[Biblemat] The gifts of the Spirit (question/answer)

[Don Martin]

Don Martin sharing question number 125 for the week:


Hello Ann,

Thank you so much for your question and for making
use of Bible Questions.  Please do so again.
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You asked:

What are the gifts of the Spirit?

Reply:

The nine gifts of the Holy Spirit are found in I Corinthians
12: 8-10. These gifts were miraculous in nature and needed for the
stability of the early church until the New Testament was completed
(I Cor. 13: 8-10; Eph. 4: 11-14).  To read more about these gifts,
please consider, "The Gifts of the Spirit" in our reference site,
www.bibletruths.net   When on the home page, enter through the door
and click on "Archives and Index" in the table on the Site Map page.
When on the Archives page, click on the letter "S."  Here is an excerpt
from the article:

     "...I suppose there is more mystique surrounding the Holy Spirit than
the other members of the Godhead, the Father and the Son. Indeed,
the Holy Spirit is himself deity or God (2 Cor. 13: 14; Acts 5: 3, 4). The
Spirit has performed a specific work. He was active in the original creation
(Gen. 1: 2, see "let us" and "our image" in Gen. 1: 26). He also had the
work of creating order to the last dispensation, the age of the gospel
(Jn. 14: 26, 16: 13). His work was miraculous (Lk. 24: 49, Acts 1: 5, 8).
The Spirit also helped stabilize the early church during its infancy by
providing certain miraculous gifts. These gifts were experienced in two
ways: the baptism of the Spirit (case of the apostles, Acts 1: 8, they
appear to have had all the gifts), and the "laying on of the apostle's
hands" (Acts  8: 17-19, Rom. 1: 11). The gifts of the Spirit are seen
in I Corinthians 12: 8-10  and they are nine in number. Exactly what
were these gifts?

     "7: But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit
withal. 8: For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another
the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9: To another faith by the same
Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10: To another
the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of
spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation
of tongues" (I Cor. 12).

     Let us now consider each of these nine gifts to determine their nature,
utility, and how they guarded the early church against false doctrine....."

Thanks again for your good question and for your interest in spiritual
matters. I recommend that you print out this email for future reference (web
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Cordially,
Don Martin