Spiritual Gifts: What They Are and Why They Matter by Thomas R. Schreiner

Author:Thomas R. Schreiner [Schreiner, Thomas R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781535915205
Google: FdCHswEACAAJ
Barnesnoble:
Goodreads: 38736640
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Published: 2018-06-02T00:00:00+00:00

Are Spiritual Gifts Supernatural or Natural?

Fifth, are spiritual gifts supernatural, or are they natural talents we enjoy? We could reply that the question is flawed, for all gifts are from God and in that sense supernatural. “What do you have that you have not received?” (1 Cor. 4:7). Nor is any gift exercised apart from the animating work of the Spirit, as we saw in 1 Corinthians 12:4, 8–9. There is absolutely no room, according to Paul, for a gift that is effective because of the native talent or ability of human beings, as if honor belongs to those with such remarkable abilities. Any good effect from gifts comes from God “who works all things in all” (1 Cor. 12:6 nasb).

On the other hand, it is evident that some gifts are more overtly miraculous than others. The Corinthians became entranced with the gift of tongues, not the gift of helps! Some gifts, such as tongues, interpretation of tongues, healing, miracles, and prophecy, are striking manifestations of God’s presence in a community. The Corinthians were entranced with the gift of tongues, and we are not surprised, for the gift was a wonderful and astonishing indication of God’s presence among his people.

Gifts such as teaching, helps, leading, giving, mercy, and exhortation are not as remarkable to the human eye, though they are still supernatural in the sense that they are animated by the Holy Spirit, and any good effect is also from the Spirit. It seems likely that some of the latter gifts are stitched into one’s personality in a way that gifts like tongues and miracles are not. But the supernatural character of the gift is not thereby denied, for even in this case the gift comes from God. And the good that results from the exercise of the gift comes from the Holy Spirit, not our native talent.

Are the Gifts Permanent Possessions?

Sixth, are the gifts permanent possessions, or can we exercise a gift that isn’t normally ours? Paul doesn’t specifically answer this question, and so we must content ourselves with reading the clues from his writings. The emphasis seems to lie upon gifts as permanent possessions. In 1 Corinthians 12 the text moves from the gift manifested (e.g., prophecy) to gifted persons (prophets), suggesting that those who prophesy, at least usually, are prophets. Since Paul refers to prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers (Eph. 4:11), it seems fair to infer that the gifts of prophecy, evangelism, and teaching were a regular feature in the life of some individuals.

On the other hand, Paul doesn’t refer to anyone as a healer, miracle-worker, tongue-speaker, or interpreter of tongues. He only refers to the gift itself. It doesn’t follow from this that no one regularly exercised gifts like tongues or healings, but we can’t rule out the idea that someone might speak in tongues or do a miracle only once or on rare occasions. But if that is the case, then they don’t really have the gift of tongues; they just speak in tongues occasionally.

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