Jean O’Fee
Theo 201_B16
Short Essay # 3
Short Essay on Pneumatology: Spiritual Gifts
“Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be
uninformed.” “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.” [1]
Spiritual Gifts are the special abilities given to every Christian by the Holy Spirit. [2]
Every Christian is given at least one spiritual gift, sometimes more than one, and they can
multiply from one. [3] There are several words in the New Testament for spiritual gifts,
including, dorea, domata, pneumatikas, and charismata. [4] Our spiritual gifts are given
to us by the Holy Spirit to help one another. Our spiritual gifts are given to give wise
advice, to impart knowledge to others, to increase our faith so that we can increase faith
in others, the gift of healing, the gift of miracles, the gift of prophesy, the gift of the
unknown language and finally the ability to understand. But, the Holy Spirit alone gives
these gifts, and He is the one who makes the choice of your spiritual gift.
The Fruit of the Spirit is what the Holy Spirit imparts to a believer at the time of
conversion and is part of daily sanctification. [5] The Fruits of the Holy Spirit are: love,
joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and temperance.
From all the readings, it seems that Spiritual Gifts are given by the Holy Spirit, after the
conversion or when a person accepts Jesus Christ. Since the Fruit of the Spirit is given at
the point of conversion, then the Holy Spirit imparts the Spiritual Gifts He sees you
becoming or what you are and can be to God, then spiritual maturity would go with your
Spiritual Gifts.
The most commonly accepted term for “speaking in tongues”, is the Greek word
“Glossolalia,” which means, “tongues,” “languages,” or “to speak.” The best biblical
definition comes from 1 Corinthians 12:4-10, where speaking in tongues are one of the
supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit. Also in Acts 2:11, it refers to tongues as a
supernatural outpouring and sign to unbelievers. [7] Its purpose was as a prophetic sign at
the time of Pentecost, as noted in Acts. The second purpose is as a sign to show apostolic
message was authentic. [8] Another purpose is for the strengthening of the church. (1
Corinthians 14:27). And last, tongues were used or could be used as a private prayer
language. (Romans 8:26)
Baptism in the Holy Spirit is the grace of God given to mankind by the Holy Spirit
where we are redeemed by Christ’s death and resurrection. It is when the journey begins
for a person, to live “in Christ,” or to have Christ indwelling. The biblical evidence is in 1
Corinthians 12:11, Galatians 3:27, Romans 6:3, 5 and 1 Corinthians 12:13. These verses
speak of one body in Christ, baptism in the Spirit and baptized in Christ’s death and
resurrection. [9]
There is no biblical evidence that speaking in tongues is a necessary sign of
baptism in the Holy Spirit. According to our text, Jesus and His disciples did not speak in
tongues and there was no connection between speaking in tongues and the Holy Spirit in
baptism. [10] It also says in Acts 2 that this was a miracle of hearing rather than speaking.
[11]
Before mankind had the Bible to study, he depended on word of mouth. God’s
first works were done through men and prophesying. This was sometimes called
“speaking in tongues”. When the Holy Spirit came into a person and they spoke the
message of God, it might have come out sounding like a foreign language because God is
all things. “Perfect” is the complete Word of God which is the Bible. In 1 Corinthians
13:8-10, it speaks of many things, but in particular where it says, “where there be
tongues, they shall cease,” I would take these verses to mean that we now have all of
God’s words, the book is finished and speaking in tongues was for times when God
needed to speak to us through men, who were filled with the Holy Spirit. I believe to this
day, there are people who are filled with the Holy Spirit and God speaks to mankind
through these people. As far as being valid in today’s world, that depends on your view
and your choice of religion. The Pentecostal Church believes in tongues as do the
majority of evangelical churches. “And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and
some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” (Ephesians 4:11)
Word Count 750
Footnotes:
1. NIV Bible, 1 Corinthians 12:1,4
2. Theology Today, Elmer Towns, pg. 306
3. Theology Today, Elmer Towns, pg. 307
4. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, edited by Walter Elwell, pg. 1135
5. Theology Today, Elmer Towns, pg. 306
6. www.theresurgence.com
7. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, edited by Walter Elwell, pg. 1206
8. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, edited by Walter Elwell, pg. 1207
9. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, edited by Walter Elwell, pg. 137
10. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, edited by, Walter Elwell, pg. 1206
11. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, edited by, Walter Elwell, pg. 1207
Bibliography:
Towns, Elmer L., Theology for Today, (2001, Mason OH, Cengage Learning)
Edited by Elwell Walter A, Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, (2001, Grand Rapids MI,
Baker Academic)
