What Does the Bible Say About the Gifts of the Spirit?

All believers in Jesus have received the gift of the Holy Spirit and can thus generally pray for the sick, prophesy, speak in tongues, etc. But in addition to this, the Spirit of God can also equip individual believers with a specific gift to help them carry out the specific mission they have been given. In the Old Testament, these gifts were given primarily to prophets and certain chosen persons, but in the New Testament, spiritual gifts are offered to all believers. These spiritual gifts are supernatural and are intended primarily to honor Jesus by building up the church and carrying out missionary work. God invites us to eagerly seek the spiritual gifts and to handle them with both dignity and love. The gifts are usually given through prayer and the laying on of hands.

Bible Verses

“⁴Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; ⁵and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; ⁶and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. ⁷To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. ⁸For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, ⁹to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, ¹⁰to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” (1 Co 12:4–11)

“²⁷Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. ²⁸And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. ²⁹Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹But earnestly desire the higher gifts.” (1 Co 12:27–31a)

“¹Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. ²For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. ³On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. ⁴The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. ⁵Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.” (1 Co 14:1–5)

“¹²So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.” (1 Co 14:12)

“⁶Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; ⁷if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Ro 12:6–8)

“⁷And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ⁸Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.” (Mt 10:7–8)

“⁷I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.” (1 Co 7:7)

“⁴while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” (Heb 2:4)

“⁶For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,” (2 Ti 1:6)

“¹⁴Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.” (1 Ti 4:14)

“¹⁰As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: ¹¹whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Pe 4:10–11)

“¹⁹Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰Do not despise prophecies, ²¹but test everything; hold fast what is good. ²²Abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Th 5:19–22)

“³⁹So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. ⁴⁰But all things should be done decently and in order.” (1 Co 14:39–40)

Study Questions

1. What spiritual gifts are mentioned in the Bible?
2. What is the purpose of spiritual gifts?
3. Have you received a spiritual gift?
4. How do you receive a spiritual gift?
5. What spiritual gifts are at work in your church?
6. How do you avoid misuse of spiritual gifts?

Additional Bible Verses

1 Sam 10:6, Joel 2:28-29, Rom 1:11