The Gifts of the Spirit by David Bernard

Sat, 18 Jan 2025 21:09:37 +0000

In 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 Paul mentions the following gifts of the Holy Spirit:

The word of wisdom
The word of knowledge
Faith
Gifts of healing
Workings of miracles
Prophecy
Discerning of spirits
Different kinds of tongues
Interpretation of tongues
It doesn’t seem like this is a comprehensive list of all the spiritual gifts, but that he mentions these merely as examples, for later in the chapter he adds:

Gifts of helping
Gifts of administration
He also writes:

“There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.” 1 Corinthians 12:5-6.

But then Paul adds: “The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.” In other words, gifts of the Holy Spirit are meant to be profitable, to meet a need. Paul writes further about the body where the members are different (he means that not everybody has to have the same spiritual gifts) and that the members of the body should care for each other. In this connection (care for each other) we also need spiritual gifts. And then he ends the chapter with: “But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.” 1 Corinthians 12:31.