The Bible teaches that God sovereignly distributes spiritual gifts among believers according to His will and for the edification of the church. Every believer receives at least one spiritual gift upon salvation. The Holy Spirit determines which gift(s) each believer receives (1 Corinthians 12:11). There are different kinds of spiritual gifts mentioned in Scripture, including gifts of speaking, serving, leadership, giving, mercy, faith, discernment, knowledge, and more. God matches these gifts with the needs of the church and with believers’ personalities and abilities, so that all parts work together harmoniously (Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31).
God distributes spiritual gifts for several key reasons:
- To glorify God and testify to His presence and work (1 Peter 4:10-11)
- To edify and build up the church (Ephesians 4:12-13)
- To overcome trials and spread the Gospel (Romans 1:11-12)
- To meet practical needs in the church (Acts 6:1-7)
- To equip believers for ministry and service (2 Timothy 1:6-7)
Every Christian receives at least one gift from the Spirit (1 Peter 4:10). No gift is given to every believer, but the Spirit distributes gifts according to His sovereign will (1 Corinthians 12:11). The gifts are apportioned uniquely to each person as the Spirit determines. There is diversity in the gifts, but they all come from one Triune God (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).
The Bible lists spiritual gifts in passages like Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-30, Ephesians 4:11, and 1 Peter 4:9-11. Categories of gifts include:
- Speaking Gifts – prophecy, teaching, exhortation, word of wisdom, word of knowledge (1 Corinthians 12:8; Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:11)
- Serving Gifts – serving, helps, giving, showing mercy, faith (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:28)
- Sign Gifts – healing, miracles, tongues, interpretation of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:9-10, 28)
- Leadership Gifts – apostleship, administration, leadership (1 Corinthians 12:28; Romans 12:8; Ephesians 4:11)
- Discernment Gifts – distinguishing between spirits, prophecy (1 Corinthians 12:10; Romans 12:6)
There is only one Holy Spirit, who sovereignly distributes gifts to each believer (1 Corinthians 12:11). God knows what gifts each person needs and which gifts will best serve the body. Every Christian receives at least one gift at the time of salvation (Romans 12:3-8; Ephesians 4:7-8). Believers do not choose their gifts; rather, the Spirit fittingly distributes them. Spiritual gifts are received by grace alone and cannot be earned.
The gifts mentioned in Scripture are not exhaustive but rather examples of some common gifts God gives. Other gifts not directly named may exist as well. The gifts have shifting roles and purposes across ages, but all are given by the unchanging Holy Spirit and for the ultimate purpose of glorifying God.
There are differing beliefs on whether all the gifts mentioned in the New Testament are still distributed today. Cessationists believe some of the sign gifts like tongues and prophecy ceased with the closing of the New Testament canon. Continuationists believe all gifts mentioned in the New Testament can still be given today. Both views believe the Holy Spirit continues to give spiritual gifts to believers today, as He determines.
Spiritual gifts are distributed to all believers but look different in each person. Some believers may have multiple gifts, while some may have one dominate gift. For example, one may have a strong gift of teaching while another has an unusual capacity for giving. The Spirit specially tailors and apportions the various gifts to equip believers for ministry. Some keys for believers in using spiritual gifts include:
- Discover your gift(s) – Assess your God-given abilities, talents, and passions (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Peter 4:10-11)
- Develop your gift(s) – Practice, train, study to improve your giftedness (1 Timothy 4:14-16; 2 Timothy 1:6)
- Depend on the Spirit – Rely on the Spirit’s empowerment to use gifts effectively (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)
- Desire spiritual gifts – Follow biblical instruction to eagerly desire spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:31; 14:1)
- Deploy your gift(s) – Use your gifts diligently to serve others and edify the church (1 Corinthians 14:12; Ephesians 4:12)
In summary, the Holy Spirit sovereignly distributes spiritual gifts to believers for the benefit of the church and fulfillment of God’s purposes. Every Christian receives at least one gift upon salvation. The gifts differ across believers but work together harmoniously by the Spirit’s design. Believers are to steward and develop their gifts dependent on the Spirit’s empowerment. Spiritual gifts should be eagerly desired and deployed for God’s glory in the world.
Additional key passages on spiritual gifts:
Romans 12:6-8 – “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 – “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.”
Ephesians 4:11-13 – “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”
1 Peter 4:10-11 – “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
