Bible Encyclopedia: Gifts

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

HEALING, GIFTS OF

(charismata iamaton): Among the "spiritual gifts" enumerated in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 28 are included "gifts of healings." See SPIRITUAL GIFTS. The subject has risen into much prominence of recent years, and so calls for separate treatment. The points to be considered are:

(1) the New Testament facts,

(2) the nature of the gifts,

(3) their permanence in the church.

1. The New Testament Facts:

The Gospels abundantly show that the ministry of Christ Himself was one of healing no less than of teaching (compare Mark 1:14 with 1:32-34). When He sent forth the Twelve (Mark 6:7, 13) and the Seventy (Luke 10:1, 9), it was not only to preach the Kingdom of God but to heal the sick. The inauthentic conclusion of Mark's Gospel, if it does not preserve words actually used by Christ Himself, bears witness at all events to the traditional belief of the early church that after His departure from the world His disciples would still possess the gift of healing. The Book of Acts furnishes plentiful evidence of the exercise of this gift by apostles and other prominent men in the primitive church (Acts 3:7; Acts 5:12-16; 8:07; 19:12; 28:8 f), and the Epistle of James refers to a ministry of healing carried on by the elders of a local church acting in their collective capacity (James 5:14 f). But Paul in this passage speaks of "gifts of healings" (the plural "healings" apparently refers to the variety of ailments that were cured) as being distributed along with other spiritual gifts among the ordinary members of the church. There were men, it would seem, who occupied no official position in the community, and who might not otherwise be distinguished among their fellow-members, on whom this special charisma of healing had been bestowed.

2. The Nature of the Gifts:

On this subject the New Testament furnishes no direct information, but it supplies evidence from which conclusions may be drawn. We notice that the exercise of the gift is ordinarily conditional on the faith of the recipient of the blessing (Mark 6:5, 6; Mark 10:52 Acts 14:9)-faith not only in God but in the human agent (Acts 3:4; Acts 5:15; Acts 9:17). The healer himself is a person of great faith (Matthew 17:19 f), while his power of inspiring the patient with confidence points to the possession of strong, magnetic personality. The diseases cured appear for the most part to have been not organic but functional; and many of them would now be classed as nervous disorders. The conclusion from these data is that the gifts of healing to which Paul alludes were not miraculous endowments, but natural therapeutic faculties raised to their highest power by Christian faith.

Modern psychology, by its revelation of the marvels of the subliminal self or subconscious mind and the power of "suggestion," shows how it is possible for one man to lay his hand on the very springs of personal life in another, and so discloses the psychical basis of the gift of healing. The medical science of our time, by its recognition of the dependence of the physical upon the spiritual, of the control of the bodily functions by the subconscious self, and of the physician's ability by means of suggestion, whether waking or hypnotic, to influence the subconscious soul and set free the healing powers of Nature, provides the physiological basis. And may we not add that many incontestable cases of Christian faith-cure (take as a type the well-known instance in which Luther at Weimar "tore Melanchthon," as the latter put it, "out of the very jaws of death"; see RE, XII, 520) furnish the religious basis, and prove that faith in God, working through the soul upon the body, is the mightiest of all healing influences, and that one who by his own faith and sympathy and force of personality can stir up faith in others may exercise by God's blessing the power of healing diseases?

3. Permanence of Healing Gifts in the Church:

There is abundant evidence that in the early centuries the gifts of healing were still claimed and practiced within the church (Justin, Apol. ii0.6; Irenaeus, Adv. Haer. ii. 32, 4; Tertullian, Apol. xxiii; Origen, Contra Celsum, vii.4). The free exercise of these gifts gradually ceased, partly, no doubt, through loss of the early faith and spirituality, but partly through the growth of an ascetic temper which ignored Christ's gospel for the body and tended to the view that pain and sickness are the indispensable ministers of His gospel for the soul. All down the history of the church, however, there have been notable personalities (e.g. Francis of Assisi, Luther, Wesley) and little societies of earnest Christians (e.g. the Waldenses, the early Moravians and Quakers) who have reasserted Christ's gospel on its physical side as a gospel for sickness no less than for sin, and claimed for the gift of healing the place Paul assigned to it among the gifts of the Spirit. In recent years the subject of Christian healing has risen into importance outside of the regularly organized churches through the activity of various faith-healing movements. That the leaders of these movements have laid hold of a truth at once Scriptural and scientific there can be little doubt, though they have usually combined it with what we regard as a mistaken hostility to the ordinary practice of medicine. It is worth remembering that with all his faith in the spiritual gift of healing and personal experience of its power, Paul chose Luke the physician as the companion of his later journeys; and worth noticing that Luke shared with the apostle the honors showered upon the missionaries by the people of Melita whom they had cured of their diseases (Acts 28:10). Upon the modern church there seems to lie the duty of reaffirming the reality and permanence of the primitive gift of healing, while relating it to the scientific practice of medicine as another power ordained of God, and its natural ally in the task of diffusing the Christian gospel of health.

LITERATURE.

Hort, Christian Ecclesia, chapter x; A.T. Schofield, Force of Mind, Unconscious Therapeutics; E. Worcester and others, Religion and Medicine; HJ, IV, 3, p. 606; The Expositor T, XVII, 349, 417.

J. C. Lambert

SPIRITUAL GIFTS

(charismata):

1. Gifts Connected with the Ministry of the Word

(1) Apostleship

(2) Prophecy

(3) Discernings of spirits

(4) Teaching

(5) The Word of Knowledge

(6) The Word of Wisdom

(7) Kinds of Tongues

(8) Interpretation of Tongues

2. Gifts Connected with the Ministry of Practical Service

(1) Workings of Miracles

(2) Gifts of Healings

(3) Ruling, Governments

(4) Helps

LITERATURE

The word charisma, with a single exception (1 Peter 4:10), occurs in the New Testament only in the Pauline Epistles, and in the plural form is employed in a technical sense to denote extraordinary gifts of the Spirit bestowed upon Christians to equip them for the service of the church. Various lists of the charismata are given (Romans 12:6-8 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 28-30; compare Ephesians 4:7-12), none of which, it is evident, are exhaustive. Some of the gifts enumerated cannot be said to belong in any peculiar sense to the distinctive category. "Faith" (1 Corinthians 12:9), for example, is the essential condition of all Christian life; though there were, no doubt, those who were endowed with faith beyond their fellows. "Giving" and "mercy" (Romans 12:8) are among the ordinary graces of the Christian character; though some would possess them more than others. "Ministry" (Romans 12:7), again, i.e. service, was the function to which every Christian was called and the purpose to which every one of the special gifts was to be devoted (Ephesians 4:12). The term is applied to any spiritual benefit, as the confirmation of Christians in the faith by Paul (Romans 1:11). And as the general function of ministry appears from the first in two great forms as a ministry of word and deed (Acts 6:1-4 1 Corinthians 1:17), so the peculiar charismatic gifts which Paul mentions fall into two great classes-those which qualify their possessors for a ministry of the word, and those which prepare them to render services of a practical nature.

1. Gifts Connected with the Ministry of the Word:

(1) Apostleship

(1 Corinthians 12:28 f; compare Ephesians 4:11).-The name "apostle" is used in the New Testament in a narrower and a wider sense. It was the peculiar title and privilege of the Twelve (Matthew 10:2 Luke 6:13 Acts 1:25 f), but was claimed by Paul on special grounds (Romans 1:1 1 Corinthians 9:1, etc.); it was probably conceded to James the Lord's brother (1 Corinthians 15:7 Galatians 1:19), and in a freer use of the term is applied to Barnabas (Acts 14:4, 14; compare 1 Corinthians 9:5, 6), Andronicus and Junias (Romans 16:7). From the Didache (xi.4;) we learn that the ministry of apostles was continued in the church into the sub-apostolic age (see LITERATURE, SUB-APOSTOLIC). The special gift and function of apostleship, taken in the widest sense, was to proclaim the word of the gospel (Acts 6:2 1 Corinthians 1:17, etc.), and in particular to proclaim it to the world outside of the church, whether Jewish or Gentile (Galatians 2:7, 8).

See APOSTLE.

(2) Prophecy

(Romans 12:6 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28, 29), under which may be included exhortation (Romans 12:8; compare 1 Corinthians 14:3). The gift of prophecy was bestowed at Pentecost upon the church as a whole (Acts 2:16), but in particular measure upon certain individuals who were distinctively known as prophets. Only a few of the Christian prophets are directly referred to-Judas and Silas (Acts 15:32), the prophets at Antioch (Acts 13:1), Agabus and the prophets from Jerusalem (Acts 11:27 f), the four daughters of Philip the evangelist (Acts 11:9). But 1 Corinthians shows that there were several of them in the Corinthian church; and probably they were to be found in every Christian community. Some of them moved about from church to church (Acts 11:27; Acts 21:10); and in the Didache we find that even at the celebration of the Eucharist the itinerant prophet still takes precedence of the local ministry of bishops and deacons (Didache x.7).

It is evident that the functions of the prophet must sometimes have crossed those of the apostle, and so we find Paul himself described as a prophet long after he had been called to the apostleship (Acts 13:1). And yet there was a fundamental distinction. While the apostle, as we have seen, was one "sent forth" to the unbelieving world, the prophet was a minister to the believing church (1 Corinthians 14:4, 22). Ordinarily his message was one of "edification, and exhortation, and consolation" (1 Corinthians 14:3). Occasionally he was empowered to make an authoritative announcement of the divine will in a particular case (Acts 13:1). In rare instances we find him uttering a prediction of a future event (Acts 11:28; Acts 21:10 f).

(3) Discernings of Spirits

With prophecy must be associated the discernings of spirits (1 Corinthians 12:10; 1 Corinthians 14:29 1 Thessalonians 5:20 f; compare 1 John 4:1). The one was a gift for the speaker, the other for those who listened to his words. The prophet claimed to be the medium of divine revelations (1 Corinthians 14:30); and by the spiritual discernment of his hearers the truth of his claim was to be judged (1 Corinthians 14:29). There were false prophets as well as genuine prophets, spirits of error as well as spirits of truth (1 John 4:1-6; compare 2 Thessalonians 2:2; Didache xi). And while prophesyings were never to be despised, the utterances of the prophets were to be "proved" (1 Thessalonians 5:20 f), and that in them which came from the Spirit of God spiritually judged (1 Corinthians 2:14), and so discriminated from anything that might be inspired by evil spirits.

See DISCERNINGS OF SPIRITS.

(4) Teaching

(Romans 12:7 1 Corinthians 12:28 f).-As distinguished from the prophet, who had the gift of uttering fresh truths that came to him by way of vision and revelation, the teacher was one who explained and applied established Christian doctrine-the rudiments and first principles of the oracles of God (Hebrews 5:12).

(5) The Word of Knowledge

Possibly the word of knowledge (gnosis).

(6) The Word of Wisdom

The word of wisdom (sophia) (1 Corinthians 12:8) are to be distinguished, the first as the utterance of a prophetic and ecstatic intuition, the second as the product of study and reflective thought; and so are to be related respectively to the functions of the prophet and the teacher.

See TEACHER, TEACHING.

(7) Kinds of Tongues

(1 Corinthians 12:10, 28, 30).-What Paul means by this he explains fully in 1 Corinthians 14. The gift was not a faculty of speaking in unknown foreign languages, for the tongues (glossai) are differentiated from the "voices" or languages (phonai) by which men of one nation are distinguished from those of another (14:10, 11). And when the apostle says that the speaker in an unknown tongue addressed himself to God and not to men (14:2, 14) and was not understood by those who heard him (14:2), that he edified himself (14:4) and yet lost the power of conscious thought while praying with the spirit (14:14), it would appear that the "tongues" must have been of the nature of devout ejaculations and broken and disjointed words, uttered almost unconsciously under the stress of high ecstatic feeling.

(8) Interpretation of Tongues

Parallel to this gift was that of the interpretation of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:10, 30). If the gift of tongues had been a power of speaking unknown foreign languages, the interpretation of tongues would necessarily have meant the faculty of interpreting a language unknown to the interpreter; for translation from a familiar language could hardly be described as a charisma. But the principle of economy makes it improbable that the edification of the church was accomplished in this round-about way by means of a double miracle-a miracle of foreign speech followed by a miracle of interpretation. If, on the other hand, the gift of tongues was such as has been described, the gift of interpretation would consist in turning what seemed a meaningless utterance into words easy to be understood (1 Corinthians 12:9). The interpretation might be given by the speaker in tongues himself (1 Corinthians 12:5, 13) after his mood of ecstasy was over, as he translated his exalted experiences and broken cries into plain intelligible language. Or, if he lacked the power of self-interpretation, the task might be undertaken by another possessed of this special gift (1 Corinthians 12:27, 28). The ability of a critic gifted with sympathy and insight to interpret the meaning of a picture or a piece of music, as the genius who produced it might be quite unable to do (e.g. Ruskin and Turner), will help us to understand how the ecstatic half-conscious utterances of one who had the gift of tongues might be put into clear and edifying form by another who had the gift of interpretation.

See TONGUES, GIFT OF.

2. Gifts Connected with the Ministry of Practical Service:

(1) Workings of Miracles

(1 Corinthians 12:10, 28, 29).-The word used for miracles in this chapter (dunameis, literally, "powers") is employed in Acts (8:7, 13; 19:11, 12) so as to cover those cases of exorcism and the cure of disease which in Paul's list are placed under the separate category of "gifts of healing." As distinguished from the ordinary healing gift, which might be possessed by persons not otherwise remarkable, the "powers" point to a higher faculty more properly to be described as miraculous, and bestowed only upon certain leading men in the church. In 2 Corinthians 12:12 Paul speaks of the "powers" he wrought in Corinth as among "the signs of an apostle." In Hebrews 2:4 the writer mentions the "manifold powers" of the apostolic circle as part of the divine confirmation of their testimony. In Romans 15:18; Paul refers to his miraculous gifts as an instrument which Christ used for the furtherance of the gospel and the bringing of the Gentiles to obedience. The working of "powers," accordingly, was a gift which linked itself to the ministry of the word in respect of its bearing upon the truth of the gospel and the mission of the apostle to declare it. And yet, like the wider and lower gift of healing, it must be regarded primarily as a gift of practical beneficence, and only secondarily as a means of confirming the truth and authenticating its messenger by way of a sign. The Book of Acts gives several examples of "powers" that are different from ordinary healings. The raising of Dorcas (9:36;) and of Eutychus (20:9;) clearly belong to this higher class, and also, perhaps, such remarkable cures as those of the life-long cripple at the Temple gate (3:1;) and Aeneas of Lydda (9:32;).

(2) Gifts of Healings

(1 Corinthians 12:9, 28, 30).

See HEALING, GIFTS OF.

(3) Ruling, Governments

(Romans 12:8, 1_corinthians 12:28).-These were gifts of wise counsel and direction in the practical affairs of the church, such as by and by came to be formally entrusted to presbyters or bishops. When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, the ministry of office had not yet supplanted the ministry of inspiration, and Christian communities were guided and governed by those of their members whose wisdom in counsel proved that God through His Spirit had bestowed upon them the gift of ruling.

(4) Helps

(1 Corinthians 12:28).-This has sometimes been understood to denote the lowliest Christian function of all in Paul's list, the function of those who have no pronounced gifts of their own and can only employ themselves in services of a subordinate kind. But the usage of the Greek word (antilempsis) in the papyri as well as the Septuagint points to succor rendered to the weak by the strong; and this is confirmed for the New Testament when the same Greek word in its verbal form (antilambano) is used in Acts 20:35, when Paul exhorts the elders of the Ephesian church to follow his example in helping the weak. Thus, as the gift of government foreshadowed the official powers of the presbyter or bishop, the gift of helps appears to furnish the germ of the gracious office of the deacon-the "minister" paragraph excellence, as the name diakonos denotes-which we find in existence at a later date in Philippi and Ephesus (Philippians 1:1 1 Timothy 3:1-13), and which was probably created, on the analogy of the diakonia of the Seven in Jerusalem (Acts 6:1), as a ministry, in the first place, to the poor.

See , further, HELPS.

LITERATURE. Hort, Christian Ecclesia, Lect X; Neander, Hist of the Planting of the Christian Church, I, 131;; Weizsacker, Apostolic Age, II, 255-75; Lindsay, Church and Ministry, passim; EB, IV, article "Spiritual Gifts"; ERE, III, article "Charismata"; PRE, VI, article "Geistesgaben."

J. C. Lambert

GIFTS OF HEALING

See HEALING.

GIFTS, SPIRITUAL

See SPIRITUAL GIFTS.

Greek

1435. doron -- a gift, present, spec. a sacrifice
... Word Origin from didomi Definition a gift, present, spec. a sacrifice NASB Word
Usage gift (1), gifts (8), given (2), offering (8). gift, offering. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1435.htm - 7k

1390. doma -- a gift
... Word Origin from didomi Definition a gift NASB Word Usage gift (1), gifts (3). gift.
From the base of didomi; a present -- gift. see GREEK didomi. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1390.htm - 6k

3311. merismos -- a dividing, distribution
... See 3307 (). Word Origin from merizo Definition a dividing, distribution NASB
Word Usage division (1), gifts (1). a division, distribution. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3311.htm - 7k

5486. charisma -- a gift of grace, a free gift
... Word Origin from charizomai Definition a gift of grace, a free gift NASB Word Usage
favor (1), free gift (3), gift (5), gifts (7), spiritual gift (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5486.htm - 7k

484. antilempsis -- a laying hold of, help
... See 482 (). 1 Cor 12:28: "And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second
prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, (484 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/484.htm - 7k

5332. pharmakeus -- sorcerer.
... the Christian life to use "powerful" religious formulas ("incantations") that
manipulate the Lord into granting more temporal gifts (especially "invincible ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5332.htm - 6k

4374. prosphero -- to bring to, ie to offer
... Phonetic Spelling: (pros-fer'-o) Short Definition: I bring to, offer Definition:
(a) I bring to, (b) characteristically: I offer (of gifts, sacrifices, etc). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4374.htm - 9k

2052. eritheia -- rivalry, hence ambition
... Phonetic Spelling: (er-ith-i'-ah) Short Definition: ambition, rivalry Definition:
(the seeking of followers and adherents by means of gifts, the seeking of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2052.htm - 7k

334. anathema -- a gift set up (in a temple)
... God. Word Origin from anatithemi Definition a gift set up (in a temple)
NASB Word Usage votive gifts (1). votive offering, gift. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/334.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

5078. nedeh -- a gift
... 5077, 5078. nedeh. 5079 . a gift. Transliteration: nedeh Phonetic Spelling:
(nay'-deh) Short Definition: gifts. Word Origin ... gifts (1). gifts. ...
/hebrew/5078.htm - 6k

7862. shay -- a gift (offered as homage)
... 7861, 7862. shay. 7863 . a gift (offered as homage). Transliteration:
shay Phonetic Spelling: (shah'-ee) Short Definition: gifts. ...
/hebrew/7862.htm - 6k

4979. mattanah -- a gift
... 4978, 4979. mattanah. 4980 . a gift. Transliteration: mattanah Phonetic Spelling:
(mat-taw-naw') Short Definition: gifts. Word Origin fem. ...
/hebrew/4979.htm - 6k

1890. habhab -- a gift
... a gift. Transliteration: habhab Phonetic Spelling: (hab-hawb') Short Definition:
gifts. Word Origin from yahab Definition a gift NASB Word Usage gifts (1). ...
/hebrew/1890.htm - 6k

5083. nadan -- a gift
... a gift. Transliteration: nadan Phonetic Spelling: (naw-dawn') Short Definition:
gifts. Word Origin of foreign origin Definition a gift NASB Word Usage gifts (1) ...
/hebrew/5083.htm - 5k

4978. mattena -- a gift
... 4977, 4978. mattena. 4979 . a gift. Transliteration: mattena Phonetic
Spelling: (mat-ten-aw') Short Definition: gifts. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/4978.htm - 6k

6944. qodesh -- apartness, sacredness
... Definition apartness, sacredness NASB Word Usage consecrated (2), consecrated thing
(1), consecrated things (2), dedicated (1), dedicated gifts (2), dedicated ...
/hebrew/6944.htm - 6k

814. eshkar -- a gift
... 813, 814. eshkar. 815 . a gift. Transliteration: eshkar Phonetic Spelling:
(esh-cawr') Short Definition: gifts. Word Origin of uncertain ...
/hebrew/814.htm - 5k

4864. maseth -- an uprising, utterance, burden, portion
... Word Origin from nasa Definition an uprising, utterance, burden, portion NASB Word
Usage burden (1), cloud (2), gift (1), gifts (2), levy (2), lifting (1 ...
/hebrew/4864.htm - 6k

7964. shilluchim -- a sending away, parting gift
... Word Origin from shalach Definition a sending away, parting gift NASB Word
Usage dowry (1), parting gifts (1). presents, have sent back. ...
/hebrew/7964.htm - 6k

Library

Gifts to the Prodigal
... LUKE Chaps. XIII to XXIV GIFTS TO THE PRODIGAL. '... ... But I question whether forgiveness
is ever true which is not, like God's, attended by large-hearted gifts. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/gifts to the prodigal.htm

The Gifts to the Flock
... THE GIFTS TO THE FLOCK. '... By Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved,
and shall go in and out, and find pasture.'"John 10:9. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/the gifts to the flock.htm

Spiritual Gifts.
... XXXVII. Spiritual Gifts. "But desire earnestly the greater gifts. And a still
more excellent way show I unto you." "1 Corinthians 12:31 (RV). ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxxvii spiritual gifts.htm

Whether the Gifts of the Holy Ghost are Habits?
... OF THE GIFTS (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether the gifts of the Holy Ghost are habits? Objection
1: It would seem that the gifts of the Holy Ghost are not habits. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the gifts of the.htm

The Communion of Gifts.
... Second Chapter. LOVE. XXVII. The Communion of Gifts. "Now the end of the
commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxvii the communion of gifts.htm

Gifts and Talents.
... THE CREATION. VIII. Gifts and Talents. ... We now consider the Holy Spirit's work in
bestowing gifts, talents, and abilities upon artisans and professional men. ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/viii gifts and talents.htm

Whether the Gifts of the Holy Ghost are Connected?
... OF THE GIFTS (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether the gifts of the Holy Ghost are connected?
Objection 1: It would seem that the gifts are not ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the gifts of the 2.htm

Of the Gifts (Eight Articles)
... OF THE GIFTS (EIGHT ARTICLES). We now come to consider the Gifts; under which head
there are eight points of inquiry: ... (2) Of the necessity of the Gifts? ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/of the gifts eight articles.htm

Praise for the Gift of Gifts
... Praise for the Gift of Gifts. A Sermon ... O God, this gift of thine is unspeakable,
and it includes all other gifts beside! "Thou didst not spare thine only Son,. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 38 1892/praise for the gift of.htm

The Gifts of Heavenly Wisdom
... THE PROVERBS THE GIFTS OF HEAVENLY WISDOM. ... Would there were more of such selfishness!
Sometimes Wisdom's hands do not hold these outward gifts. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the gifts of heavenly wisdom.htm

ATS Bible Dictionary

Gifts

Have been common from the earliest times as tokens of affection, honor, or respect. The dues to a king were often rendered in this form, 1 Samuel 10:27 Isaiah 36:16; and men of high position were approached with presents, Genesis 43:11 Jud 6:18 1 Samuel 9:7 1 Kings 14:3. Kings made gifts of garments to those they wished to honor, Genesis 45:22,23 1 Samuel 18:4; and of treasures to other princes, out of esteem or of fear, 2 Kings 16:8 18:14 2 Chronicles 9:9,12. Conquerors scattered gifts from their triumphal cars, and special privileges in token of generous joy, Psalm 68:18 Acts 1:2,4. Prophets received gifts, or declined them, as duty required, 2 Kings 5:15 8:9 Daniel 2:48 5:17. The word gifts often denotes bribes, Exodus 23:8 Psalm 15:5 Isaiah 5:23. The same word is also applied to the offerings required by the law, De 16:17 Matthew 5:23,24; to the blessings of the gospel and eternal life, which are preeminently gifts, Acts 8:20; to the Christian grace, for the same reason, Ephesians 4:8,11; and to the miraculous endowments of the apostles, 1 1 Corinthians 12:1-14:40. See TONGUES.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Gifts, spiritual

(Gr. charismata), gifts supernaturally bestowed on the early Christians, each having his own proper gift or gifts for the edification of the body of Christ. These were the result of the extraordinary operation of the Spirit, as on the day of Pentecost. They were the gifts of speaking with tongues, casting out devils, healing, etc. (Mark 16:17, 18), usually communicated by the medium of the laying on of the hands of the apostles (Acts 8:17; 19:6; 1 Timothy 4:14). These charismata were enjoyed only for a time. They could not continue always in the Church. They were suited to its infancy and to the necessities of those times.

Thesaurus

Gifts (144 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Gifts, spiritual. (Gr. ... They were the gifts of
speaking with tongues, casting out devils, healing, etc. ...
/g/gifts.htm - 61k

Parting-gifts (1 Occurrence)
Parting-gifts. Parting, Parting-gifts. Partings . Multi-Version
Concordance Parting-gifts (1 Occurrence). Micah 1:14 ...
/p/parting-gifts.htm - 6k

Needy (83 Occurrences)
... Needy (83 Occurrences). Luke 11:41 But give for gifts to the needy those things
which are within, and behold, all things will be clean to you. (WEB). ...
/n/needy.htm - 30k

Various (52 Occurrences)
... (WEY NAS). 1 Corinthians 12:4 Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same
Spirit. ... (WEB NAS RSV). 1 Corinthians 12:30 Do all have gifts of healings? ...
/v/various.htm - 22k

Fee (5 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 16:33 They give gifts to all prostitutes; but you give your gifts to all
your lovers, and bribe them, that they may come to you on every side for your ...
/f/fee.htm - 8k

Best (252 Occurrences)
... In Numbers 18:12 the revenues of the priests were to be "holy gifts," eg the "best
of the oil," etc. ... 1 Corinthians 12:31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. ...
/b/best.htm - 36k

Presents (38 Occurrences)
... glad. They will give gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented
those who dwell on the earth. (See RSV). Leviticus ...
/p/presents.htm - 18k

Prostitutes (19 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 16:33 They give gifts to all prostitutes; but you give your gifts to all
your lovers, and bribe them, that they may come to you on every side for your ...
/p/prostitutes.htm - 12k

Beautiful (152 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Luke 21:5 As some were talking about the temple and how it was decorated
with beautiful stones and gifts, he said, (WEB WEY BBE NAS NIV). ...
/b/beautiful.htm - 38k

Sacrifices (186 Occurrences)
... Hebrews 5:1 For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for
men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices ...
/s/sacrifices.htm - 39k

Bible Concordance

Gifts (144 Occurrences)

Matthew 2:11 They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 7:11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 1:53 The hungry He has satisfied with choice gifts, But the rich He has sent empty-handed away.
(WEY)

Luke 6:38 give, and gifts shall be bestowed on you. Full measure, pressed, shaken down, and running over, shall they pour into your laps; for with the same measure that you use they shall measure to you in return."
(WEY)

Luke 11:13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"
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Luke 11:41 But give for gifts to the needy those things which are within, and behold, all things will be clean to you.
(WEB)

Luke 12:33 Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don't grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn't fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys.
(WEB)

Luke 21:1 He looked up, and saw the rich people who were putting their gifts into the treasury.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 21:4 for all these put in gifts for God from their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, put in all that she had to live on."
(WEB ASV DBY YLT NIV)

Luke 21:5 As some were talking about the temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts, he said,
(WEB KJV WEY WBS NAS NIV)

Acts 3:2 A certain man who was lame from his mother's womb was being carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask gifts for the needy of those who entered into the temple.
(WEB)

Acts 3:3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive gifts for the needy.
(WEB)

Acts 3:10 They recognized him, that it was he who used to sit begging for gifts for the needy at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. They were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
(WEB)

Acts 10:2 a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to God.
(WEB)

Acts 10:4 He, fastening his eyes on him, and being frightened, said, "What is it, Lord?" He said to him, "Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before God.
(WEB NIV)

Acts 10:31 and said,'Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God.
(WEB NIV)

Acts 24:17 Now after some years, I came to bring gifts for the needy to my nation, and offerings;
(WEB NIV)

Acts 28:10 They also honored us with many honors, and when we sailed, they put on board the things that we needed.
(See RSV)

Romans 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Romans 12:6 Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;
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Romans 15:28 So after discharging this duty, and making sure that these kind gifts reach those for whom they are intended, I shall start for Spain, passing through Rome on my way there;
(WEY)

1 Corinthians 2:12 But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God.
(See RSV)

1 Corinthians 2:14 Now the natural man doesn't receive the things of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can't know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
(See RSV)

1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
(KJV WEY ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Corinthians 12:4 Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Corinthians 12:9 to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit;
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1 Corinthians 12:11 But these results are all brought about by one and the same Spirit, who bestows His gifts upon each of us in accordance with His own will.
(WEY)

1 Corinthians 12:28 God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Corinthians 12:30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret?
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Corinthians 12:31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.
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1 Corinthians 13:8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with.
(See NAS)

1 Corinthians 14:1 Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Corinthians 14:12 So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Corinthians 14:37 If any one deems himself to be a Prophet or a man with spiritual gifts, let him recognize as the Lord's command all that I am now writing to you.
(WEY)

2 Corinthians 9:9 As it is written, "He has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor. His righteousness remains forever."
(See NIV)

Ephesians 4:8 Therefore he says, "When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ephesians 4:11 He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;
(See RSV)

Philippians 2:30 because it was for the sake of Christ's work that he came so near death, hazarding, as he did, his very life in endeavouring to make good any deficiency that there might be in your gifts to me.
(WEY)

Philippians 4:17 Not that I crave for gifts from you, but I do want to see abundant fruit bring you honour.
(WEY)

Philippians 4:18 I have enough of everything--and more than enough. My wants are fully satisfied now that I have received from the hands of Epaphroditus the generous gifts which you sent me--they are a fragrant odor, an acceptable sacrifice, truly pleasing to God.
(WEY RSV NIV)

1 Timothy 4:14 Do not be careless about the gifts with which you are endowed, which were conferred on you through a divine revelation when the hands of the elders were placed upon you.
(WEY)

Hebrews 2:4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, by various works of power, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will?
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Hebrews 5:1 For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hebrews 8:3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hebrews 8:4 For if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law;
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hebrews 9:9 which is a symbol of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshipper perfect;
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hebrews 11:4 By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

1 Peter 4:10 Whatever be the gifts which each has received, you must use them for one another's benefit, as good stewards of God's many-sided kindness.
(WEY)

Revelation 11:10 Those who dwell on the earth rejoice over them, and they will be glad. They will give gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Genesis 24:10 The servant took ten camels, of his master's camels, and departed, having a variety of good things of his master's with him. He arose, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.
(See RSV)

Genesis 24:53 The servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and her mother.
(See NIV)

Genesis 25:6 but to the sons of Abraham's concubines, Abraham gave gifts. He sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, to the east country.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 32:20 You shall say,'Not only that, but behold, your servant, Jacob, is behind us.'" For, he said, "I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face. Perhaps he will accept me."
(See NIV)

Genesis 32:21 So the present passed over before him, and he himself lodged that night in the camp.
(See NIV)

Genesis 43:25 They made ready the present for Joseph's coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there.
(See NIV)

Genesis 43:26 When Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves down to him to the earth.
(See NIV)

Genesis 43:34 and he lifteth up gifts from before him unto them, and the gift of Benjamin is five hands more than the gifts of all of them; and they drink, yea, they drink abundantly with him.
(YLT)

Exodus 28:38 It shall be on Aaron's forehead, and Aaron shall bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall make holy in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always on his forehead, that they may be accepted before Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 22:2 "Tell Aaron and his sons to separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, which they make holy to me, and that they not profane my holy name. I am Yahweh.
(See NAS)

Leviticus 22:3 "Tell them,'If anyone of all your seed throughout your generations approaches the holy things, which the children of Israel make holy to Yahweh, having his uncleanness on him, that soul shall be cut off from before me. I am Yahweh.
(See NAS)

Leviticus 22:4 "'Whoever of the seed of Aaron is a leper or has an issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he is clean. Whoever touches anything that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goes from him;
(See NAS)

Leviticus 22:6 the person that touches any such shall be unclean until the evening, and shall not eat of the holy things, unless he bathe his body in water.
(See NAS)

Leviticus 22:7 When the sun is down, he shall be clean; and afterward he shall eat of the holy things, because it is his bread.
(See NAS)

Leviticus 22:12 If a priest's daughter is married to an outsider, she shall not eat of the heave offering of the holy things.
(See NAS)

Leviticus 22:15 The priests shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, which they offer to Yahweh,
(See NAS)

Leviticus 22:16 and so cause them to bear the iniquity that brings guilt, when they eat their holy things: for I am Yahweh who sanctifies them.'"
(See NAS)

Leviticus 23:38 besides the Sabbaths of Yahweh, and besides your gifts, and besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings, which you give to Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 5:9 Every heave offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which they present to the priest, shall be his.
(See NAS)

Numbers 5:10 Every man's holy things shall be his: whatever any man gives the priest, it shall be his.'"
(See NAS NIV)

Numbers 8:19 And I give the Levites gifts to Aaron and to his sons, from the midst of the sons of Israel, to do the service of the sons of Israel in the tent of meeting, and to make atonement for the sons of Israel, and there is no plague among the sons of Israel in the sons of Israel's drawing nigh unto the sanctuary.'
(YLT NIV)

Numbers 18:8 Yahweh spoke to Aaron, "I, behold, I have given you the command of my wave offerings, even all the holy things of the children of Israel; to you have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to your sons, as a portion forever.
(See NAS)

Numbers 18:9 This shall be your of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every offering of theirs, even every meal offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs, which they shall render to me, shall be most holy for you and for your sons.
(See NAS NIV)

Numbers 18:10 You shall eat of it like the most holy things. Every male shall eat of it. It shall be holy to you.
(See NAS)

Numbers 18:11 And this is thine: the heave-offering of their gift, even all the wave-offerings of the children of Israel; I have given them unto thee, and to thy sons and to thy daughters with thee, as a due for ever; every one that is clean in thy house may eat thereof.
(See NIV)

Numbers 18:19 All the wave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer to Yahweh, have I given you, and your sons and your daughters with you, as a portion forever: it is a covenant of salt forever before Yahweh to you and to your seed with you."
(See NAS)

Numbers 18:29 Out of all your gifts you shall offer every wave offering of Yahweh, of all its best, even the holy part of it out of it.'
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Numbers 18:32 You shall bear no sin by reason of it, when you have heaved from it its best: and you shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, that you not die.'"
(See NAS)

Deuteronomy 12:6 and there you shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and the wave offering of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock:
(See NIV)

Deuteronomy 12:11 then it shall happen that to the place which Yahweh your God shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there, there you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the wave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which you vow to Yahweh.
(See NIV)

Deuteronomy 12:17 You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, or of your new wine, or of your oil, or the firstborn of your herd or of your flock, nor any of your vows which you vow, nor your freewill offerings, nor the wave offering of your hand;
(See NIV)

Deuteronomy 33:13 Of Joseph he said, "His land is blessed by Yahweh, for the precious things of the heavens, for the dew, for the deep that couches beneath,
(See RSV)

Deuteronomy 33:15 for the chief things of the ancient mountains, for the precious things of the everlasting hills,
(See NIV)

Deuteronomy 33:16 The lot came out for the children of Joseph from the Jordan at Jericho, at the waters of Jericho on the east, even the wilderness, going up from Jericho through the hill country to Bethel.
(See RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 10:27 But the children of Belial said, How should this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no gifts. But he was as one deaf.
(DBY NIV)

2 Samuel 8:2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.
(KJV DBY WBS)

2 Samuel 8:6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
(KJV DBY WBS)

1 Kings 15:15 He brought into the house of Yahweh the things that his father had dedicated, and the things that himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels.
(See RSV)

2 Kings 12:18 Jehoash king of Judah took all the holy things that Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own holy things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and of the king's house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.
(See RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 18:2 And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.
(KJV DBY WBS)

1 Chronicles 18:6 Then David put garrisons in Syriadamascus; and the Syrians became David's servants, and brought gifts. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
(KJV DBY WBS)

1 Chronicles 26:20 Of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.
(See NAS RSV)

1 Chronicles 26:26 This Shelomoth and his brothers were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the heads of the fathers' houses, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the army, had dedicated.
(See NAS RSV)

1 Chronicles 26:27 Out of the spoil won in battles did they dedicate to repair the house of Yahweh.
(See RSV)

1 Chronicles 26:28 All that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated, whoever had dedicated anything, it was under the hand of Shelomoth, and of his brothers.
(See RSV)

1 Chronicles 28:12 and the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, for the courts of the house of Yahweh, and for all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the house of God, and for the treasuries of the dedicated things;
(See RSV)

2 Chronicles 15:18 He brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels.
(See RSV)

2 Chronicles 17:5 And Jehovah established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah gave gifts to Jehoshaphat; and he had riches and honour in abundance.
(DBY NIV)

2 Chronicles 17:11 And some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and tribute-silver. The Arabians also brought him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams, and seven thousand seven hundred he-goats.
(DBY NAS NIV)

2 Chronicles 19:7 Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.
(KJV WBS)

2 Chronicles 21:3 Their father gave them great gifts, of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fortified cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Charism: An Inspired Gift, Bestowed on the Apostles and Early Christians

Charisma

Gifts

Gifts from God

Gifts from God: Spiritual: Christ, the Saviour

Gifts from God: Spiritual: Faith

Gifts from God: Spiritual: Grace

Gifts from God: Spiritual: Repentance

Gifts from God: Spiritual: Wisdom

Gifts from God: Temporal: All Creatures Partake of

Gifts from God: Temporal: Food and Raiment