What Does the Bible Teach About Spiritual Gifts?

Written By Anthony Delgado

Spiritual gifts are a vital part of Christian life and worship, but they are also a topic of confusion and disagreement. What does the Bible teach about spiritual gifts? Scripture offers a comprehensive vision: all spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit for the good of the church. While some traditions teach that miraculous gifts like tongues and healing have ceased, a cautious continuationist perspective holds that these gifts are still available today. However, the Bible also stresses the importance of order, love, and discernment in their use. This article explores how spiritual gifts function in the life of the church and what guidelines the Bible provides for their exercise.

1. What Are Spiritual Gifts and Who Gives Them?

The Bible teaches that spiritual gifts are special abilities given by the Holy Spirit to believers for the building up of the body of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 12:4–7, Paul writes, “There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit… To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” These gifts are not natural talents, though they may overlap at times. They are spiritual empowerments given by God for service, encouragement, healing, and unity in the church.

The source of all gifts is God himself. The Father, Son, and Spirit are all involved in distributing them (1 Corinthians 12:4–6), and no one gift makes one believer superior to another. Every Christian has at least one spiritual gift, and all are called to use them in love for the benefit of others.

2. Which Gifts Are Mentioned in the New Testament?

The New Testament lists several spiritual gifts across multiple passages, including Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12–14, Ephesians 4, and 1 Peter 4. These include:

  • Teaching

  • Prophecy

  • Tongues

  • Interpretation of tongues

  • Healing

  • Miracles

  • Serving

  • Giving

  • Encouragement

  • Leadership

  • Mercy

  • Word of knowledge

  • Word of wisdom

  • Discernment

  • Apostleship

  • Evangelism

  • Pastoral care

Some gifts are more “miraculous” in nature, while others may appear more ordinary. But all have spiritual origin and purpose. The diversity of gifts reflects the diversity of needs in the church and the sovereignty of the Spirit, who distributes them “as he wills” (1 Corinthians 12:11).

3. Are Miraculous Gifts Like Tongues and Healing Still for Today?

From a cautious continuationist view, the answer is yes — but with careful qualification. There is no biblical statement that miraculous gifts have ceased. Instead, Paul encourages believers to “earnestly desire the spiritual gifts” (1 Corinthians 14:1), and to especially pursue those that build up the church. God is sovereign and may still choose to grant signs and wonders, including healing or prophecy, for his purposes.

However, 1 Corinthians 14 provides specific instructions for the use of miraculous gifts. Tongues, for example, must be interpreted if spoken in public; otherwise, the speaker should remain silent in the gathering (1 Corinthians 14:28). Only two or three should speak in tongues, and they must take turns (v. 27). Prophets, likewise, should speak in an orderly fashion, allowing others to weigh what is said (v. 29). This regulated use reflects Paul’s overarching principle: “God is not a God of confusion but of peace” (v. 33).

4. What Is the Purpose of Spiritual Gifts?

The purpose of spiritual gifts is to build up the church in unity, love, and maturity. Ephesians 4:12 says that these gifts are given “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” They are not for self-glorification, competition, or entertainment. Paul strongly rebukes the Corinthian church for using gifts in a way that caused division, pride, and chaos.

In 1 Corinthians 13, the famous “love chapter,” Paul places love above all gifts. Even prophecy and tongues are worthless without love. This means that the most spiritually mature Christian is not the one with the most dramatic gift, but the one who exercises their gift in service, humility, and compassion.

Spiritual gifts are tools for ministry, not marks of status. They should foster encouragement, healing, instruction, and worship — and always point others toward Christ.

5. How Should Churches Practice and Discern Spiritual Gifts Today?

Churches should approach spiritual gifts with both openness and discernment. Paul writes, “Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:20–21). Believers are encouraged to welcome the Spirit’s work but to evaluate all things against Scripture. Prophecies must be tested, and tongues must be interpreted. No spiritual gift ever overrides the authority of the Bible or the orderliness of worship.

Leaders should cultivate environments where gifts can be used responsibly. This includes training believers, setting healthy boundaries, and prioritizing congregational edification. It also means correcting abuses when gifts are used for showmanship or confusion.

Above all, churches should not fear spiritual gifts but seek to use them in submission to the Spirit, Scripture, and the goal of mutual upbuilding.

Conclusion: The Gifts and the Giver

What does the Bible teach about spiritual gifts? It teaches that they are given by the Spirit for the common good, that they vary in form and function, and that they must be exercised in love and order. While some gifts may seem more dramatic, all are necessary and honorable when used for God’s glory. Scripture calls the church to be both discerning and expectant, not quenching the Spirit, but also not allowing chaos or self-centeredness.

The greatest gift is not tongues or healing — it is the presence of Christ among his people. As believers pursue spiritual gifts, they do so with the aim of building up the body and exalting the Lord who gives them. In that way, spiritual gifts remain not just relevant but essential to the mission of the church today.

10 Bible Verses on Spiritual Gifts

  • 1 Corinthians 12:7, "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."

  • 1 Corinthians 12:11, "All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills."

  • Romans 12:6, "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them."

  • 1 Peter 4:10, "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace."

  • 1 Corinthians 14:1, "Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy."

  • 1 Corinthians 14:27–28, "Let there be only two or at most three [who speak in tongues], and each in turn, and let someone interpret."

  • 1 Corinthians 13:2, "If I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge… but have not love, I am nothing."

  • Ephesians 4:12, "To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ."

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:20–21, "Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good."

  • 1 Corinthians 14:33, "For God is not a God of confusion but of peace."

Anthony Delgado https://anthonydelgado.net
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