As a professor, I am often asked what my stand is on the various gifts of the Spirit. Some of my students are cessationists and some are continuationists. Some are decidedly non-Charismatic and some are Charismatic.
One thing that I believe that we all hold in common on this topic is that there has been and is a lot of ignorance and abuse of the gifts of the Spirit. One need only watch so-called Christian TV for a while to see some of the most amazing abuses of the so-called gifts of the Spirit. In fact, if Christian TV was the only source of information on the gifts, I would have to agree with the cessationists that the abundant circus-like side shows claiming to be manifestations of the Spirit are solid indicators that the true gifts have ceased. I am nauseated by money-hungry people claiming that God has revealed to them, via some supernatural gift, that if you send them your money, God will supply you with a new car, new refrigerator, and so on.
However, the sideshow reality notwithstanding, our source of truth about the gifts rests not with charlatans and con-men, but with the Scriptures.
I wrote a PhD dissertation on the nine manifestations of the Spirit found in 1 Corinthians 12. Today, as I was reviewing certain portions of that work, I began to realize that some of my introductory and concluding remarks of that work were almost entirely self-explanatory and could be used as a Coffee Talk in an of itself to give people an adequate understanding of my theology of the gifts.
So, for this CT, I have simply reproduced some of my remarks from that work. (which can be purchased from the Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN ).
Qualifier: The first thing to remember is that this is a Coffee Talk, and as such it is not a full-blown research paper on the topic of the gifts. For that, you can read my dissertations (or wait until they come out as books).
This CT is submitted only as a general overview of my theology on the gifts of the Spirit. Please understand that I can neither discuss all of the ramifications of the gifts nor list and discuss all of the Scriptures dealing with the gifts in a Coffee Talk. I do not claim a definitive status for any of my Coffee Talks. They are just articles, not exhaustive treatments.
Manifestations of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12)
The reason this title is given to this list of gifts is because it is not talking about people, but gifts which when exercised through Christians show forth the presence (or manifestation) of the Holy Spirit. For example, when a true gift of healing functions, one can be certain that the Holy Spirit has just manifested His presence.
Three Sub-categories within the Manifestations
There are three sub-categories within the Manifestations of the Spirit: (a) revelation gifts by which God reveals something to a Christian; (b) power gifts by which God acting through human agency does something miraculous; and (c) vocal gifts by which God speaks to His people through an individual.
Proper Titles
A continual problem that leads to misunderstanding is incorrect nomenclatures for these gifts. Some people have written books, preached sermons, and given lectures on these manifestations of the Spirit and all the while they did not even have the correct titles. For example, the first one on our list is a "word of wisdom." This is not the "gift of wisdom." It is the gift of the "word of wisdom." Next, it is not the "gift of knowledge"--a title that has lead to all sorts of erroneous conclusions, but rather it is the gift of a "word of knowledge." So, as we go through this list of manifestations, keep in mind that we must stick with the biblical nomenclatures if we are going to understand the biblical gifts.
A. Revelation Gifts
1. Word of Wisdom
2. Word of Knowledge
3. Discerning of Spirits
B. Power Gifts
4. Faith
5. Workings of Miracles
6. Gifts of Healings
C. Vocal Gifts
7. Prophecy
8. Tongues
9. Interpretation of Tongues
A. Revelation Gifts
1. Word of Wisdom: The word of wisdom is logos sophias (literally: message or utterance of wisdom). A word of wisdom, then, is an utterance of a fragment of God's infinite wisdom imparted to a believer by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of solving a problem, answering a question, or clearly expressing the will of God.
An example of this in the life of Jesus Christ may be seen when some were trying to trick him with regard to paying taxes. Jesus asked them whose inscription was on the coin. Then, he gave a word of wisdom which did all three: solved a problem, answered a question, and clearly expressed the will of God:
"Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away (emphasis added, Matthew 22:19-21).
2. Word of Knowledge: The word of knowledge is logos gnosis (literally: message or utterance of knowledge). Thus, it is fragment of God's knowledge imparted to a believer by the Holy Spirit. Through this gift, the Holy Spirit makes known to a person something that God knows but that the receiver does not. There could be a number of reasons why God would impart a fragment of His knowledge to someone. He might impart a specific understanding of Scripture to someone. He might impart a fragment of His knowledge to someone of an impending disaster of a loved one so that the person might pray for the person in trouble. He might impart a fragment of His divine knowledge to a Christian counselor about a person whom he is helping.
An example of this gift in operation in the life of Peter may be seen in Acts chapter five where the word of knowledge is given to reveal corruption in the hearts of the married couple Ananias and Sapphira. Peter received "inside" information about the deceit of Ananias and Sapphira. They were attempting to lie to the apostles concerning a certain real estate transaction. However, Peter received a word of knowledge from the Holy Spirit revealing the deceptive nature of the couple's actions. When Ananias lied to Peter, God revealed to Peter the deception through this word of knowledge, and Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land" (Acts 5:3)? Peter knew something at that moment that he had no way of knowing unless God had imparted it to him by divine revelation.
3. Discerning of Spirits: Discerning of Spirits is diakrisis pneumaton (literally: distinguishing of spirits). This is the divinely imparted ability to know (discern) the presence of God's Spirit, evil spirits, or human spirits. People often perpetuate confusion by speaking of the "gift of discernment "as if there were such a gift in 1 Corinthians 12:10. There isn't. The discerning of spirits is the ability to discern spirits; it is not the "gift of discernment." Therefore, it is not the ability to know something personal about another person. Some people who claim to have this dubious "gift of discernment" (or "personal insight into the lives and minds of others) are simply adept at being critical of others. These people claim to have "God's inside information" about others. I once met a women (a so-called "prophetess") who claimed to have this fallacious gift. She would sit in a restaurant and point out people throughout the room and start saying what was going on in their lives and what was wrong with their personalities or characteristics. Rather than challenging her exegetically, I asked her to actually talk to those people she claimed to have insights on, but she refused. How could she possibly know that these things were going on in the lives of these people if she didn't confirm her "revelations" by talking with the people themselves? Notice that when Peter received a revelation about Ananias, he spoke to him about it (Acts 5)! It was abundantly evident that this women was a fraud. Not only did she claim a gift that simply did not exist, but she never confirmed her "revelations" and simply expected people to believe whatever she "perceived" about others. (By the way, she "perceived" that I was unspiritual and obstinate because I would not accept her "giftedness from God.")
Discerning of spirits is for the distinguishing of spirits, not personalities or flawed characteristics in people. An actual case of discernings of spirits comes to us from the book of Acts. Acts 16 records that a slave girl possessed by an evil spirit followed Paul and his companions and shouted out, "These men are servants of the most high God, who are telling you the way to be saved" (Acts 16:17). Her actions flowed from the wrong spirit. Finally, after a few days, Paul commanded the evil spirit to come out of her. It appears, then, that Paul knew of her evil spirit possession by divine revelation, a discernings of spirits. Remember, this is the gift of discernings of spirits, not the "gift of discernment."
B. Power Gifts
4. Faith: The word faith is pistis (literally: a firm persuasion). It should be remembered that this is the gift of faith; thus, it is not the same thing as "regular faith." This particular faith is the divine impartation of a total trust in God which produces a calm control in the face of extreme difficulties. This is the God-given active condition of the spirit of a person holding on to the truth and trusting in the fact that God can do anything. It is the supernatural ability that God imparts to some Christians when it is needed to believe Him for the unbelievable; it is the supernatural capacity to turn one's life over to God in the most difficult situations. A biblical example of this particular kind of faith (gift of faith) is seen in the life of the prophet Daniel. He was thrown into a den of lions (Daniel 6:16-23). During his "sleep-over" with the lions, he did not rebuke the lions, nor did he command them not to eat him. Daniel's faith showed no such outward action as rebuking or commanding. However, there was action in his spirit. The Scripture records, "And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God" (emphasis added, 6:23b).
This exercise of the gift of faith in this instance may be referred to as "calm control." For that is exactly how Daniel handled the problem: he was calm, and through the faith that God gave him, he was in control (i.e., he remained composed).
5. Workings of Miracles: The Greek words are energema dunamis (literally energy power). The workings of miracles is God and man acting together to produce the supernatural. The Bible is full of such miracles. Two outstanding accounts are seen in the life of Moses: (1) the parting of the Red Sea as Moses lifted his rod, and (2) water from the rock as Moses struck the rock with his rod.
It needs to be understood that the gift called a workings of miracles is not the same thing as miracles. A miracle is simply God's sovereign operation of producing a miracle. In the gift of the workings of miracles ,God is the agent Who gives the power and the person is the instrument whom God uses to bring about the miraculous. To help clarify the distinction between miracles and the working of miracles, a table is given below showing some biblical examples of the two categories:
God does not need a human's assistance to produce a miracle. However, the gift of the workings of miracles is brought about with a person's active involvement: the workings of miracles is a co-operative act between God and His chosen human vessel.
6. Gifts of Healings: This phrase in Greek is charismata iamaton (literally gifts of healings ,both plural). This gift is the God-given ability to heal people afflicted with various sicknesses and diseases. The gifts of healings is not to be confused with sovereign healings. God may and does heal without any human instrumentality. The gifts of healings, however, is a partnership act between God and a human through whom the Holy Spirit manifests himself by healing a person in need. However, the person so used does not become a "healer." God alone is the healer, and people are healed when He touches them through His human instrumentality.
C. Vocal Gifts
7. Prophecy: In 1 Corinthians 12:10, the gift of prophecy is propheteia (literally: to speak forth). Prophecy, then, is a supernatural speaking of God's Word, in the common language, for the purpose of edification, exhortation, and comfort. This is not preaching. Some have attempted to identify the gift of prophecy with preaching, but such an understanding is not supported by Scripture.
8. Tongues: The Greek word for tongue is glossa , and the Greek word for speak is lalia . Thus, glossolalia is to speak in tongues. The gift of speaking in tongues is a supernatural speaking in another language for the purpose of edification, exhortation, and comfort, or speaking to God in prayer and/or worship.
9. Interpretation of Tongues: The gift of interpretation, hermaneia (literally, interpretation) of tongues, is the God-given ability to understand the meaning of a message in tongues and to speak forth that interpretation so that others may understand the message and be edified.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
Do Not Be Ignorant
In this dissertation this researcher has attempted to take seriously the desire of the apostle Paul when he said, "Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant" (1 Corinthians 12:1). It was Paul's desire that Christians understand the gifts and their functions.
It is truly a remarkable negative that many churches and denominations function in the extremes with regard to the gifts of which Paul does not want them to be ignorant. And, by so doing, they fall into the very morass of ignorance that Paul wanted them to avoid.
On the one hand, some churches have summarily dismissed the gifts and their function based upon preconceived notions of "cessationism." This is done in spite of Paul's clear admonition in 1 Corinthians 14:1 where he says, "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy" (emphasis added).
On the other hand, some churches exalt the gifts of God beyond the Word of God and seemingly, sometimes, even beyond God Himself. Some even accept supposed prophecies without spiritual discernment or carefully weighing what is said in light of the Scriptures, upon which all of our spiritual discernment and judgments should be based. Paul is every bit as clear on this point when he says, "Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said . . . The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace" (emphasis added, 1 Corinthians 14:29, 32-33a).
The Scriptural Balance
There is a Scriptural balance for which each Christian is responsible to strive. The gifts are for today and serve as a blessing to the church and to its function in both edifying the body of Christ and extending the kingdom of God. However, these gifts are grace gifts given to help Christians function in the ministry to which God has called them, and these gifts should not be elevated above their God-given stature. They are spiritual, but they do not make the recipient supra-spiritual. Paul, once again, shows the balance that we must have: "Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good" (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21).
The Balance
On the Negative side: Paul says, (1) Don't put out the Spirit's fire, and (2) Don't treat prophecies with contempt.
On the Positive side: Paul says, (1) Test everything, and (2) Hold on to the good.
The Categories
As indicated above, some have helpfully categorized the nine gifts of 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 into three groups:
(1) Revelation Gifts. These are those that impart supernatural knowledge: word of wisdom, word of knowledge, and discernings of
spirits.
(2) Power Gifts. These are those that impart the ability to act in supernatural ways: faith, the workings of miracles, and the gifts of healings.
(3) Vocal Gifts. These are those that impart power to speak supernaturally: prophecy, tongues, and interpretation of tongues.
Supernatural in Origin
The nine gifts of 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 are supernatural in origin. However, the operation of these nine gifts is produced by a combination of the Divine and the human. It is a proverbial statement, within those circles of which this researcher has been a part, that God is not looking for perfect vessels in which to pour his gifts, only open and willing ones. So, while the gifts are supernatural in origin, the pneumatic is natural and subject to erring, and thus he or she must be willing to submit to correction and instruction by those in leadership who judge the supernatural gifts expressed through natural humans: "Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said" (1 Corinthians 14:29).
Understanding the Gifts Biblically
It has been shown that to understand and function in the gifts, one must understand them biblically; that is, one must understand their proper nomenclatures and functions from the exact Scriptural titles and implied exercises found within the pages of Scripture.
Too often people have been falsely armed with incorrect gift titles, labels, names, and designations. And, many have also been erroneously outfitted with gifts-function ideas that arise from personal, so-called spiritual experiences. This ill-equipping has done untold damage both to the church's theology of the gifts and to people in all theological camps. As indicated above, some have rejected and simply dismissed the gifts, and others have revered and nearly deified them.
Gifts-Theology Based in the Scriptures
It is only when our gifts-theology is firmly founded and based in the Scriptures that we can be sure and safe in the operation of the giftedness with which God has equipped us. It is within this biblical mind set that our charismatic exercises will serve as a humbling agent, attesting to our deep need for an intervention of the hand of God. It is also only within this biblical mind set that our charismatic exercises can truly benefit the body of Christ and serve to honor the giver of the gifts.
In all of this, the conclusion, though clearly and obviously missed by many, is rudimentary: it is fundamental that our gifts-theology must dawn, proceed, and set with the Scriptures.
Send comments about this, or any, Coffee Talk to Rick Walston at: CES @ ColumbiaSeminary.edu
(Please note that you will need to take the spaces out before and after the @ sign . . . this is placed this way to avoid spam emails.)
