Spiritual Gifts

The Chinese Bible’s word for “gift” is a translation of several different Greek words. Their original meanings are “gift,” “bestowed item,” or “a gift freely given.” The Greek word “pneumatika” refers to the source of the gifts, which is God’s Spirit (pneuma). The word “charismata” refers to the gifts being granted as a demonstration of God’s grace (charis). Therefore, these gifts are freely given by God’s grace. When applied to human talents, a gift refers to a talent God gives to a person to serve Him. We generally call these “spiritual gifts.”

Spiritual gifts are not based on our value or personal abilities; they are bestowed by God’s sovereign choice. Therefore, these gifts are not the “abilities” or “intelligence” we had before we were believers (1 Corinthians 12:1). Rather, when believers offer themselves and all their abilities to God (Romans 12:1), God works through the Holy Spirit in their hearts, revealing spiritual wisdom and power in each person. These gifts are part of our new life in Christ and may be distinctly different from the personal abilities or desires we perceived before we were saved. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 explains: “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.”

According to 1 Corinthians 12:28-31, we know that apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, gifts of healing, helping, tongues, and so on are all spiritual gifts given by God. Although believers receive different gifts, they are all for the purpose of building up the body of Christ, strengthening the church, and glorifying God. All the ministries in the church are not chosen or arranged by people but are established by God to work together and fulfill His plan. God did not concentrate all the gifts in a few “super” members, nor did He give every member only one gift. Instead, He assigned different gifts to different members. Therefore, every member should use their gifts to fulfill their function and build up the body of Christ, not wasting the gifts they have received from God.

The Bible records:

[Ephesians 4:7] But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

[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] As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.

[1 Corinthians 12:18, 26-27] But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together… As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.