In 1 Cor 12, Paul writes that the gifts are different, but the Spirit is one: each person is given a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good, and the Spirit distributes the gifts as He wills. He mentions, in particular, the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healings, the working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, different kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues; other lists are found in Rom 12 and 1 Pet 4. None of these lists is described in the text as exhaustive.
What Does the Bible Say About This?
- 1 Cor 12:1–11: the gifts are different, but the Spirit is the same; ministries are different, but the Lord is the same; workings are different, but God is the same. Each person is given a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healings, the working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, different kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues; all these are carried out by one Spirit, distributing to each person as He wills.
- 1 Cor 12:27–31: believers are the Body of Christ; God appointed in the Church apostles, prophets, teachers, then miracles, gifts of healings, helps, leadership, and kinds of tongues. Paul asks whether all become apostles, prophets, and teachers, and whether all have gifts of healings; and he urges believers to earnestly desire the greater gifts.
- Rom 12:3–8: according to the grace given to us, we have different gifts; prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving with generosity, leading with diligence, and showing mercy with cheerfulness are named. Paul explains how one member of the body serves others and commands us to think humbly.
- Eph 4:7–16: grace was given to each according to the measure of Christ’s gift; Christ gave gifts to people; it then says that He appointed apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers for the building up of the Body of Christ, until we all come to the unity of the faith.
- 1 Pet 4:10–11: Peter commands believers to serve one another with the gift each has received, as stewards of God’s grace; whoever speaks should speak as the words of God, and whoever serves should do so with the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified.
- Interpretations differ as to whether all the gifts, particularly healing and tongues, continue in their former form; the passages cited do not specify how long they would continue.
The brief answer was prepared by the editorial team; the verse texts are from the “Father’s Blessing” Bible.
Key Scripture Passages
5 Scripture passages · “Father’s Blessing” Bible
1 Corinthians 12:1–11
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were Gentiles, you were led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I make known to you: No one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed.” And no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are different gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are different ministries, but the same Lord; 6 and there are different workings, but the same God, who works all things in everyone. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit a word of wisdom, and to another a word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit; 10 to another the working of miracles, and to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits, and to another different kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
1 Corinthians 12:27–31
27 You are the Body of Christ, and individually you are His members. 28 And God has appointed these in the Church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then miracles, then gifts of healings, helping, leadership, different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I will show you a more excellent way.
Romans 12:3–8
3 By the grace given to me, I say to everyone among you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but think with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given each person. 4 For just as in one body we have many members, but not all members have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members of one another. 6 Since we have different gifts according to the grace given to us, if you have the gift of prophecy, prophesy according to the measure of faith; 7 if you have a ministry, serve in it; if you are a teacher, teach; 8 if you are an exhorter, exhort; if you give, give generously; if you lead, lead diligently; if you show mercy, do so cheerfully.
Ephesians 4:7–16
7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says: When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men. 9 Now “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things. 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ, 13 until we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—, 16 from whom the whole Body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the Body for the edifying of itself in love.
1 Peter 4:10–11
10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the words of God; if anyone ministers, let him minister with the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
