Expert: Australian International Evangelist Matthew Starrs - 10/13/2005

Question
In 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, Paul speaks of 9 gifts given through the Spirit. Then in 1 Cor 12:28, he speaks of gifts of administration along w/ a few of the previous gifts mentioned in 12:8-10.  Are there only 9 supernatural gifts given through the Spirit? Is the gift of administration a different type of gift?  Is it multiple gifts given one name? Would another translation of the Bible clear this up; and if so, which?

thanks,

Answer
Hi Wesley,

I think that Pauls pre-amble from 1 Cor 12 is important for understanding your question. He says:


  4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.

"Gifts" are what are talked about in verses 8 to 10.



  5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.

"Ministries" are what you get when the gifts are personalised in their application by different people.


  6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.

"Effects" are what occurs in the person being ministered to once the gift has been applied.


So there is an enormous range for diversity:

Gifts X Ministries X Effects = a greater scope for supernatural diversity than any of the lists in the bible.

Therefore we should be careful about trying to box in the working of the Holy Spirit in the Church. It is nice for teachers to be able to espouse a thorough understanding of "the Gifts", but most of the common frameworks people use cannot even satisfactorily categorise the people mentioned in the book of Acts. The danger is that we try to force people into a certain mold because of our preconceptions about the Gifts of the Spirit, and miss out on the unique gifts that God created those people to bring to the Body of Christ.

7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

I hope that helps.

Blessings!

Matthew.