Concerning "spiritual gifts" being given to believers, years ago I was taught that the only gift we are actually given is the gift of the Holy Spirit. Our English bibles seem to indicate that God gives us other gifts. But does He?
I did a study in both the KJV and the Textus Receptus about gifts. I began in 1 Corinthians 12:1 where it says "Now concerning spiritual gifts." Our English bible says spiritual gifts, but the Greek does not have the word gifts.
The literal translation from the Greek text reads "Now concerning the things of the Spirit."
The things that we call "gifts," as if God is giving these gifts to us, are not gifts we receive. We are given His Spirit. That's the gift. Everything else that we call a gift, and I think there are nine things that are mentioned, they are not actually gifts that God gives us, but manifestations of His Spirit.
Throughout the NT, there is only one place that the Greek word for gift, as in giving a gift to someone is used. Every other place the word gift is used, a different Greek word is used and it describes the capacities of the Holy Spirit. Paul taught that there is one Spirit and He has all the abilities and capacities for all of the ministry things of God.
The Greek text uses two different words for our word gift. The only place I see the word gift used in the New Testament that refers to a gift that is actually given to us is the gift of the Holy Spirit.
In Acts 2:38, Peter says you shall receive the (gift) of the Holy Ghost. The word gift here is actually a gift that's given. It's the word DIDOMAI. It means to give. Every other place where the word gift is found, the word used is CHARISMA. It comes from the word CHARIS which means grace. CHARISMA is an expression of God's grace. It has nothing to do with a gift that is given to us.
The only gift we are promised and given is the gift of the Holy Spirit. All the other gifts (CHARISMA) are the capacities of God's Spirit and expressions of His grace.
Very good detail to come up with in your study Jesse. As I checked you are correct and the word "gifts" is not in the Textus Receptus in ( 1 Corinthians 12:1. Great job! God shall choose what gifts to bloom through His Holy Ghost in all His different members of the body of Christ. By His Will. Amen.
God gives us one gift, His Spirit. I agree with you in that "God shall choose what gifts to bloom through His Holy Ghost in all His different members of the body of Christ. By His Will."
It's through His Spirit who has the ability and capacity to do all these things through us that we call "gifts." And yes indeed, I fully agree that it is by His will, not ours!
I am looking at 1 Corinthians 12:1 that says But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
I can see where the confusion comes in. We look at that and we think that we are supposed to seek for and ask God to give us the best gifts/s. But God only gives us one gift, His Spirit. I mean if God sovereignly gives according to His will, it doesn't make any difference what we ask for, right? He does what He wants. And that's the emphasis!
The last phrase, "And yet I shew I unto you a more excellent way."
Paul has already talked about the ministry of the one Spirit of God who He Himself has all the abilities and capacities. And God sovereignly ministers to me and through me, by His one Spirit, through various expressions of grace according to His will.
It's very simple until we start getting into the teachings that twist things like that last verse. People will say that God wants you to come and ask for the "best gifts" for yourself. But that's not what it's making reference to!
I did a study in both the KJV and the Textus Receptus about gifts. I began in 1 Corinthians 12:1 where it says "Now concerning spiritual gifts." Our English bible says spiritual gifts, but the Greek does not have the word gifts.
The literal translation from the Greek text reads "Now concerning the things of the Spirit."
The things that we call "gifts," as if God is giving these gifts to us, are not gifts we receive. We are given His Spirit. That's the gift. Everything else that we call a gift, and I think there are nine things that are mentioned, they are not actually gifts that God gives us, but manifestations of His Spirit.
Throughout the NT, there is only one place that the Greek word for gift, as in giving a gift to someone is used. Every other place the word gift is used, a different Greek word is used and it describes the capacities of the Holy Spirit. Paul taught that there is one Spirit and He has all the abilities and capacities for all of the ministry things of God.
The Greek text uses two different words for our word gift. The only place I see the word gift used in the New Testament that refers to a gift that is actually given to us is the gift of the Holy Spirit.
In Acts 2:38, Peter says you shall receive the (gift) of the Holy Ghost. The word gift here is actually a gift that's given. It's the word DIDOMAI. It means to give. Every other place where the word gift is found, the word used is CHARISMA. It comes from the word CHARIS which means grace. CHARISMA is an expression of God's grace. It has nothing to do with a gift that is given to us.
The only gift we are promised and given is the gift of the Holy Spirit. All the other gifts (CHARISMA) are the capacities of God's Spirit and expressions of His grace.
God gives us one gift, His Spirit. I agree with you in that "God shall choose what gifts to bloom through His Holy Ghost in all His different members of the body of Christ. By His Will."
It's through His Spirit who has the ability and capacity to do all these things through us that we call "gifts." And yes indeed, I fully agree that it is by His will, not ours!
I am looking at 1 Corinthians 12:1 that says But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
I can see where the confusion comes in. We look at that and we think that we are supposed to seek for and ask God to give us the best gifts/s. But God only gives us one gift, His Spirit. I mean if God sovereignly gives according to His will, it doesn't make any difference what we ask for, right? He does what He wants. And that's the emphasis!
The last phrase, "And yet I shew I unto you a more excellent way."
Paul has already talked about the ministry of the one Spirit of God who He Himself has all the abilities and capacities. And God sovereignly ministers to me and through me, by His one Spirit, through various expressions of grace according to His will.
It's very simple until we start getting into the teachings that twist things like that last verse. People will say that God wants you to come and ask for the "best gifts" for yourself. But that's not what it's making reference to!
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