for edification [oikodomen – systematically builds up] and exhortation [paraklesin – encouragement] and consolation [paramuthia – comfort]. 4 One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but one who prophesies edifies the church [local assembly of believers]. 5 Now I wish that you all spoke [as a gift, ability] in tongues [glossais – other known languages], but even more that [hina – in order that] you would prophesy [as a gift, ability]; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets [diermeneue – translate, explain clearly], so that the church may receive edifying. 6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you [opheleo – useful] unless I speak to you either by way of revelation [apokalupsis – uncovering] or of knowledge [gnosis – progressive knowledge] or of prophecy [propheteia - telling forth what is known of revelation] or of teaching [didache - elaboration of the declaration]? 7 Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? 8 For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9 So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear [eusemon – distinct], how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning [unexpressive]. 11 If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian [uncivilized], and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me. 12 So also you, since you are zealous [zelotai – eagerly desire] of spiritual gifts [spirits, spiritual experiences], seek [zeteite – endeavor, strive] to abound [perisseuete – excel] for the edification of the church. 13 Therefore, let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit [not the Holy Spirit] prays, but my mind [nous – understanding] is unfruitful [akarpos – unprofitable, bad fruit]. 15 What is the outcome, then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you bless [eulogies – speak well of] in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the "Amen" [truth] at your giving of thanks since he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you are giving thanks [eucharisteo – well-pleased with God’s grace] well enough, but the other person [heteros – one who is different] is not edified. 18 I thank God, I speak in tongues [languages] more than you all; 19 however, in the church, I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.                  1 Corinthians 14:1-19 

This chapter is the only place in Scripture that speaks of an “unknown tongue” as the KJV translates the singular form of the Greek word glossa. When certain factions within the evangelical Christian community believe it to be a language the believer may use to speak directly with God, they create new doctrines not intended by the Apostle Paul and an accurate interpretation of 1 Corinthians 14. To properly interpret the Apostle’s intended meaning, you must consider that Corinth was a great Roman city in Paul’s day, and the church members spoke many different languages. At the same time, it was a pagan city with many worship practices that included repeating incoherent sounds; the church at Corinth adopted some of those practices. 

After his command to chase after agape love in verse 1, desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. As stated above, the vast majority of New Testament mentions of prophecy can be defined as “speak forth the oracles and commandments of God.” In verse 3, But one who prophesies speaks to [all] men for edification, encouragement, and comfort. Prophesying is better than speaking in tongues because it addresses and edifies believers, while the gift of tongues is for unbelievers. In verse 22, So then, tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe.      

Paul recognized that the many different languages represented by the Corinthian culture exemplified challenges in the comprehensive teaching of doctrine. The gift of tongues as referred to at Pentecost (Acts 2:4), Caesarea (Acts 10:44-46), and Ephesus (Acts 19:1-6) are all speaking of known languages as evidenced by the context and the fact that the Greek word glossa is in the plural. Any teaching of doctrine should be spoken in the language of the audience. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God (1 Corinthians 14:26-28). Greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets (translates or explains clearly) (verse 5). One thing is clear: the unknown tongue is not a gift from the Holy Spirit but incoherent sounds originating from man’s spirit. They can be easily manipulated by the spirit world and mislead honest believers desiring to hear from God. 

Prophesying, or speaking forth the oracles and commandments of God, is the product of love for God and men. It speaks a language that others understand. Its object is neither self nor God but others to whom God wants to speak through us… Prophesy is knowable, understandable human language. Being understood is a first and necessary step to edification, exhortation, and comfort. Our speech must always have a purpose. We must always ask ourselves, “Does anyone but me benefit from what I am saying?” If not, says Paul, love requires that you keep quiet. Paul does not refer to personal edification in this verse [verse 3], but speaking for the benefit of others, the whole context here is the local assembly of believers.              Spiros Zodhiates

 

 

References

Zodhiates, Spiros. “Speaking in Tongues and Public Worship” AMG Publishers