The Gifts of the Spirit

The Gifts of the Spirit, and the Love That Must Carry Them

The Spirit of God gives gifts to His people, dividing to each one as He wills, for the common good and the building up of the body of Christ. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit; and just as the body has many members, yet is one body, so it is with Christ. Below are the gifts named in the New Testament, grouped by the passages where Paul and Peter list them: the nine of First Corinthians 12, the gifts of Romans 12, the equipping gifts of Ephesians 4, and hospitality in First Peter 4. Each page shows what the gift is, how it appears in Scripture, how it serves the church, and how to recognize and use it. Where Christians differ on whether a gift continues today, we say so honestly and take no side. And over every gift stands the more excellent way: without love, Paul says, the greatest gift is nothing, for now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three, and the greatest of these is charity. The gifts are never for our standing but for our serving, and they all belong to Christ, whose body the church is.

The nine gifts of 1 Corinthians 12

The Gift of the Word of WisdomThe Word of Wisdom · 1 Corinthians 12:8 The Gift of the Word of KnowledgeThe Word of Knowledge · 1 Corinthians 12:8 The Gift of FaithFaith · 1 Corinthians 12:9 The Gift of Gifts of HealingGifts of Healing · 1 Corinthians 12:9 The Gift of MiraclesWorking of Miracles · 1 Corinthians 12:10 The Gift of ProphecyProphecy · 1 Corinthians 14:3 The Gift of Discerning of SpiritsDiscerning of Spirits · 1 Corinthians 12:10 The Gift of TonguesDivers Kinds of Tongues · 1 Corinthians 12:10 The Gift of the Interpretation of TonguesInterpretation of Tongues · 1 Corinthians 12:10

The gifts of Romans 12

The Gift of ServingServing (Ministry) · Romans 12:7 The Gift of TeachingTeaching · Romans 12:7 The Gift of ExhortationExhortation (Encouragement) · Romans 12:8 The Gift of GivingGiving · Romans 12:8 The Gift of LeadershipLeadership (Ruling) · Romans 12:8 The Gift of Showing MercyShowing Mercy · Romans 12:8

More gifts in 1 Corinthians 12

The Gift of HelpsHelps · 1 Corinthians 12:28 The Gift of AdministrationAdministration (Governments) · 1 Corinthians 12:28

The equipping gifts of Ephesians 4

The Gift of ApostleshipApostles · Ephesians 4:11 The Gift of the EvangelistEvangelists · Ephesians 4:11 The Gift of Pastors and TeachersPastors and Teachers · Ephesians 4:11

The gift in 1 Peter 4

The Gift of HospitalityHospitality · 1 Peter 4:9

Love is greater than any gift

Paul places love above them all. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass. The gifts will pass away, but love never fails. Desire the gifts, he says, yet follow after charity, for it is the more excellent way, and the greatest of these is charity.

The Giver calls you

Every gift of the Spirit comes from the risen Christ and points back to Him. The same Lord who pours out gifts on His church calls you by name to know Him, to be filled with His Spirit, and to take your place in His body. Read the Word, pray, and gather with the family of God on The Living Bread. Free, with no ads, for all people.

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