Spiritual gift

==Descriptions==
'''[[Apostle]]''': The title apostle comes from the Greek word ''apostolos'' which means "a messenger, one sent forth with orders".<ref name=foundations351>Duffield and Van Cleave, ''Foundations of Pentecostal Theology'', p. 351.</ref> It refers to one who has been delegated authority by another in a foreign land.<ref name="cathenApostles">{{cite encyclopedia | last = Coppieters | first = Honoré |title = Apostles | encyclopedia = The Catholic Encyclopedia | volume = 1 | publisher = Robert Appleton Company | year = 1907 | url = http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01626c.htm | access-date = 22 June 2011}}</ref> Apostles were the first leaders of the Church; they were commissioned by Jesus to initiate and direct the preaching of the gospel. While many Christians agree that the title of apostle is reserved for those among the first generation of Christians, many Christian denominations continue in one way or another to recognize a continuing apostolic ministry. Many churches, such as the [[Roman Catholic Church]] and the [[Eastern Orthodox Churches]], believe in the doctrine of [[apostolic succession]], which holds that properly ordained [[bishop]]s are the successors to the apostles. Only bishops have the charism certain of the truth<ref>{{cite web|url=https://newdailycompass.com/en/the-discernment-needed-to-judge-chastisement-and-conversion|title=The Discernment needed to judge chastisement and conversion|date=April 14, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220701200447/https://newdailycompass.com/en/the-discernment-needed-to-judge-chastisement-and-conversion|archive-date=July 1, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> (in [[Latin language|Latin]]: ''charisma veritatis certum''<ref>{{cite web|author=[[International Theological Commission]]|url=https://www-vatican-va.translate.goog/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/cti_documents/rc_cti_doc_20111129_teologia-oggi_it.html?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=it&_x_tr_pto=wapp|trans-title=Theology Today: Perspectives, Principia and Criteria|title=La teologia oggi: prospettive, principi e criteri|language=it,en|year=2012|website=Holy See|access-date=2023-01-15|archive-date=2023-01-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115202027/https://www-vatican-va.translate.goog/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/cti_documents/rc_cti_doc_20111129_teologia-oggi_it.html?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=it&_x_tr_pto=wapp|url-status=live}} (at n°. 33)</ref>), which is the faculty to establish undoubtedly a truth in matter of faith or morality or concerning the Holy Scripture. Other Christian groups, such as classical Pentecostals, consider the role of a [[missionary]] to be fulfilling an apostolic ministry.<ref name=foundations353>Duffield and Van Cleave, ''Foundations of Pentecostal Theology'', p. 353.</ref> There are some Christians, however, who advocate restoring the Fivefold ministry, including the formal recognition of the office of apostle. Others would say that the office no longer exists.<ref name=Grudem1031>Grudem, ''Systematic Theology'', p. 1031 note 21.</ref>

'''[[Prophet]]''': In the New Testament, the office of prophet is to equip the saints for the work of service through exhortation, edification, and consolation  (1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Corinthians 14:3 Ephesians 4:11).<ref name=foundations353-354>Duffield and Van Cleave, ''Foundations of Pentecostal Theology'', pp. 353–54.</ref> The prophet's corresponding gift is [[prophecy]]. Prophecy is "reporting something that God spontaneously brings to your mind".<ref name=Grudem1024>Grudem, ''Systematic Theology'', p. 1024.</ref> Many, particularly Pentecostals and charismatics, distinguish between the "office of prophet" and the "gift of prophecy", believing that a Christian can possess the gift of prophecy without holding the prophetic office.<ref name=foundations336,351-352>Duffield and Van Cleave, ''Foundations of Pentecostal Theology'', pp. 336, 351–52.</ref>

Prophecy has been addressed to the human understanding “he who prophesies speaks to men,”  Cor 14:1-25. The prophet “edifies the church” (14:4).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://preachingsource.com/journal/paul-and-spiritual-gifts-reflections-on-1-corinthians-12-14/|title=Paul and Spiritual Gifts: Reflections on 1 Corinthians 12-14 &#124; Preaching Source|first=Bert Dominy &#124; Southwestern Journal of Theology Vol 26-|last=Fall 1983|access-date=2023-03-07|archive-date=2023-03-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307013337/https://preachingsource.com/journal/paul-and-spiritual-gifts-reflections-on-1-corinthians-12-14/|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''[[Evangelism|Evangelist]]''': An evangelist is one who devotes himself to preaching the gospel. In the New Testament, evangelists preached from city to city, church to church.<ref name=foundations356-357>Duffield and Van Cleave, ''Foundations of Pentecostal Theology'', pp. 356–57.</ref>

'''[[Pastor]]:''' This term derives from a Greek word for "shepherd". In theory pastors are gifted to lead, guide, and set an example for other Christians. The grammatical structure of Ephesians 4:11 leads many to conclude that teacher and pastor should be considered one term (pastor-teacher). Even so, the two terms are not interchangeable; while all pastors are teachers, not all teachers are pastors. Pastoral Gifts include integrity and compassion.<ref name=foundations357-358>Duffield and Van Cleave, ''Foundations of Pentecostal Theology'', pp. 357–58.</ref>

'''Teacher:''' Someone who devotes his or her life to preaching and teaching the Christian faith. When teaching is provided for the Church by God, two gifts are actually given—to the Church is given a teacher and along with the teacher comes a divine capacity to teach.<ref name=foundations347-348>Duffield and Van Cleave, ''Foundations of Pentecostal Theology'', pp. 347–48.</ref>

'''Service''': The word translated as "ministry" is ''diakonia'', which can also be translated "service".<ref name=foundations347-348/> Since there are many types of ministries and service to the Church, this then describes a broad array of gifts rather than a single gift.

'''Exhortation''': The ability to motivate Christians "to patient endurance, brotherly love, and good works".<ref name=foundations348-349>Duffield and Van Cleave, ''Foundations of Pentecostal Theology'', pp. 348–49.</ref>

'''Giving''': Those with this gift share their own possessions with others with extraordinary generosity. While all Christians should be givers, those possessing this gift will go beyond this normal giving.<ref name=foundations348-349/>

'''Leading''': This gift speaks to the various leadership roles found in the Church. While many think of roles such as administration, management of funds, strategy planning, etc. as functions outside of the supernatural realm, in reality individuals in these positions are just as in need of supernatural empowerment as are ministers of the gospel.<ref name=foundations349-350>Duffield and Van Cleave, ''Foundations of Pentecostal Theology'', pp. 349–50.</ref> Some writers consider the gifts of governments and leading to be the same gift, but others consider them closely related yet different.

'''[[Mercy]]''': Possibly identical to the gift of helps, the mercy-shower possesses a ministry of visitation, prayer, and compassion to the poor and sick.<ref name=foundations349-350/>

'''[[Word of wisdom]]''': An utterance or message of wisdom supernaturally granted to an individual. For Paul, wisdom refers to "the knowledge of the great Christian mysteries: the Incarnation, Passion, and Resurrection of Christ, and the indwelling in the believer of the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2; Ephesians 1:17)".<ref name="cathen"/>

'''[[Word of knowledge]]''': The knowledge referred to is often said to relate to understanding Christian doctrine or scriptural truth.<ref name="cathen"/> It is sometimes said to be connected with the ministry of teachers.

'''[[Faith in Christianity|Faith]]''': This refers to that strong or special faith "which removes mountains, casts out devils ([[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 17:19–20), and faces the most cruel martyrdom without flinching".<ref name="cathen"/> It is distinguished from the "saving" and "normal" Christian faith.<ref name=foundations336-337>Duffield and Van Cleave, ''Foundations of Pentecostal Theology'', pp. 336–37.</ref>

'''[[Gifts of healing]]s''': The ability to supernaturally minister healing to others. The plural indicates the variety of sickness healed and the many forms the gift takes, such as healing by anointing with oil, by the [[laying on of hands]], by saying the name of [[Jesus]] or by the [[sign of the cross]].<ref name="cathen"/>

'''[[Gift of miracles|Working of miracles]]''': The performance of deeds beyond ordinary human ability by the power of the Holy Spirit.<ref name="cathen"/>

'''Visions'''.  An outpouring of this gift is prophesied in Joel 2:28 and Acts 2:17 shows that early Christians believed this prophecy was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost.   Visions tend to be more private experiences than the other gifts. Some researchers expand the definition of visions to include a strongly felt presence.<ref name="Kavan">{{cite journal
 | last = Kavan
 | first = Heather
 | title = A psychodynamic interpretation of gender differences in descriptions of religious visions
 | journal = The International Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Society
 | volume = 2
 | issue = 2
 | pages = 77–87
 | year = 2013| doi = 10.18848/2154-8633/CGP/v02i02/50994
 }}</ref>

'''[[Discerning of spirits]]''': The capacity to discern, distinguish, or to discriminate the source of a spiritual manifestation—whether it emanates from a good or evil spirit. It seemed to have been particularly associated with prophecy as it would be necessary to know whether a prophetic utterance was truly inspired by God.<ref name="cathen"/><ref name=foundations339-340>Duffield and Van Cleave, ''Foundations of Pentecostal Theology'', pp. 340–41.</ref>

'''[[Speaking in tongues|Tongues]]''': The supernatural ability of speaking an unlearned language.<ref name="cathen"/> Paul seems to have distinguished between the public use of the gift (which must always be interpreted) and the private use which was for the spiritual strengthening of oneself.<ref name=foundations345>Duffield and Van Cleave, ''Foundations of Pentecostal Theology'', p. 345.</ref> Currently among Christians there is a dispute as to whether tongues were/are always [[xenoglossy]] (speaking an unlearned human language) or whether it also included/includes [[glossolalia]] (speaking an unlearned and allegedly non-human language of heavenly or angelic origin).

'''[[Interpretation of tongues]]''': This gift ought always follow the public exercise of the gift of tongues.<ref name="cathen"/> In 1 Corinthians 14, the Apostle Paul required that all speech in Christian worship should be intelligible. This required that speech given in an unknown tongue be interpreted in the common language of the gathered Christians.

'''Helps''': This gift has to do with service to the sick and the poor.<ref name="cathen"/> Possessors of this gift have a "spiritual burden and a God-given love for the needy and afflicted".<ref name=foundations343>Duffield and Van Cleave, ''Foundations of Pentecostal Theology'', p. 343.</ref>

'''Administration''': Also called the gift of governing,<ref name="cathen"/> the Greek word translated "governments" is ''kubernesis'', the verb form of which means "to steer" or "to be a helmsman". This gift then refers to the God-given capacity to lead or guide the Church through storms and difficult seas.<ref name=foundations343/>