bible verses about spiritual gifts

Bible Verses About Spiritual Gifts: 12

Bible verses about spiritual gifts: 12 Scriptures on charismata for the church's good.

Illustrated portrait of Christopher McAllister

By Christopher McAllister

Founder of theBibleand.Love

Published September 30, 20266 min read1 Corinthians 12:1 (NIV)

A small group gathers in a courtyard as wind moves through the olive leaves above them.

"Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed."

— 1 Corinthians 12:1 (NIV)

People who search bible verses about spiritual gifts want Scripture for the Spirit's gifts that build up the body — not only the fruit of the Spirit or pages about the Holy Spirit as Person. This page is a numbered list of twelve passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. Related lists: Bible verses about the Holy Spirit, Bible verses about the fruit of the Spirit, Bible verses about serving others, Bible verses about the church, and Bible verse of the day. Spiritual gifts here means charismata — grace-gifts for edification — distinct from Spirit-fruit character alone. Speaking in tongues as gift is Bible verses about tongues.

Word study (lead theme). In Greek, a spiritual "gift" is often χάρισμα charisma (Strong's G5486; Bible Hub G5486) — a gift of grace, favor freely given; plural charismata. Paul ties gifts to the same Spirit, the common good, and building up the church — not to private status. Scripture treats gifts as distributed, stewarded, and aimed at others.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 12 presses variety of gifts under one Spirit for the body's good — not for rivalry (Bible Hub commentaries on 1 Corinthians 12:4; Bible Hub MHC 1 Corinthians 12; Blue Letter Bible, Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 12). On Romans 12 he marks differing gifts according to the grace given — prophecy, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, mercy (Bible Hub commentaries on Romans 12:6; Bible Hub MHC Romans 12; Blue Letter Bible, Matthew Henry on Romans 12). (Fruit-of-the-Spirit character lives on that page; Spirit-as-Person lists live on the Holy Spirit page; this list centers charismata for edification.)

12 Bible verses about spiritual gifts

  1. 1 Corinthians 12:1. "Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed." Gifts are a topic Paul refuses to leave foggy — ignorance is not humility. See Bible verses about the Holy Spirit.

  2. 1 Corinthians 12:8-10. "To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues." One Spirit; many manifestations — listed for the body's good. See Bible verses about the church.

  3. 1 Corinthians 12:11. "All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines." Distribution is the Spirit's call — not a human queue. See Bible verses about the Holy Spirit.

  4. 1 Corinthians 12:27-28. "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues." Body membership comes with placed gifts — roles for the church. See Bible verses about the church.

  5. Romans 12:6-8. "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." Grace-given difference becomes cheerful practice. See Bible verses about serving others.

  6. Ephesians 4:11-12. "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up." Gifts equip for service so the body is built — not so stars are made. See Bible verses about serving others.

  7. 1 Peter 4:10. "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." Received gifts are for others — stewardship of varied grace. See Bible verses about serving others.

  8. 1 Corinthians 14:12. "So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church." Eagerness is aimed at edification — build the church, not the ego. See Bible verses about the church.

  9. 1 Corinthians 14:1. "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy." Love leads; then eager desire for gifts — prophecy singled out for building others. See Bible verses about love.

  10. 1 Corinthians 12:31. "Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way." Desire gifts — and still be pointed to love's more excellent way. See Bible verses about the fruit of the Spirit.

  11. 1 Timothy 4:14. "Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you." Gifts can be neglected — attention and use matter. See Bible verses about obedience.

  12. 2 Timothy 1:6. "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands." Fan into flame — gifts are tended, not shelved. See Bible verses about the Holy Spirit.

How to use these verses

Pick one verse for discovering a gift, serving on a team, or checking whether a gift builds others — not twelve as a ranking contest. If you need the gifts list, start with 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 or Romans 12:6-8. If you need Spirit-as-Person and presence, open Bible verses about the Holy Spirit. If you need character fruit (love, joy, peace…), open Bible verses about the fruit of the Spirit. If you need hands-on service, open Bible verses about serving others. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Questions people ask

What is a good Bible verse about spiritual gifts?

1 Corinthians 12:1 (do not be uninformed), Romans 12:6-8 (different gifts according to grace), and 1 Peter 4:10 (use gifts to serve others) are clear starting places.

How do Bible verses about spiritual gifts differ from the fruit of the Spirit?

Fruit pages center character the Spirit grows (love, joy, peace…). A spiritual-gifts page centers charismata — grace-gifts distributed for the common good — then cross-links fruit and the Spirit. See Bible verses about the fruit of the Spirit.

What does charisma / charismata mean?

Strong's G5486 charisma is a gift of grace — favor freely given; charismata are those gifts in the plural, often Spirit-distributed abilities for the body.

Are spiritual gifts only for leaders?

Romans 12 and 1 Peter 4 address the whole body — serving, mercy, giving, and stewardship of whatever gift you received. See Bible verses about serving others and Bible verses about the church.

Where can I read more about the Spirit, fruit, and serving?

Start with Bible verses about the Holy Spirit, then Bible verses about the fruit of the Spirit, Bible verses about serving others, and Bible verses about the church.

Sources

A man and two women gather in a courtyard under olive trees.

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