A TABLE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme http://priscaquila.6te.net or http://www.scribd.com/ifeogo ;

Click Here For
PriscAquila Christian Resource Centre

NOTE: The KJV was used to prepare this table.

S/N 1Cor. 12:7-13 1Cor. 12:28-31 1Cor. 13:1-3, 8 1Cor. 14:6, 26 Rom. 12:6-8 Eph. 4:11 Mark 16:17-18
1 Word of
Wisdom
2 Word of Understand all Speak by Knowledge
Knowledge Knowledge
3 Faith Have all Faith
4 Gifts of Gifts of Healings Lay hands to
Healings recover the sick
(Healing)
5 Working of (Workers of)
Miracles Miracles
6 Prophecy Prophets Prophecy Speak by Prophecy, Prophesy Prophets
Prophesying
7 Discerning of
spirits
8 Kinds of (Speak with) Speak with Speaking with Speak with new
Tongues Diversities of Tongues Tongues (Speak Tongues
Tongues Mysteries to God v.
2), Have a Tongue
9 Interpretation Interpret Have an
of Tongues Interpretation
10 Apostles Apostles
11 Teachers Speak by Doctrine, Teacher, Teaching Teachers
Have a Doctrine
12 Helps
13 Governments Ruler (Leadership)
(Administration)
14 Bestow all Giver
(Giving)
15 Give my body
(Martyrdom)
16 Understand all Speak by
Mysteries Revelation, Have a
Revelation
17 Have a Psalm
18 Ministry (Service),
Ministering (Serving)
Server 1Pet 4:11
19 Exhorter,
Exhortation (Word of
Exhortation Act
13:15; Heb 13:22)
20 Shewer of Mercy
21 Evangelists
22 Pastors
23 Cast out
(Exorcize) devils
24 Not hurt by
deadly things
(Immunity)
25 Continency,
Power over will
(Celibacy) 1Co
7:5-7, 37
NOTE: The most listed gift is Prophecy, followed by Tongues, then Teaching.
Last Updated July 31, 2009
By Venerable Dr I. U. Ibeme
Copyright © PriscAquila Publishing, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
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SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 1

 THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS DEFINED
by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme http://priscaquila.6te.net ; or http://www.scribd.com/ifeogo ;
Click Here For
PriscAquila Christian Resource Centre

THE AIM HERE IS TO BE AS PLAINLY BIBLICAL AS POSSIBLE IN DEFINING AND

UNDERSTANDING THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS.

Rom 12:6, 1Cor 12:4&9, and Eph 4:7-8 describe the Spiritual Gifts (Charisma, from Greek
charis=grace and –ma=an object i.e. “grace thing”) as “grace gift” (charis doma) given to us in
accordance with the Christian Faith. Jesus called them signs of our faith in Him (Mk 16:17).

ALL SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE SPIRITUAL ABILITIES GRACIOUSLY GIVEN BY THE

HOLY SPIRIT TO MEMBERS OF CHRIST’S BODY (THE CHURCH), TO FREELY
MANIFEST THE WORKINGS OF GOD’S GRACE IN VARIOUS SPECIAL SERVICES TO
GOD, FOR THE GOOD OF OTHERS AND FOR THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH. (See
Rom 12:3-6; 1Cor 12:1-7; Eph 4:12-13; 1Pet 4:10).

Every Christian believer should constantly be conscious of and confident about the
source, the power and the purpose of these abilities which have been variously
given to them for free service. The whole purpose of every spiritual gift is to
empower the Church:
To understand God’s will and ways,
To please God through obedience and true worship,
To benefit and serve one another freely, and
To bear such witness to Christ that truly makes Him known.

As believers are stirred up, called upon or led to exercise and attempt these gifts in
the Church, they should go ahead and do so through their church’s activities, sub-
groups and ministries. Experience confirmed by witness of the Church will help you
discover your gifts.
Notice that in the Old Testament, Spiritual endowments were called Spirits. For
instance the Spiritual Gift of Prophecy or Knowledge or Wisdom was called the
Spirit of Prophecy or Knowledge or Wisdom.

DEFINITIONS
1. WISDOM
The gift of word (discourse) of Wisdom (eloquence in biblical wisdom and prudence) is the
special grace to discover and develop practical principles from God’s Word in order to
give relevant counsel for tackling particular common or personal problems, in the way
most beneficial to God’s people and most pleasing to God. (St Paul claimed to preach by
this gift in 1Cor 2:4-7, 13-16). This is the gift of preaching wise counsels that convincingly
apply God’s mind to real life situations as Christ promised in Lk 21:15. (Stephen preached
by this gift in Act 6:8-10).

Spiritual Wisdom is about godly discretion to make the choice on WHAT IS RIGHT TO
DO (in order to cooperate with and please God). The second half of most of St Paul’s
epistles are wisdom discourses on Christian living (Eph 4:1-3; 5:1-5). The book of Proverbs

SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 2

was written through the gifts of word of Knowledge (Pro 19:27; 23:12) and word of Wisdom
(Prov 22:17) Also see Pro 1:1-7; 2:2-7; 5:1-2.

2. KNOWLEDGE
The gift of word (discourse) of Knowledge (eloquence in the knowledgeable
understanding of the Gospel mystery Eph 3:3) is the special grace for rational study and
analytical scrutiny of the Scriptures for revelatory insight in order to clearly apprehend
and comprehend the whole and true meaning of God’s Word and Christ’s Redemption,
well enough to give informative discourse or interpretation from the abundance of such
spiritual comprehension (1Cor 1:5). (St Paul claimed to speak by this gift in 1Cor 2:8-
12; Eph 3:1-9). This is the gift of speaking knowledgeable discourses that extensively
expound the eternal purpose of God as Christ promised in Lk 8:10. (Apollos, with HELP
from Priscilla and Aquila, preached by this gift in Act 18:24-28).

Knowledge here is “ginosko” (intellectual comprehension) NOT “eido” (intuitional

apprehension), though comprehension is enhanced by apprehension (Eph 1:17). Spiritual
Knowledge is about godly comprehension on the meaning of WHAT THE TRUTH IS
(about God’s person, power and purpose Eph 1:17-23). The first half of most of St Paul’s
epistles are knowledge discourses on the Person and purpose of Christ (Eph 3:1-9).

What some think “Word of Knowledge” to mean these days is not derived from Scripture
but from modern conjecture and modern Church culture. Such modern definitions do not fit
biblical ginosko=“intelligent awareness”, but rather eido=“intuitive awareness” which
properly belongs to the gifts of DISCERNMENT, REVELATION and PROPHECY if we go
by the Scripture. The gifts of word of Knowledge and word of Wisdom involve intelligent
word-comprehension gifts (Pro 23:10) with intelligible word-communication ability that
also enhance effectiveness for word of Exhortation (Preaching) and word of Instruction
(Teaching).

NOTE:
The mystical Jewish Cabbalists and Gentile Gnostics who engaged in non-
contextual allegorical confabulations about the meaning of the Scripture and the
Gospel, as well as Greek superstitious Philosophers who engaged in unfounded
metaphysical speculations about the Rudiments and the Pleroma, all claimed to
have these special mystical gifts of Wisdom and Knowledge. But the Apostles
constantly denounced them (Act 17:17-22; Rom 1:22; 1Cor 1:19-23; 2:6; 3:19; Gal
4:3, 8-10; Col 2:8; 18-20; 1Tim 6:20).

3. FAITH
The gift of Faith is the special grace to gain certainty about God’s intensions for
particular expectations of God’s people, and hold unshakably unto God with fervent
prayer and extraordinary confidence till such unimaginable expectations, impossible tasks,
difficult projects and programmes are accomplished; despite insurmountable hindrances.
Mk 11:22-24; Heb 11:1, 13, 30-39.

From Hebrews Chapter 11, we learn that Faith is confidence on (or certainty about) the
TRUTH of divine testimony/report about the INVISIBLE and the FUTURE (Heb 11:1,
6). God is always pleased to testify a good report of justifying approval for anyone who
accepts that the report of God’s testimony is true (Heb 11:2, 5, 7). All justified believers
already have their own basic saving Faith on divine TRUTH about the reality of the
SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 3
INVISIBLE God and the certainty of His FUTURE reward for believers (Heb 11:6), yet
some special measure/proportion of gift of extraordinary or miraculous Faith is not given
equally to all (Rom 12:6). True Faith is that which believes only the testimony of God’s
Word (Rom 10:17), believing reports, ideas and mundane desires other than divine
testimony is either presumption or conjuration but not true Faith.

4. HEALINGS
The gifts of Healings are the special graces to lay hands on (or speak to) people with
varieties of sicknesses to make them recover without natural means, in a way that gives
God the glory. Act 9:34; 28:8-9.

5. MIRACLES (SIGNS AND WONDERS)

The gift of working of Miracles is the special grace to operate in the power of God to
make signs and wonders happen contrary to normal processes of nature, for the purging
and profit of God’s people and to the glory of God. Acts 5:9-13; 8:39-40; 20:9-12.

NOTE: Miracles (i.e. signs and wonders) which are done by sorcery/magic or satanic
powers are called false/lying wonders because they are not approved or inspired by God
and are either false illusionary pranks or real extraordinary powers abused to deceive
people into believing a lie or for following after false doctrine (Exo 8:7; 2Thes 2:8-12; Rev
13:11-15). There is a thin line of discernment between true Miracles and lying
Miracles/Magic. True Miracles of profit always go with purged conscience, but false
miracles of profit do not go with purged conscience.
True Miracle is a gift received by faith through God’s gracious intervention for
virtuous purpose (Rom 15:18-19; Act 4:29-30; 14:3; 19:11: Heb 2:4), while false
Miracle/Magic happens by force of sorcery through our conjuration for vain
purpose. If true Miracles were in our hands, we could conjure and use them as we like at
will (as sorcerers and magicians do Act 8:9, 18-19), but since true Miracles are in God’s
hand, we could only receive them as God grants us grace by faith.
A MIRACLE is any indicating SIGN or surprising WONDER that happens contrary to
normal course of nature mediated by God’s power or by other supernatural powers. A
miracle could be of God or of the Devil: it could be reality or illusion, true or false, good or
harm, profitable or punitive, uplifting or upbraiding, divine pleasure or divine displeasure.
True Miracles of blessing usually promote followership and provoke faith (John 6:2), but
does not always make people believe the Gospel (Matt 11:20; John 12:37). On the other
hand, believing the Gospel and having united regard towards ministers enhance miracles
of blessings (Act 8:6-7), while unbelief, discord and disdain toward ministers hinder
uplifting miracles of approval (Matt 13:57-58) and enhance upbraiding miracles of
disapproval (Matt 11:20-24). When we deride and disobey God’s Word, or disregard,
disdain and deceive God’s Ministers, we could hardly receive uplifting miracles of
blessing through such ministers – except upbraiding miracles of fear and woe! (Luk
10:10-16; Act 5:1-12; 13:8-11).

6. PROPHECY
The gift of Prophecy is the special complex oracular grace to prayerfully search (inquest)
so as to gain conceptual, pictorial and/or verbal insight into the counsel and purpose of
God concerning the past, present or future (revelation), and speak-forth or tell-forth
(proclaim) or foretell (predict) revealed divine counsel which the whole Church or some
members need to be aware of, in FAITHFUL WORDS as moved by the Holy Spirit
(inspired) at a given time. Joh 4:16-19; Act 21:9; 1Pe 1:10-12; 2Pe 1:19-21.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 4
Prophets usually have the gifts of Revelation and Discernment combined with the gift of
word of Exhortation for effective delivery of their prophetic messages Act 15:32; 1Co 14:3.
They may also have the gift of Miracles to support their prophetic testimony or draw
attention to their ministry. Effective Gospel Prophets are vast in Scriptures and prayerfully
eager to discover God’s PURPOSE AND TRUTH Dan 9:1-3; Dan 9:22-23; Dan 10:11-12;
Dan 12:8-9. Christian Prophets must eschew inclination to divination and avoid dabbling
into occultist mysticism or cabbalistic numerology and ritualism.

Prophets should not use their gifts for soothsaying, divination, augury or prognostication
about every inquisitive frivolous secrets and every mundane future curiosities people may
wish to know, Prophecy should rather serve for timely proclamation of the counsel of God
(what God intends to do and intends us to know and do about His intensions) for the hour,
which is according to His pleasure and predetermined purpose (Isa 47:12-14; Jer 23:16-
18). Divination for soothsaying consults spirits/omens on behalf of men but Inspiration for
Prophecy speaks to men on behalf of God (Jer 14:14-16; 1Cor 14:1-5).
The Prophets in the Scriptures were devout REFORMERS who were proven to have
been inspired in their:
➢ declaration of God’s precepts, power, purpose and pleasure;
➢ invitation of people to repent and please God in purity and piety;
➢ assurance of all about God’s readiness for merciful pardon and mighty
salvation.
False Prophecy is full of shenanigans and chicaneries (2Pet 2:1-3), but Holy
Prophecy diligently SEARCHES out the mind and counsel of God (1Pet 1:10-12) to
accurately SPEAK OUT by the INSPIRATION of the Holy Spirit (2Pet 1:19-21) in order
to bring revelation, discernment, edification, exhortation, comfort and conviction to
God’s people (1Co 14:3, 24-26). In general sense, (though not all believers are
“predictive” Prophets) all spirit-filled believers in Christ could prophesy at least
“proclamatively” because the Holy Spirit of Christ which indwells all believers and
persistently testifies to Christ’s Lordship is the Prophetic Spirit (Ezek 13:6-10; Act 2:17-18;
1Cor 12:3; Rev 19:10).
CANONICAL AND NON-CANONICAL PROPHECIES: Apart from the endowed ABILITY
of the charismatic Prophetic GIFT for all Prophets, there is today the assigned
RESPONSIBILITY or AUTHORITY of the instituted or administrative Prophetic OFFICE for
some out of the many who are prophetically gifted. Prophesying in the Scripture was not
an office but a gift or calling or ministry.
Prophets are of two categories – NORMATIVE with canonical authority for the Church’s
foundational purpose which cannot be repeated (1Cor 3:9-11; 14:37-38; Eph 2:20) and
NON-NORMATIVE or non-canonical gift for the saints’ perfecting purpose which is yet to
cease till Christ returns (Eph 4:11-13; 1Cor 13:9-10).
Prophetic messages are of two categories – those that are of TRANSIENT value not
usually written in the Scriptures but subject to judgment by the saints (1Cor 14:29; 1John
4:1-3) and those that are of ETERNAL value which are written in the Scripture to which the
Saints are subject to in judgment. So, there is normative TESTED inspiration for
CANONICAL scripturation and transient TESTABLE inspiration not for scripturation. That is
why the Prophets that wrote the Scriptures did not write all their prophecies except those
meant for Scripture.
NORMATIVE PROPHECY IS ALREADY WRITTEN IN THE SCRIPTURES AS THE
SETTLED CANON, BUT NON-NORMATIVE PROPHECIES OF TRANSIENT VALUE ARE
STILL OPERATIONAL IN THE CHURCH AS SPIRITUAL GIFT. Such transient messages
SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 5
by non-normative Prophets or Teachers MUST BE TESTED/JUDGED WITH THE
NORMATIVE CANON BEFORE BEING HEEDED (1Cor 14:29; 1John 4:1).
Scripture-worthy prophets and witnesses (such as Moses and Mosaic prophets of the O.T.
or Apostles and Apostolic prophets of the N.T.) were not merely gifted with the oracular or
prophetic gift for spontaneous extemporaneous utterances but HAVE BEEN PROVEN (Act
17:11; Gal 1:11-2:9) to be reliably authorized and authenticated, peculiarly consecrated
and inspired as well as specially prepared to diligently inquire their oracles (1Pet 1:10-12;
2Pet 1:19-21) to know what to write and what not to write in the Scripture (Exo 34:27; Rev
2:1, 8, 12, 18). The inspired writings of these canonical or normative prophets are to be
believed as authoritative tradition without question and obeyed as divine commandment
without option (1Cor 14:37-38; Rom 16:17; 2Tim 3:15-17; Gal 1:6-9; 2Thes 2:15; 3:6;
2John 9-12).
THE CANONICAL PROPHETS MAINTAINED THAT OTHER NON-CANONICAL
PROPHETS AND THEIR PROPHECIES ARE NOT TO CEASE OR BE FORBIDDEN, but
must be subjected to TESTING and judgment (Num 11:26-29; Deut 18:15-22; 1Cor 14:29-
32; 36-39; 1Thes 5:19-22) because their insights are partial and blurred (1Cor 13:12) as
well as liable to error. Like all spiritually gifted persons, Prophets prophesy “in proportion”
(Rom 12:6), and “in part” (1Cor 13:9), and “in fragments” (Heb 1:1) so every non-
normative prophecy or revelation (as well as teaching or doctrine as though derived from
divine Truth) is false or invalid except they are proved to agree wholly and wholesomely
with the normative oracles and tradition of the canonical Scripture (Deut 13:1-3; 1Cor 13:9-
12; Gal 1:6-9; 2Thes 2:2-3; 1John 4:1).
FALSE PROPHETS are mostly prophets in their own rights who are able to do mighty
deeds (Matt 7:21-23), but they do not prophesy according to scriptural principles. All False
Prophets use their prophetic powers or pretence for their private business and
selfish purpose. They are manipulated MANIPULATORS who are either POWERFUL
DECEIVERS (Deut 13:1-5; Mat 7:15-23) or POWERLESS PRETENDERS (Deut 18:18-22)
as follows:
A FALSE PROPHET is one who uses deception to prophesy or one who uses
prophecy to deceive; the Prophetic Gift is degraded and defiled by use of divination
or by delusion or by dissimulation.
1. Occultist (False) prophets who prophesy by divination and demonic powers LIKE
SIMON MAGUS OF SAMARIA AND THE SOOTHSAYER MAID OF PHILIPPI (Act
8:9-22; 16:16-20). This is where the final Antichrist false prophet belongs (2Thes
2:7-12; Rev 13:11-17; 16:13-14).
2. Pretentious (Fake) prophets who have no prophetic powers but pretend to
prophesy by clever tricks LIKE THE SEVEN SONS OF SCEVA (Act 19:13-17).
3. Insincere (Falsified) prophets who turn their true prophetic ministry into
soothsaying venture through:
a) syncretism and sinful contamination, LIKE HANANIAH SON OF AZZUR AND
ELIMAS BARJESUS (Jer 28; Act 13:6-12; Rev 2:20), or
b) profiteering and selfish commercialisation LIKE BALAAM SON OF BEOR
(Num 22-24; 31:16; Josh 13:22; 2Pet 2:15-16; Rev 2:14), or
c) inclusion of guesswork and deluded presumption LIKE ZEDEKIAH SON OF
KANAANAH (Deut 18:20-22; 1Kin 22; Ezek 13:6-10).
May we never disappoint God in our time! God is looking for Prophets who will be
true Prophets for Him and His Church today. If you are gifted as a Prophet, please
remain true and refuse to falsify your gift and ministry.
Moses said a false prophet may be right in prediction and signs and yet be wrong in
proclamation of God’s counsel (Deu 13:1-5; Deu 18:20-22). So the true test of prophecy is
SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 6
compliance with the Scriptures not confirmation of predictions and signs. True and False
prophets are persons who cogently (unlike lunatics) “SEE and SPEAK by another SPIRIT
(Holy/Divine Spirit or evil/demonic spirits)”.
➢ Amongst those called Prophets, there are True Prophets/SEERS who
PROBE/search by divine revelation usually given by the Holy Spirit, but there
are also False Prophets/MEDIUMS who PROBE/search by occultist divination
often claimed to be from the Holy Spirit.
➢ Both True and False Prophets could PROBE (or search) to PROGNOSTICATE
or PREDICT to FORE-TELL DATA-ORACLES on things that happen about us,
but only true Prophets FORTH-TELL DIVINE- ORACLES on what God is saying
to us about His mind for the hour.
When a prophet tells you data-messages about yourself or some other signs, never get
distracted by the unimportant fears and fads in such data-messages and signs, but insist
on finding out what is the divine-message from the mind of God for the hour, because only
the mind of God (not the inquisitive data, stunt signs and frivolous stories) is important.
FALSE TEACHERS are not always the same as False Prophets but heretics (who preach
another or erroneous Gospel (Gal 1:6-9; 1John 4:1-6) and libertine motivational preachers
who turn the grace of God into licentiousness (2Pet 2:1-3; Jude 3-4).
FALSE CHRISTS are those who even dare to deceitfully claim that they are another Christ
(Mat 24:5, 11, 24).
All spiritually false and morally false “Christian” ministries and convictions which are
propagated by False Prophets, False Teachers and False Christs are under the spirit of
error and lawlessness: all of which belong to the Antichrist and Satan (2Thes 2:8-10). God
has put all moral falsehood and spiritual error inside the Church under His wrath and curse
(Gal 1:6-9; Heb 10:26-31; Jude 4) even worse than those outside the Church (Jer 13:13-
15; 23:9-32; Rom 1:18; Eph 2:2-3).
TRUE PROPHETS are those consecrated brethren whose oracles are true declaration of
God’s mind for His people. True prophets forth-tell to persuade people to please God
and fore-tell to prepare people to be ready for God. True Prophets prophesy with all
sincerity and diligence, and not with divination, delusion, dissimulations, derivations,
deceptions or distortions (Deut 18:18-22; 2Cor 2:17; 4:1-2).

7. DISCERNMENT
The gift of Discerning of spirits is the special grace to perceive and clearly distinguish
between attitudes, activities and events that are divine and true from those that are human,
false and satanic, so that God’s people will not be deceived. Act 5:1-5; 8:18-23.

Today some refer to the gift of Discernment as “WORD OF KNOWLEDGE” though this is
difficult to be maintained both grammatically and with the Scriptures: Job 15:2; 33:3; 34:35;
35:16; 38:2; 42:3; Prov 19:27; 22:17; 23:12; 1Cor 1:5; 2Cor 8:7.

8. TONGUES
The gift of speaking in diversities of Tongues is the special grace to speak mysteries,
prayers, praises and thanks to God in languages strange to and unknown to the speaker
for personal spiritual edification. Act 2:11; 10:46; 1Cor 14:2-4, 13-18.

It is important to note that Jesus (Act 1:4-8), and John (Mat 3:11), and Joel (Joel 2:26-32)
or even Peter (Act 2:14-21) and Paul (1Cor 14:1; Eph 5:18-20) never mentioned Tongues
(either of fire or of utterance) as the key evidence of Baptism with, Fullness of, or Coming
of the Holy Spirit; they rather mentioned that God gives the Holy Spirit to fulfil his promise
SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 7
of INDWELLING PURITY AND POWER to the Church for PROPHETIC WITNESS to the
world.
All the Apostles and the 120 disciples received the Tongues of Fire and the Gift of
Speaking in Tongues and agreed with the truth that the Gift of Tongues, Prophecy and any
other Spiritual Gift are good for all (1Cor 14:1, 5), yet they explained that Spiritual Gifts are
not uniformly given to all but are diversely distributed (1Cor 12:10, 30). Emphasis on a
particular Gift especially Tongues is denominational preference or personal choice
which God may freely grant or people may falsely and forcibly mimic.
Praying in the (Holy) Spirit (Jude 1:20) could be done by GROANINGS that cannot be
uttered (John 11:33; Rom 8:26-27) or by uttered TONGUES that need interpretation (1Cor
14:14-18) or by INSPIRED WORDS that is well understood (Luk 10:21).

9. INTERPRETATION
The gift of Interpretation of Tongues is the special grace to explain or translate what is
spoken in Tongues strange to the interpreter for the general spiritual edification of the
whole Church. 1Cor 14:13-14.

10. APOSTLE (MISSIONARY)

The gift of Apostle (not the Apostolic OFFICE but Missionary GIFT) is the special grace to
work as Christ’s ambassadors sent on missionary witness to the uttermost parts of the
earth to bring the Gospel to and plant Churches amongst un-churched peoples. Mk 3:14-
15; Lk 9:1-2; 10:1-12; 1Cor 12:28-29; Eph 4:11. (Note: APOSTOLOS=Apostle;
APOSTELLO=sent forth on mission).
The Apostolic OFFICE specially referred to The Twelve whom Christ initially ORDAINED
(i.e. called, equipped, empowered and authorized) and SENT FORTH to command and
hand down the New Covenant Gospel TRADITIONS (i.e. message, doctrine and practice)
as they received them from Christ which are binding on the Church of all generations in all
nations. 1Cor 14:37-38; 2Thes 2:15; 3:6; 2Pet 3:2. Apart from The Twelve with Paul and
Barnabas, the Early Church did not ascribe Apostolic OFFICE to anyone, but they
recognized the Missionary GIFT of Preaching Christ’s Gospel for Church Planting in their
midst. Those ordained as official delegates and successors of the Apostles for the
Apostolic OFFICE in the Early Church were designates BISHOPS (Php 1:1; 1Tim 3:1; Tit
1:7). But those Bishops had secondary authority to preserve what the Apostles had
handed down. Today, many have begun to assume the Apostolic OFFICE in some modern
Churches.

11. TEACHING
The gift of Teaching (word or discourse of Instruction) is the special grace to organise the
whole counsel of God found in the Scripture (i.e. the Word of Truth) on issues concerning
the doctrine (i.e. meaning of the message, person, power and purpose) of Christ and
instruct the Church in a way they could understand, learn and practice. 2Tim 2:15; 3:16-
17.

The Teacher of the Word, in addition to being a word-communicator, apt to teach (2Tim
2:24f), needs the incisive word-comprehension gifts of both Wisdom and Knowledge to
fully impact the doctrine of Christ.
FALSE TEACHERS are innovators who revise and contaminate God’s Word or lopsidedly
contradict God’s Word in order to deceive or exploit their hearers with their pernicious
heresies (2Pet 2:1-3).

SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 8

TRUE TEACHERS teach wholesome and sound doctrine and thorough instructions that
meet every standard of every portion of the whole Scripture (2Tim 2:14-19; 3:13-17).

12. HELPS (ASSISTANCE)

The gift of Helps is the special grace to offer various forms of assistance and support to
members of the Church so as to potentiate their spiritual effectiveness in fulfilling their
ministries. Act 18:2-3, 26; Rom 16:2; 2Tim 4:11; Phm 24.

13. LEADERSHIP (RULING and ADMINISTRATION)

The gift of Leadership is the special grace to diligently set goals in accordance with God’s
will and purpose, for the various parts of the Church and mobilise God’s people in such a
way that they willingly work together through effective administrative or management
plan to accomplish those goals to God’s glory. Act 6:1-7; Tit 1:5; Heb 13:7, 17.

Gift of Leadership is essentially ability to influence people towards a good purpose in

Church and Society, Gift of Administration is ability to manage formal processes for
effective leadership and Gift of Ruling is ability to utilise authority properly for leadership.
Leadership is not about oppressing people or bossing them around as the Gentiles do but
about serving people in Church and Society to please God according to the rule and goal
of God’s Kingdom (Mat 20:25-28).

14. GIVING
The gift of Giving is the special grace to willingly contribute and distribute one’s substance
generously (even up to voluntary poverty) so as to meet the material needs of the Church
and the needy. Act 4:36-37; 2Cor 8:1-5.

15. MARTYRDOM
The gift of Martyrdom is the special grace to boldly bear witness to Christ in defiance to
severe persecution, even unto death, in such a way that the Gospel is preached to God’s
glory. Act 7:54-60; 2Tim 4:6-8; 2Pet 1:14.

16. REVELATION (MYSTERIES)

The gift of Revelation is the special grace to gain direct conceptual, pictorial (vision or
dream), and/or verbal insight into the mysteries of Christ and/or into the hidden realities
concerning the past, present and future of the Church or some of her members so as to
enable God’s people understand the existing state of affairs. Act 10:9-20; 16:9; 2Cor 12:1-
4; Eph 3:3-8.

In this special sense Revelations is an aspect of the Prophetic gift (1Pet 1:10-12), but in a
general sense Revelation is available to all Spirit-filled believers to understand the
mystery of Christ’s Gospel and experience the witness of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:15-16;
1Cor 2:14; Eph 1:15-23).
Today some refer to the gift of Revelation as “WORD OF KNOWLEDGE”, mistaking
GINOSKO/GNOSIS=intelligent knowledge for awareness to be same as
EIDO/OIDA=intuitive knowing for assurance.

17. PSALMS (SONGS)

The gift of Psalms is the special grace to arrange and sing inspired melodies and lyrics
for edification and doxological purposes amongst God’s people. Eph 5:18-19; 2Sam
23:1-2.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 9
18. SERVICE
The gift of Service is the special grace to work and labour to meet the various needs of
the Church, so that the Church will work the works of God and accomplish desired goals.
Act 6:1-4; 9:36-39.

19. EXHORTATION (PREACHING)

The gift of word (discourse) of Exhortation is the special grace to expound God’s Word and
Will for persuading and admonishing God’s people in a way that stirs up conviction,
correction, consolation and commitment unto seeking to please God for their own good
and God’s glory. Act 2:40; 11:23; 14:22; 1Thes 2:11.

The Exhorter (i.e. Preacher or Homilist) as with the Teacher also needs both the incisive
word-comprehension gifts of Wisdom and Knowledge to stir God’s people through
scriptural exposition, unto godliness with assurance of divine grace. Mere rhetoric
and motivational oratory may exhort unto vanity rather than sanctity.

20. MERCY (BENEVOLENCE)

The gift of showing Mercy is the special grace to be greatly moved by compassionate
concern for the miserable and work charitably to alleviate their distress and bring comfort.
Act 9:36, 39;

21. EVANGELIST
The gift of Evangelist is the special grace to preach the Gospel message with convincing
power to unbelievers in such a way that they believe and become followers of Christ. Act
8:5, 12, 35, 40; 21:8.

22. PASTOR
The gift of Pastor is the special grace to shepherd and nourish the flock of Christ (the
Church), spiritually and emotionally, so that they may grow safe and sound unto maturity
and unity of faith in Christ. John 21:15-17; Act 20:27-28.

23. EXORCISM
The gift of Exorcism is the special grace to cast out evil spirits by the power of the spoken
Word of God, so as to deliver people and things from demonic influences. Acts 16:18.

24. IMMUNITY
The gift of Immunity is the special grace to be unhurt by deadly or injurious things in the
course of serving God, such that the Church is comforted and God is glorified. Act 28:3-6.

25. CELIBACY
The gift of Celibacy is the special grace to stay unmarried without losing continency over
sexual passion, so that God’s work would be done maximally without the encumbrances of
marriage and family or the scandal of sexual misdemeanour. Matt 19:10-12; 1Cor 7:5-7,
37.

26. CRAFTSMANSHIP/Technology (OT)

A key gift found specifically in the Old Testament is the Gift of Craftsmanship or
Technology (Exo 35:30-36:2) which is the special grace to use creative mind and skills to
build structures and fabricate gadgets that enhance the worship of God.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 10
 Last Updated December 6, 2017
By Venerable Dr I. U. Ibeme
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SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 11