When Christians talk about being gifted, they, like the rest of the culture, end to refer to the secular concept that relates to natural ability based on genetics: gifted athletes, gifted students, et al. And when they talk about using their gifts for the benefit of the Church, they’re usually talking about time, treasure, and talent. Although there is a spiritual aspect to our ability to do anything, and that we are created by God through his spirit, that’s not what Paul meant by spiritual gifts.
In 1 Corinthians 12-14, Paul addresses a problem the church in Corinth was facing: improper understanding of spiritual gifts. These former pagans grew up believing in multiple gods who controlled certain aspects of their lives: a god for fertility, a god for rain, a god for prosperity, etc.
Paul reinforces to them that there is one God, who has declared Jesus as Lord, and endows his disciples with certain supernatural abilities through his spirit.
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the speechless idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed,” and no one is able to say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. — 1 Cor 12:1–3 (LEB)
These supernatural, or spiritual, gifts are determined by the Holy Spirit, not by the recipient. Apparently, the Corinthians were competing over which gifts rank higher than others.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit, 5 and there are arieties of ministries, and the same Lord, 6 and there are varieties of activities, but the same God, who works all things in all people. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for what is beneficial to all. 8 For to one is given a word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another a word of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing of spirits, to another kinds of tongues, to another interpretation of tongues. 11 But in all these things one and the same Spirit is at work, distributing to each one individually just as he wishes. — 1 Cor 12:4–11
Paul’s description here reveals the trinitarian concept that existed before Tertullian coined the term, trinitas (trinity). Although the Bible never mentions the Trinity (because the word hadn’t yet been invented), the theological perspective shows up in many areas.
In this passage, the terms Spirit, Lord, and God refer to the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, and the Father. The varied activities of each persona (also a Tertullian term) all come from the same God. Paul Hinnebusch, in his book, Community in the Lord, wrote:
“The Corinthians, it seems, had been disputing about the relative value of the different charismatic graces, and valued some of them, such as speaking in tongues, more highly than others. In his teaching in response to these disputes, Paul deliberately lumps all the charismatic graces together, and to describe them uses four different words as though these four words were synonyms. Each of the words is used to describe all the graces given by the Spirit for building up the community. Each of the words brings out a different characteristic of one same reality:
‘Now concerning spiritual gifts (pneumata) …. There are varieties of gifts (charismata), but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of [ministries] (diakonia), but the same Lord; and there are varieties of [activities] (energemata), but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one’
“In this passage, ‘gifts,’ ‘[ministries]’ ‘[activities]’ are but different words for ‘pneumata,’ the ‘inspirations’ or spiritual ‘gifts’ which build up the body of Christ. And ‘Spirit,’ ‘Lord,’ ‘God’ are … the one source of all the gifts.” (p. 169).
During this season of Epiphany, we are shown parts of chapters 12 and 13 of this letter, showcasing the various gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the need for each of them to be used in love, not competition or pride.
As we delve a little deeper into the use of our spiritual gifts, we should have some idea about which gifts the Holy Spirit has given us. None of us has all the gifts, nor do we all have the same ones, because we need others to provide the abilities we lack, and they need us for the same reason, in order to fully empower a community of believers to serve our Lord.
With that in mind, I would ask that you visit this website: https://spiritualgiftstest.com/ and take the free spiritual gifts assessment online, and then look at your results.
Prayerfully consider how God is calling you to use those gifts. The test will show you your top three. Please feel free to let me know what you discover.
I’m hoping you’ll be saying “a-ha!” when you uncover them.
Your Brother in Christ,
Fr. Austin