The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Biblical Explanation and Meaning)

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are talents or abilities given by God to the church for its edification, in other words, its growth and encouragement. It is possible to find in the New Testament of the Bible at least 21 gifts that the Holy Spirit gives:

• Prophecy
• Serving
• Teaching
• Encouraging
• Giving
• Leadership
• Show mercy
• Word of wisdom
• Word of knowledge
• Faith
• Healing
• Helping
• Working of miracles
• Discerning of spirits
• Speaking in tongues
• Interpretation of tongues
• Apostle
• Evangelism
• Pastoring
• Teacher
• Administration

As the apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:4, "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them." All the gifts have the same purpose: to build up the Body of Christ, the Church.

Some people may find up to 23 or 24 gifts of the Spirit, depending on interpretation. It is also possible that some of the gifts are just different ways of referring to the same gift.

You can find the complete list of the gifts of the Spirit in the Bible in Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10; 28-30, and Ephesians 4:11.

Gift of prophecy or gift of prophesying

Prophesy is the communication of a word from God, a verse, or a passage that applies to a specific situation, to exhort or encourage.

Prophesying is the act of speaking on behalf of God, that is, conveying the Word of God, either to a specific group or to an individual. Many churches associate the gift of prophecy with preaching the Word from the church pulpit, a sermon being the sharing of God's word.

There are many examples of Prophecy in the Bible, including one in the book of Acts, where, filled by the Holy Spirit a man named Agabus prophecized a famine throughout the Roman empire:

²⁷ During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸ One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.)

Acts 11:27-28

Serving

A special sensitivity to the needs of others and a deep desire to do everything possible to alleviate their burdens.

The disciples were very aware of the needs of others, we can see this in Acts 6:1-7 where the early church takes the initiative to look after a community of widows who had cause to feel neglected by their society

6 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. ² So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. ³ Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them ⁴ and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

Acts 6:1-4

Teaching

An exceptional ability to convey the truths of the gospel clearly and instruct other Christians in the Word of God, and a gift that many of the apostles, including Paul, possessed.

So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

Acts 18:11

Encouraging

This gift can empower others when we offer a word of encouragement or motivation at the right moment. Those who possess this gift have a positive disposition based on the promises of the Word of God.

Take for example the intervention of Priscilla and Aquila in the life of Apollos:

"Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately."

Acts 18:24-26

In this passage, we can see that Priscilla and Aquila recognized Apollos' potential and zeal for preaching, despite his incomplete understanding of the Gospel. Instead of embarrassing, or criticizing him, they invited him into their home and provided him with further instruction in the faith, offering encouragement and support to enhance his ministry. This act of encouragement and mentorship allowed Apollos to grow in his understanding and effectiveness as a preacher of the Gospel.

Giving (with generosity)

Those who have this gift rejoice in sharing their resources (time, talent, and money) with others, especially with those who are suffering. Jesus speaks of generosity in Mark 12:41-44. He compares the generous offering of a widow to the large amounts of money given by rich people. Jesus says “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44).

Leadership

This gift is the special disposition of guiding others and helping them grow in their journey with Jesus. It is the gift of someone who feels satisfaction in caring for and spiritually nourishing those whom God places under their care. We are told to respect leaders in Hebrews 13:17 - "Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you."

Show mercy

Mercy is a special love, genuine compassion for the needy, the ability to identify with them, and the ability to forgive those who do wrong to us. In some ways, mercy is more than a gift, it is an expectation. In the Beatitudes, we are told that 'Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.' (Matthew 5:7), we are to show mercy to others as God has shown mercy to us. There is a similar warning in the story of The Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:21-35), that unless we show mercy to others we will be required to pay back everything we owe.

Word of Wisdom

This means more than understanding philosophy or theology since it goes beyond human wisdom. It is the ability to know what to say or do what is right within God's will in a specific situation.

"We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began."

1 Corinthians 2:6-7

Word of knowledge

It is the ability to receive revelation about someone or a situation without having obtained that information by natural means. Peter receives a word of knowledge about Ananias in the book of Acts, no one tells him this except God: Ananias has acted deceitfully towards the church. The consequences may appear harsh by modern standards but simply act to underline the serious cost of sin.

"Then Peter said, 'Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.'

⁵ When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. ⁶ Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him."

Acts 5:3-4

Faith

This gift is the total confidence in God's promises that do not waver in the face of adverse circumstances. It is an experience such as the one Daniel faces in the lion's den (Daniel 6:16-23), but also an experience all too often faced today in societies where being a Christian is dangerous, and persecution still exists.

Healing

This gift involves both the confidence to pray for sick people, whether physically or emotionally and the ability to bring God's healing power into their lives. Jesus demonstrated his power to heal many times in the bible, such as when he healed a woman who had been subject to bleeding for years (Matthew 9:20-22). There are also examples of people healing through the gift of the holy spirit, Peter does so in Acts 3:

⁶ Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” ⁷ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.

Acts 3:6-7

Read more about the healing of the woman who had been subject to bleeding here.

Helping

The gift of helping is the special ability to provide practical assistance and support to others' needs. Those who possess this gift have a natural disposition to identify individuals' needs and offer practical and compassionate help, alleviating burdens and providing comfort in times of need. This gift is an expression of practical love and compassion for others. Paul commends Phoebe in his letter to the church at Rome for all the help she had given him and many others, he also asks the church to help her in any way they can (Romans 16:1-2).

Working of miracles

Performing signs and wonders that go beyond natural laws to demonstrate God's presence and power in a specific situation. Philip for example performs a miracle after explaining the gospel to an Ethiopian eunuch. Philip baptizes the Ethiopian man and then is immediately transported away from that place and miraculously appears in Azotus thousands of kilometers away(Acts 8:26-40).

Discerning of spirits

The ability to perceive what kind of spirit is acting in a specific situation and determine whether it comes from God or not. This is often associated in the Bible with powerful spirits sometimes that have the power to possess or control a person (such as the demon Jesus casts out in Matthew 17:14-20), or that can predict the future (Acts 16:16-18).

Today the gift of discerning spirits is important as we live in a time of spiritual warfare where not all powers come from God, and in which we need to be cautious about who and what we put our trust in.

Speaking in tongues

The ability to speak a language without having studied it to communicate the gospel message. There is also the gift of angelic tongues, words that only God understands. They are for personal edification and for having a special communion with Him. It is a gift for all people, in Acts 10:44-48 the gift is given to Gentiles too:

"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

Acts 10:44-48

Interpretation of tongues

The ability to understand and communicate a message given in tongues, in the language that can be understood by the people present. At the very moment the disciples were first filled with the holy spirit they spoke in tongues, and this greatly confused the crowds around them, some people even thought they were drunk. Peter speaks out and interprets the situation for the crowds there, offering context, and explanation. His clarification directly led to the baptism of thousands of people on that day.

The Role of the Apostle

• The gift of an apostle enables individuals to serve as messengers and pioneers of the Christian faith, establishing new communities of believers and spreading the gospel.
• The Apostle Paul, formerly known as Saul, was commissioned by Jesus to spread the gospel to the Gentiles. Throughout his missionary journeys, he established numerous Christian communities and wrote letters (epistles) to guide and encourage them in their faith journey.

The Role of the Evangelist

• Evangelists are tasked with sharing the good news of salvation in a compelling and relevant manner with those who have not yet accepted God's forgiveness.
• Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven chosen to serve in Acts 6, played a crucial role in evangelizing the Samaritans (Acts 8:4-8) and later baptized the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-40), effectively spreading the gospel beyond Jerusalem.

The role of the Pastor

• Pastors possess the ability to care for, guide, and spiritually nurture a group of believers, providing support, teaching, and direction to help them grow in their faith.
• The Apostle Peter, also known as Simon Peter, demonstrated pastoral care and leadership among the early Christian communities. In his first letter, Peter exhorted fellow elders to shepherd God's flock, exemplifying pastoral responsibility (1 Peter 5:1-4).

The Role of the Teacher

• Teachers have an exceptional ability to communicate the truths of the gospel and instruct other Christians in the Word of God, facilitating spiritual growth and understanding.
• Apollos, described as "an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures," effectively taught about Jesus, although he required teaching from others, namely Priscilla and Aquila, he later became a powerful teacher in the early church (Acts 18:24-28).

The Role of the Administrator

• Administrators possess the ability to organize tasks or activities effectively, enjoying the process of planning, leadership, and organization within the church or community.
• In many ways, the Apostle Paul displays strong organizational skills; he coordinates financial giving and receiving, communicates across many churches, and sends people and resources following plans and strategy, all indicating the importance of administrative abilities in supporting the mission of the church.

All Bible passages on spiritual gifts

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Romans 12: 6-8

To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

...

And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?

1 Corinthians 12:8-11; 28-30

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,

Ephesians 4:11

Why do some people speak of 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit?

The reference to 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit is a Catholic tradition, based on the text of Isaiah 11:2-3. These 7 gifts are different from the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to his church in the New Testament. In Catholic tradition, The seven gifts are wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.

Learn more about the Holy Spirit, his fruits, and gifts: The Fruit of the Spirit: What Is It And How They Will Transform Your Life