24 Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Spiritual Gift
Examples & Notes
Definition / Description
Administration / Government / Orderly Rule
(Ministering Gifts)
(Ministering Gifts)
EX: preserve order in Christian meetings, church administration, mission governing board, administrative or ruling council
ability to administer, manage, organize, lead and elicit participation in God's work; the God-given capacity to lead or guide the Church through storms and difficult seas, or to a spiritual goal [Rom 12:8; 1 Cor 12:28]
Apostle
(Speaking, Sacrificial, Ministering Gifts)
(Speaking, Sacrificial, Ministering Gifts)
This gift was combined with, or the composite of, most of the other gifts. [Note: limitations to full Apostleship are those commissioned by God to lay the foundations of the Christian church in: Acts 1:22; 10:38-42; 1 Cor 15:8-9]
ability to evangelize, minister, and pastor in cross-cultural or missionary settings [1 Cor 12:28-29; Eph 4:11-12; (anyone specially commissioned or "one sent forth" (limited apostle) as in Barnabas, Acts 14:4,14; Andronicus and Junia, Romans 16:7, 2 Cor 8:23; Epaphroditus, Php 2:25)]
Celibacy
(Sacrificial Gifts)
(Sacrificial Gifts)
EX: willingly remain unmarried, or do so after death of spouse
ability to renounce the will and desires of the self and to offer to God one's chastity in union with and service to Christ; ability to renounce for God's glory and His service, one's right to marriage and family [Luk 2:36-38; Matt 19:1-12; 1 Cor. 7:7, 32]
Discernment
(Ministering Gifts)
(Ministering Gifts)
EX: apologetics, spiritual warfare, understanding the times, recognizing false teachers and heresies
ability to perceive, discern, distinguish, or to discriminate between good and evil spirits; ability to profoundly or sublimely perceive the spirit of truth from the spirit of error [John 16:6-15; Rom 9:1; 1 Cor 2:9-16, 12:10]
Evangelism / Missionary
(Speaking Gifts)
(Speaking Gifts)
EX: renouncing the will and desires of the self to offer to God one's life and location to reach others and bring them into Christ's kingdom; effectively communicating with those who have no, or minimal knowledge of God often preaching from city to city, church to church, and even into prisons [This gift is often used together with Teaching and sometimes with Miracles / Healings and is part of being an Apostle.]
ability to effectively communicate the Faith in such a way as to bring people to Christian conversion; to teach other believers how to lead people to the Lord Jesus; and to disciple others into the fullness of the Christ-life [Acts 8:4-12, 26-40; ch 10; 16:30-34; 20:27; Eph 4:11; see: Bible Texts Showing God's Interest In All Men]
Exhortation
(Speaking Gifts)
(Speaking Gifts)
EX: a counselor or encourager (often using Teaching and Hospitality) consistently calling upon others to heed and follow God's truth, which may involve correction, building others up, or to take aside for rest, refreshment and renewal
ability to counsel or to encourage those in emotional, physical or spiritual need so that they might mature into the fullness of the Christ-life: to patient endurance, brotherly love, and good works [John 14:1, Acts 11;22-24; Rom 12:8; 2 Tim 1:16-18, 3 John 5-8]
Faith
(Ministering Gifts)
(Ministering Gifts)
EX: a strong and unshakeable confidence and earnest expectation for God to fulfill His promise(s) coupled with the power of prayer to effect miracles which removes mountains, casts out devils
ability to see something that God wants done and to sustain unwavering confidence that God will do it regardless of obstacles [Gen 12:1-4a; Matt 17:19,20; Mark 5:25-34; 1 Cor 12:9; 13:2; Gal 5:22-23; I Thes 1:8-10]
Giving
(Ministering Gifts)
(Ministering Gifts)
EX: with extraordinary generosity, joyfully giving of clothing, food, money, shelter and time to meet physical and emotional needs
ability to generously, joyfully or profoundly give of one's financial and personal resources without pretense for service to Christ [Luke 21:1-4; Rom 12:8; 2 Cor 9:6-15]
Healings [See: Miracles]
(Ministering Gifts)
(Ministering Gifts)
EX: helping others to heal at the physical, emotional and spiritual levels [Those who participated within God's purposes to produce miraculous healings primarily belonged to the first century church to affirm that their message was from God. Although God does heal today as evidenced in various mission fields often after combined prayer on behalf of the recipient.]
ability to intercede as an instrument for the curing of illness and the restoration of health in such a manner that it becomes a supernatural sign of divine compassion [Acts 3:1-16; 5:14-16; 8:6-13; 19:12; 28:7-9; 1 Cor 12:9, 28, 30]
Helps / Ministry / Service
(Ministering Gifts)
(Ministering Gifts)
EX: the broad application of practical help to those in need, especially the sick and the poor; and by joining into various church or missionary activites to bring them to completion
ability to lend a hand, render assistance or serve others in a supportive role with compassion and grace in a joyful and productive manner [Luke 23:50-54; Rom 12:7, 16:1-16; 1 Cor 12:28; Php 2:19-23]
Hospitality
(Ministering Gifts)
(Ministering Gifts)
EX: offering a meal and/or sharing your home and its resources to assist those in need
"ability to provide an open house and warm welcome to a neighbor and for those in need, particularly travelers or others in need of shelter and assistance", extra-ordinary ability to care for people by providing fellowship, food and shelter [1 Pet 4:9, 10; cf. Rom 12:13]1
Intercession
(Ministering Gifts)
(Ministering Gifts)
EX: praying on behalf of or for others, assisting those in need and/or to support God's work through prayer
divine enablement to pray for or on behalf of others seeing specific effective results [Luke 2:37; Acts 8:24; Rom 1:9; 15:30; Eph 1:16; 1 Thess 1:2; Phile 1:22]
Knowledge (word of)
(Speaking Gifts)
(Speaking Gifts)
EX: ability to discover, know and understand Christian doctrine and communicate deep spiritual Truths
ability to understand and communicate truth with an insight that only comes by revelation of the deep things of God and the mysteries of His Word [I Cor 12:8; 14:6; Rom 12:2]
Leadership
(Sacrificial Gifts)
(Sacrificial Gifts)
EX: using their abilities to administer, manage, and lead in God's work; rules with wisdom and grace and exhibits the fruit of the Spirit while leading by example
ability to stand before the people in such a way as to attend to the direction of the body with such care and diligence so as to motivate others to get involved in the accomplishment of these goals [John 21:15-17; Rom 12:8; 1 Cor 12:28; 2 Tim 4:1-5]
Martyrdom
(Sacrificial Gifts)
(Sacrificial Gifts)
EX: severely afflicted, persecuted, imprisoned believers for holding fast to the Faith; believers, evangelists, missionaries or Pastors killed for holding fast to, or telling others of, salvation in Jesus Christ
"ability to willingly and joyfully sacrifice oneself for the cause of Christ in service to others and to the Church, in fidelity to His Truth, in the face of persecution, ridicule, loss of reputation or position, or other sufferings from the world, friends, or family - even unto death [Acts 7:55-60; 8:3; 1 Cor. 13:3]"1
Mercy / charity
(Ministering Gifts)
(Ministering Gifts)
EX: compassion toward others who are in distress, showing sympathy and sensitivity coupled with a desire and the resources to lessen their suffering in a kind and cheerful manner; a ministry of visitation, service, prayer, and compassion to the poor, sick, isolated or outcast
ability to express the deep, personal and tender love of God to the Church, to neighbor, and to the world in such a way that it brings glory to God [Matt 25:34-36; Luke 7:12-15; 10:30-37; Jn 14:23; 15:13; 1 Cor 13; Rom 12:8]
Miracles[See: Healings]
(Ministering Gifts)
(Ministering Gifts)
EX: performing supernatural events (casting out unclean spirits, revive the dead, shake off viper) that could only be attributed to the power of God (Acts 2:22) as exhibited by Peter (Acts 3:6; 9:32-34; 36-42), Stephen (Acts 6:8), Phillip (Acts 8:6-13), and Paul (Acts 16:16-18; 19:11-12; 28:3-6), among others
ability to facilitate a supernatural event discernable to the senses and accomplished as a sign of divine commission [1 Cor 12:10, 28-29]
Pastor / Shepherd
(Speaking Gifts)
(Speaking Gifts)
EX: drawing others together to protect, teach, and serve them to the end that they mutually help one another grow and mature in Christ-likeness
ability to provide spiritual counsel, food, guardianship, guidance and leadership to both groups and individuals and to administer, manage, and lead in God's work of feeding and maturing the Church [John 21:15-17; Rom 12:8; Acts 20:28; 1 Cor 12:28; Eph 4:11-12; 1 Pet 5:1-3]
Poverty (voluntary)
(Sacrificial Gifts)
(Sacrificial Gifts)
EX: living simply and gratefully with less so that increased service in, and funding of God's work may be accomplished
ability to reject and be unhindered with material possessions and interests of this world which impedes the pursuit of the sacred things of God, the service to others and to the Church that others might come to know the salvation and fulness of Christ [Matt 19:21; Eph 3:9ff; 2 Cor 8:9]
Prophecy / Preaching
(Speaking Gifts)
(Speaking Gifts)
EX: using Old and New Testament scripture to declare the divine will, interpret the purposes of God, or to make known in any way the truth of God (often something that God spontaneously brings to mind) which is designed to influence people for God's glory (Prophecy may sometimes speak to future events (Acts 11:28; 21:9-11), but is primarily a supernatural gift of effectively preaching the divine will.)
ability to preach or proclaim the Truth of God with clarity, to apply it to a particular situation and to give correction or edification; ability to use scripture to vigorously stimulate and challenge the Body of Christ to grow into the fullness of the Christ-life [Rom 12:6; 1 Cor 12:10, 28; 13:2; 14:1, 3; Eph 4:11]
Teaching
(Speaking Gifts)
(Speaking Gifts)
EX: devotes his or her life to the analysis and proclamation of the Word of God, explaining the meaning, context and application to the hearer's life (while all pastors are teachers, not all teachers are pastors)
ability to explain effectively the Truth of God, often in such a penetrating way that those being taught not only understand the Truth in a profound way, but also are deeply inspired by the Truth [Matt 5:1-12; Acts 18:24-48; Rom 12:7; 1 Cor 12:28-29; Eph 4:11]
Tongues - interpretation
(Speaking Gifts)
(Speaking Gifts)
EX: understanding the message a tongues-speaker was saying without knowing the language that was being spoken [This gift must follow the public exercise of the gift of tongues and interpret the message into the common language of the gathered Christians. 1 Cor ch 14]
ability to interpret a language not previously learned into one's native language for the purposes of evangelism (Acts 8:26-39), or prophecy and edification of the Church as a sign to unbelievers [Gen ch 11; 1 Cor 12:10; 14:5, 26-28]
Tongues - speaking
(Speaking Gifts)
(Speaking Gifts)
EX: the divine ability to speak in languages previously unknown to the speaker [This gift must be followed by another interpreting the message into the common language of the gathered Christians. 1 Cor ch 14]
ability to speak in a language not previously learned for the purposes of evangelism (Acts 8:26-39) or, when interpreted, of prophecy and edification of the Church as a sign to unbelievers (This is not a private prayer language.) [Gen ch 11; 1 Cor 12:10, 28; 13:1; 14:1-33]
Wisdom (word of)
(Speaking Gifts)
(Speaking Gifts)
EX: apply and communicate knowledge wisely and to recommend the best course of action at the best time
ability to understand and speak forth biblical truth in such a way as to skillfully apply it to life situations with all discernment [1 Cor 2:6-13; 12:8; Eph 1:17; Jam 3:13-18; see: 2 Chr 1:7-12]
... and possibly more.
New Testament:
intercession (Rom. 8:26:27);
marriage (I Corinthians 7:7);
(effective) witnessing (Acts 1:8, 5:32, 26:22, 1 John 5:6)
Contemporary: creative communication through various art forms [combinations of art, drawing, sculpture, music, video, including audio-visual presentations, creative coding for website display, animation, etc.] to present God's word and truths
intercession (Rom. 8:26:27);
marriage (I Corinthians 7:7);
(effective) witnessing (Acts 1:8, 5:32, 26:22, 1 John 5:6)
Contemporary: creative communication through various art forms [combinations of art, drawing, sculpture, music, video, including audio-visual presentations, creative coding for website display, animation, etc.] to present God's word and truths
Old Testament:
craftsmanship (special abilities given to artisans who constructed the Tabernacle in Exodus 31:3; 35:30-35);
interpretation of dreams (Gen 40:8-22; 41:1-37; Daniel 1:17; chpts 2, 4 & 5);
composing spiritual music, poetry, and prose (1 Chr 28:19; Psalm 139:4-6; Acts 1:16; 4:25; Eph 5:19 (Psa 150:3-5); etc.)
craftsmanship (special abilities given to artisans who constructed the Tabernacle in Exodus 31:3; 35:30-35);
interpretation of dreams (Gen 40:8-22; 41:1-37; Daniel 1:17; chpts 2, 4 & 5);
composing spiritual music, poetry, and prose (1 Chr 28:19; Psalm 139:4-6; Acts 1:16; 4:25; Eph 5:19 (Psa 150:3-5); etc.)
Resources:
1. Charism Gifts Building Up the Church, http://saint-mike.org/library/rule/excerpts/spiritualgifts.pdf, accessed March 25, 2013
2. Spiritual Gifts List & Definitions, http://mintools.com/gifts-list.htm, accessed March 25, 2013
3. Is there a biblical spiritual gifts list?, http://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-gifts-list.html, accessed March 25, 2013
4. Spiritual Gifts List with Definitions and Biblical References, http://www.kodachrome.org/spiritgift/refer.htm, accessed March 25, 2013
5. The Gifts of the Spirit, Kenneth Boa, http://bible.org/article/gifts-spirit, accessed March 25, 2013
6. Description Of The Spiritual Gifts, Lambert Dolphin, http://www.ldolphin.org/Spgifts.html, accessed March 25, 2013
7. Spiritual Gift, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritual_gift, accessed March 25, 2013