Spiritual gifts in the Bible

The five passages that list spiritual gifts

• Romans 12:6-8

  Seven gifts: prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, ruling and shewing mercy. Each comes with how to use it, such as giving "with simplicity" and mercy "with cheerfulness."

  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

  Romans 12:6-8

• 1 Corinthians 12:8-10

  Nine gifts: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, the gifts of healing, the working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, divers kinds of tongues and the interpretation of tongues. All are given "by the same Spirit."

  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

  1 Corinthians 12:8-10

• 1 Corinthians 12:28

  Eight, the first three numbered: "first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers," then miracles, gifts of healings, helps, governments and diversities of tongues.

  And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

  1 Corinthians 12:28

• Ephesians 4:11

  People given to the church: apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers. Verse 12 gives the reason: "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry."

  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

  Ephesians 4:11-12

• 1 Peter 4:10-11

  Two broad kinds: speaking "as the oracles of God" and ministering "as of the ability which God giveth." Every believer has received a gift, to use "as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

  1 Peter 4:10-11

What the passages agree on

The gifts come from God, not from the person. "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will" (1 Corinthians 12:11).

The gifts are for others. "The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal" (1 Corinthians 12:7), and Peter says to "minister the same one to another."

Paul compares the church to a body with many members that do not all have "the same office" (Romans 12:4), and asks, "Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers?" (1 Corinthians 12:29).

The more excellent way

Right after the list in chapter 12, Paul writes, "covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way." Chapter 13 follows: without charity, even tongues, prophecy and faith that could remove mountains amount to nothing.

Do all the gifts continue today?

Christians hold differing views on this. Some believe all the gifts, including tongues, prophecy and healing, continue in the church today. Others believe some of them ceased after the time of the apostles, and many hold positions in between. Readers on each side point to 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 and other passages. This page lists what the texts name and leaves that question to your own study and church.

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:4 · KJV