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DISCIPLESHIP CLASS—LESSON FOUR GIFTS FROM GOD
Paul, in the Book of Romans, I Corinthians and Ephesians, talks about specific gifts that God gives to individual Christians and to churches as a whole.
The first of these discussions of gifts is found in Romans, chapter 12.
In verses 3 through 6, Paul starts out by telling us that God has provided each of us with differing gifts, and that, as members of one body, rely on each other’s gifts for the working together of the whole.
Paul’s first gift mentioned in Romans chapter 12, is given in verse 6, prophecy. Prophecy is defined in Vine’s Bible dictionary as the gift of speaking the mind and counsel of God. One of the gifts God gives to certain members of His body is the ability to present His Word and Will in a definitive manner. This gift tends to refer more to the condemnation of sin and call to repentance, as presenting the saving gospel is referred to more specifically as the gift of evangelism in I Corinthians.
Some think of prophecy as fortune telling, because that was something Old Testament prophets were sometimes able to do—foresee future events as the Spirit presented them. Today, we have no need for this aspect of prophecy in the supernatural sense, as the Word of God has been completed as the whole and perfect revelation of God’s will. There is an aspect of theology that we refer to as ‘prophecy’ in dealing with the future events as given in Revelation, as well as other books of the Bible.
The second gift we see in Romans chapter 12, is that of ministry. Ministry, as given in verse seven, refers to that gift some have to be natural servants. While we are all called to be servants one to another (Galatians 5:13), Paul makes it clear here that some of God’s people have a natural gift to have a servant’s attitude. Just because we are not given the gift of serving, or ministry, does not mean we should still work to serve each other, just as we should try to evangelize the lost, even if we are not specifically given that gift. The lack of a gift means we have to work a little harder in God’s power.
The third gift Paul mentions in that of teaching. Some Christians have the natural ability to be able to understand God’s Word and effectively communicate it to others so they understand it.
Next, Romans mentions the gift of exhortation. Parakaleo refers to the gift of urging, or being an encouragement to others in the local church. Those with this gift are very vital to the working of the local church because, without exhorters, churches would collapse with discouraged workers.
Then, Romans mentions the gift of giving. Metadidomi refers to the natural gift of imparting and sharing spiritual matters. Those with this gift are naturally cheerful givers of money, time, affection and so on. Again, not every one will have this gift, but all should try to be good givers as God has provided them.
Romans then refers to those with the gift of ruling, or proistemi. These are people with a natural gift for being to lead in the local church. Those with this gift make good pastors, deacons, teachers, and leaders of other church ministries.
Finally, Romans discusses the gift of mercy, eleos. We should all be merciful towards our brothers and sisters in Christ, but some people are given the gift to be naturally good at this. Mercy in verse 8 refers to displaying an outward manifestation of pity. Those with this gift make the church a loving, helpful environment.
Paul mentions these, but avoids any language that would imply that any one of these gifts is more important or desireable than any other. These gifts are those that God gives to Christians to exercise in the work and function of local churches.
Next, Paul describes gifts in I Corinthians chapter 12, verses 4 through 10.
Verses 4 through 6 reiterate the idea that the same Holy Spirit that works in each believer, grants different gifts to each of us. Verse 7 then explains that this done so that we each can profit, or gain and grow from the gift. These following verses, 8 through 10, explain gifts to us that have been given to help our individual growth as Christians, as well as to profit the church as a whole.
Verse 8 starts out discussing the gift of wisdom (sophia), and contrasts this with a separate gift altogether, knowledge (gnostos/gnostis). Wisdom is the gift given that enables Christians to gain an insight into the true nature of things. Wisdom is the ability to make the more prudient decisions; the ability to not only know, but also apply; the ability to know what to do and when.
Knowledge is a separate gift than wisdom. Gnostos is the gift of seeking after, and learning, spiritual truth. Knowledge is the gift of learning and knowing, without necessarily being able to use that to full benefit, whereas wisdom doesn’t require that you know a lot, but that you know how to use that you do know. Both of these are great gifts that edify us and are necessary for the growth of churches.
Verse 9 discusses faith. Faith is from the Greek word, pistis, and refers to the spiritual conviction that comes from hearing the Word of God, not from physical evidence. Faith is something we all should strive to attain, but some are given the gift of being able to be faithful.
Verse 9 also mentions the gift of healing. This is from iama, and does refer to the divinely imparted gift of physical healing. Apparently, Paul had this gift (refer to Acts chapter 20 when Paul raised Eutychus from the dead), but he obviously did not have this gift throughout his life, as he could not heal his own ‘thorn in the flesh’ (II Corinthians 12:7-10) or the illness of Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25-30). Thus, the conclusion is that Paul had this gift at one point and lost it, or that the Eutychus resurrection was a one-time situation.
Verse 10 gives us five gifts: miracles (dunamis), prophesy (prophetenia), discerning of spirits (diakrisis pneuma), tongues (glossa), and interpretation (hermeneuo). Miracles was the production of works of supernatural origin and character, such as are incapable of production by natural means. Other than initially in the book of Acts, we don’t see many examples of miracles in the Pauline letters or in his time, but obviously this was a gift some were able to exercise. We have no reason to believe that this gift continues today. Very few people today claim this spiritual gift, and the few that do, find themselves subject to much scrutiny, doubt and skepticism. Even the most famous of these modern day miracle workers, have no concrete proof of the things they claim to do.
Prophesy is the gift, as has been discussed before, of being able to speak forth the mind and counsel of God. In Paul’s time, this was done by the power of the Holy Spirit. Today, it still is by the working of the Spirit, but through the understanding and preaching of the Bible. This gift should be our proof that it is possible to know God’s will, and that the Bible is not subject to the interpretation of man.
Discernment of spirits is that gift of being to distinguish between moral and ungodly qualities, actions and people. Some Christians have the ability to be able to see sinfulness, or get a sense of false prophets, better than others. This is not judging that is forbidden in other parts of the Bible, which is the judgment of condemnation, but the judging that alerts us to danger, sinful behavior and bad influences.
Tongues (and the corresponding interpretation thereof) refers to the ability some Christians had of being able to speak in an existent language that person had never learned before. When we study chapter 14 of I Corinthians, we are given the strong impression that the speaker did not even know what was being said. This gift is totally different than the current usage of ‘tongues’, whereby the speaker speaks in babble that no one understands. The purpose of gifts was given because there were people of different cultures and languages within any given geographic region. Therefore, God had to make a way for everyone to be able to understand when preachers spoke in a church. There appears to be no need for this gift today, as churches in all parts of the world consist of people of the same languages. Plus, we have translated God’s written Word into many, if not most, of the known languages of the world. Also, man has greater ability and resources to learn other languages through study than common Christians would have had in Paul’s day.
Verses 11 through 26 (read on your own) gives us Paul’s beautiful metaphor which compares the differently gifted members of the church to the human body. Paul stresses the necessity of diversity of gifts to work one common goal. No members can function without the other members. Verse 22-24 stresses the honor glory we are to pay to the gifts which we would classify as lesser. This avoids any members puffing themselves up, thinking themselves to be more than others and causing divisions in our local churches.
In verse 28, Paul gives us the list of gifts that God has set in the churches:
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.
Apostles (apostolos) are those sent forth to the churches. It is not clear if Paul was referring to the apostles that were guiding all of the churches at this time, or if this would refer to pastors, evangelists, etc. Prophets refers to speaking the counsel of God, as examined above.
Teachers (didaskalos) are those that are given to the churches to teach them the truth of God’s Word. Miracles and healings were discussed above. Helps (antilepsis) refers to the ministration in the local church of rendering assistance to the weak and needy.
Governments (kubernosis) refers to those given to act as guides and leaders in the local churches. Diversities of tongues refers to the exercise of tongues in the churches as discussed above.
Paul closes chapter 12 by discussing in verses 29-31 the fact that we all have different gifts, none of us have every gift, and that we are to desire the best gifts as God would provide to us.
I Corinthians Chapter 14—Paul’s guide to understanding the gift of tongues.
Chapter 14 gives us the guide to the gift of tongues. Even in Paul’s day, this gift was apparently a divisive issue. Paul starts chapter 14 by telling us to desire the spiritual gifts, but do desire the gift of prophecy above the rest. Verse 2 is the verse that starts the specific conversation about tongues.
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
A literal Greek transliteration, taken from a Greek lexicon, reads this verse thus:
"For he that speaks with a tongue, not to men speaks, but to God: for no one hears; but in spirit he speaks mysteries (spiritual truth)."
Looking at the Greek transliteration, a tongue refers to a previously unlearned, but existing foreign language. If a person got up and spoke in the Corinthian church (or any other church) in a language not known to any in attendance, he would be speaking, at most, to God only, as no one else would understand.
Verses 4 and 5 shows us why we should value the gift of prophecy over tongues. Those that prophesy do so to the edification, or building up, of the body of the church, whereas those that spoke in tongues unknown to any in the church could only, at most, build themselves up. Verse 12 will remind us as well to strive for the gifts that edify others, and not ourselves.
In verses 6 though 9, Paul further explains that words spoken in church that are not understood by others are meaningless sounds, using the metaphors of trumpets and harps to express his point.
Verses 10 and 11 explain that if people are speaking in unintelligible languages with each other in church, they are making themselves to be strangers one to another, not the type of spirit that should be fostered in church.
In verses 13 through 17, Paul shows that he understands some were going to use this gift of tongues, probably regardless of what he had to say to them. Therefore, Paul tells them that if they are going to speak in languages, they should pray they would be able to interpret what they are saying so they can have a fruitful understanding, and therefore communicate their understanding to the listeners for the edification of all.
This further gives us more insight into the ‘tongues’ gift. Apparently, looking at what verses 13 through 17 tells us, the speaker of the tongues was not necessarily able to understand what they themselves were saying, thus not formulating the concepts, but speaking solely what the Spirit was saying through them. Also, the exercise of this gift appears to be something the person could do at his will, as this is understood by the context of the entire chapter.
In verses 18 and 19, Paul vindicates himself by stating he has this gift of tongues, but stresses his greater desire is to prophesy with few words than to speak thousands of words in an unknown tongue. The problem appears to be, in the Corinthian church, that people were focusing more esteem on the tongues gift and trying to out-do each other with this gift.
Verses 22 through 25 show us the true purpose of the gifts of tongues and prophecy. 22 tells us that tongues have been given for the sign to unbelievers and prophecy as the sign for believers. In other words, tongues were given for the understanding of those that had not yet been converted. Once converted, it was understanding by the Spirit through prophecy that was to be strived for. Paul, in 23 through 25, places the shoes on the other foot however. He says that if a non-believer was present in the church, and all members are trying to speak in different languages, that person is going to think everyone is crazy and not get anything out of the church, but if the members are prophesying, or preaching, then hopefully the non-believer will be convicted and saved.
Verses 26 through 33 are Paul’s anti-confusion verses.
of the church as a whole.
service, and that with an interpreter.
TONGUES. Notice today that most churches that use tongues today
do not provide interpretation. This is a sign of improper or false use
of the gift.
discern.
fashion, so that all can learn and be comforted.
32-33. The gift of prophecy is under the control of the prophets because God
wants the church run in order and peace, not out of control.
In verses 34 and 35, Paul addresses a subject that is touchy to many today.
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
Women were not to speak in the assemblies, and if any woman had a misunderstanding in church, she should go to her husband for understanding, and not bring up questions in assembly. This is not popular teaching today, but the text is pretty self-explanatory.
In verse 37, Paul challenges the prophets to accept what he has written as being authoritative of the Lord, as Paul’s own apostleship appears to have been a continuing issue among the Corinthians.
In verse 39, Paul again stresses the Corinthians to covet prophecy above any gift, but does not forbid tongues SUBJECT to the conditions of this chapter.
In verse 40, Paul stresses the goal of order and propriety in church administration.
The big question today revolves around the role of tongues in today’s churches. I don’t believe any church exercises this gift in a truly Biblical manner, nor are they capable of it. I don’t believe any church that practices tongues heeds Paul’s directions to interpret, because I don’t think it is possible. Personally, I believe this is a gift that is no longer exercised because, mostly, it is not needed. As pointed out earlier, churches and nations are mostly unilingual in nature, as opposed to Biblical times, when many different languages and dialects were often found in one region. Plus, the Bible has been translated into most of the known tongues of the world. With this fact, the need for the proper exercise of tongues has become extinct. Also noteworthy is the fact that any missionary that is sent into foreign fields goes through a formal training in the language of the nation they are entering. If the gift of tongues was still exercised today, this would be unnecessary.
The final discussion of gifts, Ephesians chapter 4, verses 8-12.
The final place in the Bible we see Paul talk about gifts is in Ephesians chapter 4. This really summarizes what we learned in Romans, chapter 12. In Ephesians 4:8, Paul reminds us of God providing gifts to men. In verse 11, Paul mentions the gifts God has given to the churches.
-apostles, ones sent forth from God to the churches
-prophets, proclaimers of God’s divine message and counsel
-evangelists, preachers of the gospel of salvation
-pastors, shepherds of the flock
-teachers, those teaching the truth of the Word in the churches.
Verse 12 reminds us of the purpose of gifts:
-perfecting of the saints (preparing the saints fully—katartismas)
-work of ministry (further service of believers—diakonia)
-edifying body of Christ (spiritual building—oikodome)