Gifts and the Manifestation of the Spirit

8/4/2019 Gifts and the Manifestation of the Spirit

1/74

Gifts and the Manifestation

of the SpiritRightly Dividing the DistinctionsJeff Bramlett

10/18/2010

Misunderstanding and confusion between what is a gift and what is a manifestation of the spirit

prevents Christians from living the life Jesus Christ came to make available.


2/74

Gifts and the Manifestation of the Spirit

Jeff Bramlett Page ii

[Insert dedication]


3/74


Jeff Bramlett Page iii

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. To view a copy of this license,

(a) visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/; or, (b) send a letter to Creative Commons, 171

2nd Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA.


4/74


Jeff Bramlett Page iv

ContentsIntroduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1

Why is this Important? .................................................................................................................................. 3

What is the Difference? ............................................................................................................................ 3

What is meant by Gifts of the Spirit ...................................................................................................... 3

Unjustified Theology in Bible Versions ..................................................................................................... 5

Biblical Problems with Gifts/Endowments of the Spirit ............................................................................ 7

Cultural Context .......................................................................................................................................... 10

The Group Sociology of the Mediterranean People ............................................................................... 10

What was a First Century Church Like? .................................................................................................. 11

The Scriptural Context ................................................................................................................................ 13

What Gifts Does God Give?..................................................................................................................... 13

Ministries ............................................................................................................................................ 13

The Gift of Spirit .................................................................................................................................. 14

The Remote Context ............................................................................................................................... 16

Old Testament ..................................................................................................................................... 17

Gospels ................................................................................................................................................ 17

Acts ...................................................................................................................................................... 17

The Local Context .................................................................................................................................... 18

I Corinthians 12:1-10 ........................................................................................................................... 18

Scriptures in Scope and Needing Explanation .................................................................................... 21

Difficult Scriptures................................................................................................................................... 25

Usages of Gifts (charisma) .................................................................................................................. 25

To Another in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10: .............................................................................................. 27

Historic Context .......................................................................................................................................... 29

Chrysostom of Constantinople - 390 A.D.: .............................................................................................. 42

When Will These Things Cease? ................................................................................................................. 42

Current Times and the Manifestation of the Spirit ..................................................................................... 43

Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 43

Bibliography ................................................................................................................................................ 44

Appendices .................................................................................................................................................. 46

Spiritual: Pneumatikos ............................................................................................................................ 46


5/74


Jeff Bramlett Page v

Thayer on pnuematikos: ..................................................................................................................... 46

Uses (pneumatikos is highlighted in red): ........................................................................................... 47

Manifestation: phanerosis ..................................................................................................................... 48

Thayer on phanerosis .......................................................................................................................... 48

Richard C.Trench on Phanerosis ......................................................................................................... 48

Uses: .................................................................................................................................................... 50

Root: phaneroo .................................................................................................................................. 50

Prophesy: naba' ...................................................................................................................................... 53

Gersenius on Naba .............................................................................................................................. 54

Uses: .................................................................................................................................................... 57

Gifts ......................................................................................................................................................... 64

Charisma ............................................................................................................................................. 64

Doma ................................................................................................................................................... 66


6/74


Jeff Bramlett Page vi

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the

Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith

by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working ofmiracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues;

to another the interpretation of tongues: I Corinthians 12:7-10 KJV


7/74


Jeff Bramlett Page 1

IntroductionConventional Christianity has taken the position that God has a bag of gifts and that these gifts are

dispensed to people as God chooses. This bag of gifts includes; apostles, prophets, evangelists,

pastors, teachers, speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, prophecy, word of knowledge, word ofwisdom, discerning of spirits, faith, miracles, gifts of healing, governments, music, mercy, and etc.

It is generally agreed upon that there are no more apostles, prophets. This agreement is without

scriptural evidence.

Some parts of conventional Christianity have further limited the bag of gifts by removing speaking in

tongues, interpretation of tongues, and prophecy using the moniker sign gifts. These sign gifts only

being given for a brief period of time as a sign that certain people carried the word of God.

The removal of apostles, prophets, speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, and prophecy

suggests the removal of anything supernatural from the Christian experience, miracles and gifts ofhealing being relegated to obscurity or considered more as a happen stance occurrence than a current

experience of the church. Any person who shows affinity or otherwise promotes supernatural

manifestation is dismissed as a flake. Organizations, or churches, who promote supernatural

manifestation are considered marginal doctrinally and fringe by conventional Christianity.

Conventional Christianity considers itself to be scripturally based, but the scriptures promote and

declare the supernatural, the scriptures themselves being revelation from God. This avoidance and

dismissal of the supernatural inheritance of the church is realized in the label gifts of the spirit. The

church is placed in the position of waiting for God to act upon it to produce supernatural experience

rather than the church acting in faith and manifestation of the spirit.

There are gifts but there is also the manifestation of the spirit. The manifestation of the spirit occurs in

nine specific ways that are listed in I Corinthians 12:8-10. These items are not gifts of the spirit but are

a manifestation of the spirit. This difference has been overlooked and misunderstood in conventional

Christianity. The whole of scripture teaches that the items called manifestation of the spirit in I

Corinthians 12:8-10 are not gifts of the spirit. The manifestations of the spirit are put forward in the

scriptures as follows;

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the

same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; toanother divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: I Corinthians 12:8-10

The items that are a manifestation of the spirit from these verses are:

Word of Wisdom Word of Knowledge Gifts of Healing


8/74



Working of Miracles Prophecy Discerning of Spirits Tongues Interpretation of Tongues

These items are not gifts of the spirit, they are not to be waited for, and they are to be used by all

those who have the spirit.


9/74



Why is this Important?Gifts can also be given only for a certain period of time. The offering of gifts is predicated only upon the

giver, the giver chooses to give or not give and how long that gift will be given.

If someone assumes gifts in this passage then they will naturally wait for the gift to be given (this is the

theology of mainline Christian denominations), if someone reads manifestation then it is not a matter ofwaiting, the wait is over when you get the spirit.

What is the Difference?

So what is the difference between gift and manifestation?

gift n.

1. Something that is bestowed voluntarily and without compensation.2. The act, right, or power of giving.3. A talent, endowment, aptitude, or inclination

For more information see Gifts in the Appendices.

manifestation n.

1. The act of manifesting.2. The state of being manifested.3. One of the forms in which someone or something, such as a person, a divine being, or an

idea, is revealed.

4. The materialized form of a spirit.5. An indication of the existence, reality, or presence of something: A high fever is an early

manifestation of the disease.

6. One of the forms in which someone or something, such as a person, a divine being, or anidea, is revealed.

7. The materialized form of a spirit.8. A public demonstration, usually of a political nature

For more information see Manifestation: phanerosis in the Appendices.

A gift you must wait for the giver to give to you, and the manifestation is inherent in the spirit; you

already have it, if you have the spirit.

What is meant by Gifts of the Spirit

I have not found any concise definition of what is meant by gifts of the spirit. The most definitive

attempts are ambiguous and at best only point to a definition rather than provide one. No definition

provides sufficient detail to provide for any fulfillment of these gifts by any individual. Yet these

definitions claim the importance and critical nature of these gifts. One can only ascertain that the

term gifts of the spirit is mostly centered on the idea that God gives individuals special abilities, or


10/74



endowments that they use to accomplish different things.1

This theology is described better by the

term spiritual endowments, or the theology of endowments.

Here are some popular expressions of this theology:

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures.

Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, of

righteousness, and of judgment. He calls men to the Savior, and effects regeneration. At the moment of

regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He cultivates Christian character,

comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals

the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God

will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer

and the church in worship, evangelism, and service. (Southern Baptist Convention)

We believe that divine, enabling gifts for service are bestowed by the Spirit upon all who are saved.

While there is a diversity of gifts, each believer is energized by the same Spirit, and each is called to his

own divinely appointed service as the Spirit may will. In the apostolic church there were certain gifted

menapostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teacherswho were appointed by God for the

perfecting of the saints unto their work of the ministry. We believe also that today some men are

especially called of God to be evangelists, pastors and teachers, and that it is to the fulfilling of His will

and to His eternal glory that these shall be sustained and encouraged in their service for God (Dallas

Theological Seminary)

We believe in the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit

gives the utterance according to Acts 2:4, and in the operation of the spiritual gifts and ministries.

(Continental Theological Seminary)

The Holy Spirit as the Lord and Giver of life, taking the things of Jesus Christ and applying them to man

and to his salvation and service. Assurance of personal salvation and the fruit of the Spirit are clearly

distinguished from the gifts of the Spirit which are for the edification of the Church and which carry no

guarantee of personal holiness or destiny. (Wesley Biblical Seminary)

These statements of faith mostly originate from the assumption that the Greek word for gifts, charisma

is always a spiritual endowment, or ability.2

A more accurate understanding would be to translate the

word charisma as something freely obtained. 3 (See: Gifts in the Appendix) But because there is a

theology already entrenched, bible versions are slanted and even manipulated to support the theology

of gifts/endowments.4

1Spiritual Gifts from Wikipedia.com See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritual_gift

2What Are Spiritual Gifts?: Rethinking the Conventional View by Kenneth Berding pp 56-63

3Ibid

4What Are Spiritual Gifts?: Rethinking the Conventional View by Kenneth Berding pp 226


11/74



Unjustified Theology in Bible Versions

It is nave to believe that bible version are without bias, it is inherent in the business of producing and

selling bibles and the business of modern Christianity. Bible manufacturers cannot afford to get a

reputation in support of rogue translations. Bible versions are not considered valid versions by the

general populace if they do not conform to already established bible version beginning with the King

James version.5

That there is shortsightedness and bias concerning the theology of gifts/endowments among Christians

and scholars is evident but goes unnoticed and untouched.6

In fact, one could remove sections of 1

Corinthians 12 and cause no harm to the theology of gifts/endowments of the spirit. For example, if you

remove verses 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 you would have the best expression of this theology. It would then read

this way:

1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritualgifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

1 Corinthians 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of

knowledge.

The people I have talked to, read these passages in this way, as if there are no other words except the

selected verses. However, I believe it is necessary to include all the verses and understand them as a

whole. Excluding verses by ignoring them or invalidating them in any way is not wise. A person cannot

get to the truth of scripture without all the verses being considered.

Consider what is missed in this approach: 1) the persons mentioned in verses 2 and 3 are ignored, 2) the

two other terms equal with diversities of gifts in verse 4 are ignored, and 3) the contrast and scope of

verse 7 is entirely missed. The theology of gifts/endowments excludes these scriptures by simply

ignoring them, or discounting them to insignificance.

Only once in Paul's letters does he use the two words together that respectively could be

rendered as "spiritual" and "gift" (charisma . . . pneumatikos, Rom. 1:11). However, as with gift,

many translations use "spiritual gift" much more frequently. The more occurrences there are, the

more likely readers will be influenced to understand it as a technical term. Even if some readers

were able to avoid reading all of their "spiritual gift" theology into the term gift, even fewer will

be able to avoid doing so when they see the actual phrase "spiritual gift. . . . Sometimes

5 BeDuhn, J. (2003). Truth in translation: Accuracy and Bias in English translations of the New Testament. University

Press of America. pp xiii6

Since the English word gift can mean ability, and the influence of the conventional view is quite prominent,

many of these translations render aspects of these passages in ways that predispose readers to think along the

lines of the conventional view. In addition, some translations even go so far as to insert an explicit concept of

ability into many of these texts.

Whereas charisma occurs only five times throughout 1 Corinthians 12-14, gift occurs twice as frequently in many

English translation of these chapters, and even more than that in the more free translations. Berding, K. What Are

Spiritual Gifts? : Rethinking the Conventional View. pp 226, 230


12/74



pnuematikos is translated "spiritual gift," even though it never elsewhere denotes "gift."" Berding

pp 232-233


13/74



Biblical Problems with Gifts/Endowments of the SpiritBesides the obvious difference between a gift and a manifestation; there are quite a number of

difficulties that arise in scripture regarding the items of 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 being called gifts.

If these items were gifts then each time one of these items is used in the bible there should be the

nature and scope of gift in that usage. So when speaking in tongues is mentioned in the bible, one mustbe able to tell from the context that it is a gift. Wherever prophecy is used in the bible then one must be

able to determine the nature of a gift in its usage. In every use of prophecy in the whole bible it is never

said or inferred that it is a gift. (See Prophesy in the Appendices). The idea of prophecy being a gift is

contrary to the Old Testament as well as rabbinic teaching7. (See: Biblical Usage, Old Testament)

All the uses of speaking in tongues and prophecy in the book of Acts do not present any information that

there is a gift of tongues or a gift of prophecy.

If speaking in tongues are a gift then only those people who speak in tongues can say Jesus is Lord by

the Holy Ghost

1 Corinthians 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God

calleth Jesus accursed: and [that] no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

[Emphasis added]

The speaking by the Spirit of God cannot be anything other than speaking tongues because it is obvious

that no man understands the speaking, otherwise the clarification that one does not call Jesus

accursed would have no meaning, the words being understood. Chapter fourteen of 1 Corinthians sets

the truth that speaking in tongues is speaking by the spirit.

1 Corinthians 14:2 For he that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue speaketh not unto men, but

unto God: for no man understandeth [him]; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

[Emphasis added]

The items of 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 are specifically called out by name and grouped into three categories

(See: allos and heteros). Those items are called out and specifically named as a manifestation of the

spirit and specifically said to be given to all men to profit withal. No other gifts are called out like

this. Apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors, teachers, helps, governments, ministry, exhortation, those

that give, those that rule, and those that show mercy; none of these are called out as a manifestation

of the spirit nor are any of them given to every man. The items of 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 are

singularly unique and specifically named and are not grouped as gifts but as a manifestation of the

spirit.

Given the fact that the items: word of wisdom, word of knowledge, discerning of spirits, faith (in this

context), miracles, and gifts of healing do not have an scripture that define them nor their use, one can

only assume that these terms, their meaning and usage were commonly known among the believers.

7The Spirit of God in Biblical Literature, Irwin Francis Wood, pp 158-161


14/74



The other items speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues and prophecy have an entire chapter (1

Corinthians chapter 14) devoted to their use in the church gathering.

The whole point of 1 Corinthians 14 is to get people to edify the church. The wording is one of choice, of

preference to do those things that build up the church gathering. This is contrary to gifts since one

does not have a choice when one has a gift. Whatever the gift is; that is what you do! Any instructionsof choice and preference or desire are completely irrelevant when it is a gift. Here are some examples

(emphasis added):

1 Corinthians 14:5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but RATHER that ye prophesied: for

greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the

church may receive edifying.

1 Corinthians 14:13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue PRAY that he may

interpret.

1 Corinthians 14:39 Wherefore, brethren, COVET to prophesy, and FORBID NOT to speak with

tongues.

If speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues and prophecy are gifts then the only people who are

capable of performing this chapter are those who have all three of these gifts. They must have all three

since there are specific instructions that distinguish explicitly the use or each in preference to the other.

This verse at the closing of 1 Corinthians 14 can have no relevance to anyone other than those who have

all three gifts;

1 Corinthians 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge

that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

These things that I write unto you are contained in the preceding chapters of this verse so these things

are the commandments of the Lord:

Follow Love and really desire spiritual things (1 Corinthians 14:1) Prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:3, 4, 5, 23, 24, 39) Speaking tongues (1 Corinthians 14:2, 4, 5, 14, 15, 18, 39) Interpret tongues (1 Corinthians 14:13, 26, 27, 28)

If these things (speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues and prophecy) are gifts then only those

select few who have these gifts are able to fulfill the commandments of the Lord.

I believe it is important that we use terms that God uses in His word, this means that what he calls a gift

we call a gift and what he calls a manifestation we call a manifestation. There will only remain confusion

if we continue to use gift for a manifestation and vice-versa. It is easy to continue to say gifts and then

apply gifts Ad-Hoc to justify this position regardless of the evidence. However, it is far more rewarding

to find out what the bible says and to say and think the same as it does.


15/74




16/74



Cultural ContextThe culture of the United States is one focused on the individual, his/her identity being singly unique

and the values of this culture are personal development and achievement. We cannot interpret the

bible in light of our culture, we must look at the culture to which it was originally addressed, and then

take what we learn and apply it in our lives and in our culture. Reading our present culture into the

bible when it is addressed to the Mediterranean culture that the Corinthians lived will only lead to

confusion.

For us this is a twentieth-century, U.S. understanding of how the world works. Without further

suspicion and awareness, the untutored reader will necessarily perceive the world of Luke(i.e., his

social system) as if it were his or her own social system. We call this misreading ethnocentrism, that is,

imagining that all people everywhere and at all time think just like we do . . . U.S. fairness, therefore,

requires that the readers first step be to strive to understand what the author says and means to his

Mediterranean hearers in terms of their culture and within their social setting. Theirs was a high

context society, with much of what they intended to communicate totally absent from the text, yet

rather firmly in place in the common social system into which they were socialized. The considerate

reader needs to fill in the social system in order not to be mystified. The Social World of Luke-Acts by

Jerome H. Neyrey

The Group Sociology of the Mediterranean People

The people of the first century were group (dyadic) personalities. They perceived their identity as well

as their place in life dependent upon what group that they are part of. Group oriented people are

dependent or others to define them, their focus are towards the demands and expectations of those

who can grant reputation or honor.8

As we pull together threads of the model of a first-century person, we get a fuller sense of the groupaspect of morality for the people in the world of Luke-Acts. As strong group persons with dyadic

personalities, they are socialized into the rights and duties appropriate to their roles and statuses as

group members. Oriented to present-time, they are expected to and do seek contentment in fulfilling

such roles. This implies that a virtue like obedience will enjoy pride of place. The Social World of

Luke-Acts by Jerome H. Neyrey

Dyadic people make sense of the world in the terms of the group that they are in, for us this is thinking

in stereotypes. Each person is known because of the group (gr. Haireses) they are in, be it family, or

trade or place of origin. The characteristics of the group are then applied to the person (i.e. what good

can come out of Nazareth).9

These people did not decide for themselves what group they were in, by birth they are of a family and a

location; their family decided their trade and even decided who they would marry. To them this was the

ordination of God (what God has joined together . . . Matt 19:6) and is further illustrated in 1

Corinthians:

8The Social World of Luke-Acts by Jerome H. Neyrey pp 67-96

9Ibid


17/74



1 Corinthians 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath

pleased him.

To the people of this culture, a spiritual endowment would have been inconsequential; it would not

make sense to them. The concept of a personal gift, an endowment, would be outside of their

experience as well as any relevance for their lives. The notion of a spiritual gift as a personal ability, orspecial endowment is relevant to our culture, not to theirs.

The personal, individualistic, self-centered focus typical of contemporary American experience was

simply not of concern to first-century Mediterraneans. Given their cultural experience, such self-

centered individualism would appear quite boring and inconsequential. For group survival it would be

dysfunctional. And it would certainly be selectively unattended to. To understand the persons who

populate the pages of the New Testament, then, it is important not to consider them as individualistic.

They did not seek a personal, individualistic savior or anything else of a personal individualistic sort

The Social World of Luke-Acts by Jerome H. Neyrey

What was a First Century Church Like?

The gatherings of the first century church were nothing like our church services today. There was no

pastor, the leaders that they did have were organically derived. There were no church buildings.

Church building came about hundreds of years later. There was no sermon; this was a development

hundreds of years later. There was no liturgy (order of service) it was a gathering of people and they did

as they were led.

Without some guidelines the zeal of the Corinthians would prevent these gathering from being the great

healing, great helping, great loving, very inspiring, lovingly instructing gatherings the Head of the body

intended. Chapters 12 through 14 are the guidelines for these gatherings.

(1Co 14:26) What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a

revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.

A first century follower would place more value on being a greater benefit to the group, the ekklesia, the

church. Being a greater value to the church would translate to personal benefit to a first century

believer because the group itself would value that person in a different way, the personal return being

the enhanced identity to the group, the church.10

10As we pull together threads of the model of a first-century person, we get a fuller sense of the group aspect of

morality for the people in the world of Luke-Acts. As strong group persons with dyadic personalities, they are

socialized into the rights and duties appropriate to their roles and statuses as group members. Oriented to

present-time, they are expected to and do seek contentment in fulfilling such roles. This implies that a virtue like

obedience will enjoy pride of place. The Social World of Luke-Acts by Jerome H. Neyrey


18/74



The roles and status for the first century believers is defined by the Lord himself. It is His assignment of

roles and responsibilities that gives meaning and contentment to the believer.

There are gifts and it is a mistake to interpret, to make sense of, these gifts in light of an

individualistic, or U.S. based personality. To an early Christian a ministry, the responsibility of service is

truly a gift to them. The items listed in verses eight through ten of the I Corinthians 12 are not calledgifts. Ways of serving, of being a benefit to the group, the church, is regarded as a gift.

(Rom 1:11) For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may

be established;

(1Co 1:7) So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

(1Co 7:7) For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of

God, one after this manner, and another after that.

(1Co 12:18) But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased

him.

(Eph 4:11) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,

pastors and teachers;

(1Ti 4:14) Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on

of the hands of the presbytery.


19/74



The Scriptural Context

What Gifts Does God Give?

If we are to take God at His word, then we should not add or subtract from His words. We should look

at the meaning of His words and not project our own meanings from our own culture into His words. In

regards to spiritual gifts that God gives we should find the truth expressed in scripture. The witness of

scripture is that God does give spiritual gifts and that these gifts are of two forms, the service of a gift,

ministries, and the gift which is spirit.

Ministries

God has historically given his servants as a gift to His people. [Note: the giving of people is also

accompanied by the people being given obtaining the spirit first] These people are referred to as a gift

from God because they bring Gods word and deliverance to Gods people; hence they are a gift from

God.

Num 8:19 And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children

of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to

make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel,

when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.

Num 18:7 Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest's office for every thing of

the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest's office unto you as a

service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

Act 13:20 And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty

years, until Samuel the prophet.

Act 13:21 And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man

of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that hegave his only begotten Son, that whosoever

believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that

saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee

living water.

Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave

gifts unto men.

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,

pastors and teachers;


20/74



The Gift of Spirit

There are many instances of people in the Old Testament receiving spirit from God. Once having this

spirit the people were then able to do Gods will. The miracles and healings of the Old Testament that

people did where predicated upon having this spirit from God first. People when they received the spirit

received it measured out to then

Exd 28:3 And thou shalt speak unto all [that are] wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit

of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me

in the priest's office.

Exd 31:3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in

knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship

Num 11:25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that

[was] upon him, and gave [it] unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, [that], when the spirit

rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.

Num 11:29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S

people were prophets, [and] that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!

Jdg 3:10 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war:

and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand

prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.

Jdg 6:34 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was

gathered after him.

2Sa 23:2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word [was] in my tongue

2Ki 2:9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I

shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double

portion of thy spirit be upon me.

(Note: Elisha did twice as many miracles as Elijah)

Isaiah 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and

understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the

LORD;

Isaiah 32:15 Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field,

and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.

People who had the spirit in the Old Testament could lose it. God could take it from them.

1 Samuel 16:14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD

troubled him.

Psa 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.


21/74



Even the disciples could receive the spirit from God, and then did many miracles while having it.

Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more

shall yourheavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him

Jesus did foretell of time that the spirit would not be conditional but that the dwelling of the spirit

would remain. This could only be accomplished when He fulfilled all things and was glorified.

John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of

living water.

John 7:39 (But thisspake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the

Holy Ghost was not yet [given]; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

John 14:17Eventhe Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not,

neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even]

the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he

shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you

things to come.

Jesus made promises to the disciples about the spirit, just before his ascension (his glorification) Jesus

gives the disciples specific instructions. These are those instructions:

Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of

Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be

witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost

part of the earth.

The comforter is the holy spirit, the holy spirit is the promise of the father, the holy spirit is power

from on high. So when did they received this holy spirit, this promise this power from on high?

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as

the Spirit gave them utterance.

Then Peter explains what has happened and what was given.

Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the

promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of

Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.


22/74



Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as

many as the Lord our God shall call.

The Apostle Paul further explains what Christians have in his epistles:

Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in

you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the

Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Romans 8:23 And not only [they], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even

we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our

body.

2 Corinthians 5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing [is] God, who also hath

given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of

God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

1Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my preaching [was] not with enticing words of man's

wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

2 Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Galations 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ;

that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of

redemption.

1 Thessalonians 4:8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given

unto us his holy Spirit.

2 Timothy 1:14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which

dwelleth in us.

The Old Testament promises as well as the scripture that describes what the disciples got on the day of

Pentecost as well as what believers get in Pauls epistles preclude the possibility that the gift of holyspirit from being an endowment of speaking in tongues but the scriptures do support that the

Gentiles received the holy spirit which Peter and church leaders recognized and validated by the

speaking in tongues that the Gentiles performed.

The Remote Context

We should be able to tell from the scriptures if any of the items from I Corinthians 12:8-10 are gifts or a

manifestation of the spirit by examining the records where any of these items are used.


23/74



Old Testament

Prophecy is used many times in the Old Testament (See: Prophesy in the Appendices). In fact, of the

one hundred and fifteen uses of prophesy, there is no use of prophecy or prophesy in the old testament

that has any wording, or phrasing that directly or indirectly says gift of prophecy or infers gift of

prophecy. It is evident in the scriptures that people prophesy because of the presence of the spirit not

because they received a special gift of prophecy.

Examples:

Num 11:25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that

[was] upon him, and gave [it] unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, [that], when the spirit

rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.

1 Samuel 10:10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him;

and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

Gospels

There are no events or mentioning of gifts of the spirit in the gospel accounts either.

(Mat 10:1) And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against

unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

(Mar 16:17) And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils;

they shall speak with new tongues;

(Luke 10:17) And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject

unto us through thy name.

(Luke 10:18) And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

(Luke 10:19) Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the

power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

(Luke 11:13) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much

more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

[Note: it is the holy spirit that is given, not a gift of the spirit]

(Luke 11:14) And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil

was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.

(Joh 14:26) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he

shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto

you.

No mention of gifts of the spirit in any of these verses.

Acts

On the day of Pentecost, the start of the church;


24/74



(Act 2:4) And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as

the Spirit gave them utterance.

No gifts of the spirit here, there is however the receiving of the spirit and that the spirit gave the

utterance.

(Act 2:11) Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of

God.

There is still no gifting here.

(Act 10:44) While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the

word.

(Act 10:45) And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with

Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

(Act 10:46) For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

One would expect that there would be at least some mention of a gift in this account of the gentile

conversion but there is no mention or inference. However, it is obvious that Peter and the rest of the

Jews with him realized that the gentiles had received the holy spirit because they heard them speak in

tongues.

(Act 19:6) And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they

spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Still no mention of a gifting of tongues or prophesy.

Since there is no account, no record, no reference, nor any inference to a gift for any of the items of ICorinthians 12:8-10, it is entirely reasonable to conclude that the doctrine that the items of I Corinthians

12 are gifts of the spirit is not scriptural.

The Local Context

Since there is no scriptural support for the gifts ideology outside of the following verses; an

examination of these verses is necessary. The understanding of these verses cannot be contradictory to

the many clear verses which plainly do not show gifts in relation to the items of 1 Corinthians 12:8-10.

I Corinthians 12:1-10

This verse is the usual jumping off place for the theology of gifts. This idea is the result of some

translations of this verse translating the Greek word pneumatikos as spiritual gifts. There is an

abundance of evidence against this translation. However, it appears that tradition still holds sway

against this evidence in commercial versions of the bible.


25/74



Here are some well know versions:

King James

Now concerning spiritualgifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

New International Version

Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.

English Standard Version

Now concerning spiritual gifts, [fn] brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.

Footnote for spiritual gifts: (12:1) Or spiritual personsYoungs Literal

And concerning the spiritual things, brethren, I do not wish you to be ignorant;

Textus Receptus

peri de ho pneumatikwn adelfoi ou thelO humeis agnoeinABOUT YET THE spirituals brothers NOT I-AM-

WILLING

YOU TO-BE-

UN-

KNOWING

There is no corresponding greek word for gifts in this verse. It was added by the translators. The King

James translators have thankfully put the word gifts in italics. The word gifts is never used in the

translation of the greek word Pneumatikos. (See Spiritual: Pneumatikos in the Appendix).

Paul had the word for gifts in his vocabulary. He used it many times. However, in 1 Corinthians 12:1

and 1 Corinthians 14:1 he did not include the word for gifts. One can only assume that this was

intentional by Paul. In many translations gifts is placed in this verse as if to correct an oversight by

Paul in that he omitted the word for gifts in this verse as well as 1 Corinthians 14:1 and so the

translation must correct this mistake. Paul did use pnuematikos with the word for gifts (charismata) in

one place only: Romans 1:11. The context of this verse obviously excludes the gift/endowment

theology.

Richmond Lattimore, the renowned Classical Greek scholar, renders 12:1 thusly: "But concerning

matters of the spirit, brothers, I would not have you ignorant"; and for 14:1: "Pursue love, aspire to

things spiritual".

The word translated spiritual gifts in some versions is one Greek word, pneumatikos. This word has aunique usage in Pauls epistles. People are referred to as spiritual or the spiritual in Pauls epistles.

It was common for the believers of that time to refer to those who had the manifestation of the spirit as

spiritual. This is using an adjective as a noun; we use this figure of speech all time. Examples: The

injured were taken to the hospital. And The disabled are Gods special children. The adjectives

injured and disabled do not have the noun people as in injured people and disabled people


26/74



included to emphasize that the people were injured and disabled. Here are some scriptures where

Paul uses pneumatikos in this way:

1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but

which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual thingswithspiritual. [pneumatikos

pneumatikos]

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are

foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned .

1 Corinthians 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal,

[even] as unto babes in Christ.

1 Corinthians 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that

the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the

spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

The use of pneumatikos as an adjective in the place of a noun, used to bring emphasis is the meaning of

pneumatikos in these chapters. It should have been obvious to us for the following verses which are a

concern for the content of those who speak in tongues. Chapters 12 through 14 are an explanation of

those who are spiritual; it is not a repudiation of anything else.

Pride of place is the central theme of the culture and those who had the label spiritual had a certain

unique pride of place. Any Mediterranean would be most concerned with their place in the group,

and how they too could gain status of spiritual. Hence the argument that each one is a member ofthe body, that without love there is no pride of place, that they should be zealous to be spiritual by

edifying the church either by prophecy or interpretation of tongues. The closing of chapter fourteen

says if any man thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual let him acknowledge that these things are a

commandment of the Lord.

"Closely connected with prophecy stands the experience which New Testament writers call "speaking

with tongues". If one might judge from the frequency of references to it in literature, it was common in

the Christian communities and was much desired not only by the ambitious and factious, but by the

most sincere and devout as well. Paul thanks God that he speaks with tongues more than all the

Corinthians. It was used as a common test of the believers' acceptance by God (Acts 10:45-47; 19:6). . .

It was the spiritual gift par excellence, so that those who had it were called "the spiritual," . . . that such

a usage should arise indicates that the experience was not only much desired, but very common." - The

Spirit of God in Biblical Literature by Irving Wood page 162

Irenaeus was a pupil of Polycarp, who was a disciple of the apostle John. He wrote in his book Against

Heresies, Book V, vi.: In like manner do we also hear many brethren in the church who possess

prophetic gifts, and who through the Spirit speak all kinds of languages, and bring to light, for the


27/74



general benefit, the hidden things of men and declare the mysteries of God, who also the apostles term

spiritual.

This is could be the reason why the English Standard Version places the footnote of spiritual persons

as an alternate reading of this verse.

When the following verses of 1 Corinthians 12:1 speak of persons who are manifesting the spirit, the

meaning intended by Paul for pneumatikos in this verse is obviously the same as his other uses

regarding people. Translating as spiritual gifts is not the correct meaning of this verse.

Pneumatikos is never used of spiritual gifts. The only two verses in the bible where this is translated

as spiritual gifts have been italicized in the King James Version or similarly footnoted in other versions.

The use of pneumatikos does not include gifts in any use.

Here is how some well known, well respected bible scholars have translated this verse:

Brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant about manifestations of the Spirit.11

See: Appendices, Spiritual: Pneumatikos for all uses and further information.

Scriptures in Scope and Needing Explanation

I Corinthians 13:2

King James

And though I have the gift ofprophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and

though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.


If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith

that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

English Standard VersionAnd if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all

faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

11Barclay, W. (2002). The New Daily Study Bible, The Letter to the Corinthians. pp 124


28/74

Gift

Jeff Bramlett

Youngs Literal

and if I have prophecy, and kno

so as to remove mountains, and

Textus Receptus

I Corinthians 14:1

King JamesFollow after charity, and desire


Follow the way of love and eage


Pursue love, and earnestly desir

and the Manifestation of the Spirit

all the secrets, and all the knowledge, and if I hav

have not love, I am nothing;

piritualgifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

rly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of proph

e the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophes

Page 22

e all the faith,

cy.

y.


29/74

Gift

Jeff Bramlett

Youngs Literal

Pursue the love, and seek earnes

Textus Receptus

I Corinthians 14:12

King James

(1Co 14:12) Even so ye, forasmuedifying of the church.


1 Corinthians 14:12 So it is with

that build up the church.

and the Manifestation of the Spirit

tly the spiritual things, and rather that ye may prop

ch as ye are zealous of spiritualgifts, seek that ye m

you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try t

Page 23

hecy,

y excel to the

excel in gifts


30/74




(1Co 14:12) So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel

in building up the church.

Youngs Literal

(1Co 14:12) so also ye, since ye are earnestly desirous of spiritual gifts, for the building up of the

assembly seek that ye may abound;

Textus Receptus


31/74



Difficult Scriptures

Most of the difficulties people have with gifts are the assumption that any charisma is a spiritual

endowment, a gift from the spirit. The usage of charisma is varied and does not always mean a spiritual

endowment. There are gifts! The new birth is a gift; however, the gifts after the new birth are those of

service.12

Usages of Gifts (charisma)

Rom 1:10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by

the will of God to come unto you.

Rom 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may

be established;

Rom 1:12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and

me.

Rom 12:5 So we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Rom 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy,

[let us prophesy] according to the proportion of faith;

Rom 12:7 Or ministry, [let us wait] on [our] ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

12the so-called spiritual gifts are not special abilities; theyre Spirit-given ministries. According to the contextual

evidence in the letters of Paul, the so-called spiritual gifts should be viewed as the ministries themselves. Every

believer has been assigned by the Holy Spirit to specific positions and activities of service, small and large, short-

term and long-term. These are ministry assignments that are given by the Holy Spirit to individual believers and, in

turn, these individuals in their ministries have been given as gifts to the church. What Are Spiritual Gifts? :

Rethinking the Conventional View by Kenneth Berding p. 32


32/74



Rom 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, [let him do it] with simplicity; he

that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

1 Corinthians 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

1 Corinthians 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets,

thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of

tongues.

1 Corinthians 12:29 [Are] all apostles? [are] all prophets? [are] all teachers? [are] all workers of

miracles?

1 Corinthians 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

1 Corinthians 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent

way.

2Cr 1:10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will

yet deliver [us];

2Cr 1:11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift [bestowed] upon us by the

means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

2Cr 1:12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly

sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the

world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

1Ti 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in

conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

1Ti 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

1Ti 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on

of the hands of the presbytery.

1Ti 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to

all.

1Ti 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou

shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.


33/74



2Ti 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy

grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

2Ti 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by

the putting on of my hands.

2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound

mind.

1Pe 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, [even so] minister the same one to another, as good

stewards of the manifold grace of God.

1Pe 4:11 If any man speak, [let him speak] as the oracles of God; if any man minister, [let him do

it] as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ,

to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

To Another in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10:

This verse has been used to promote that each person gets a specific endowment, a gift. However this

understanding is contrary to the context of the passage as well as what actually occurred in the first

century.

Contrast given to every man in verse 7 with verse 28 ff where God divides specifically those who ARE

this or that ministry.

Paul displayed 5 of these items, the men in Ephesus displayed 2 of these items [continue]

The endowment/gift idea is further complicated by this understanding since none of the other items

referred to as gifts are given to every man to profit withal. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors

and teachers are not given to every man to profit withal neither is the other things in any of the other

lists!

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

For to one is given by (dia) the Spirit the word of wisdom;

to another (allos) the word of knowledge by (kata) the same Spirit;

To another (heteros) faith by (en) the same Spirit;

to another (allos) the gifts of healing by (en) the same Spirit;

To another (allos) the working of miracles;

to another (allos) prophecy;


34/74



to another (allos) discerning of spirits;

to another (heteros) [divers] kinds of tongues;

to another (allos) the interpretation of tongues:

The emphasis of verse 7 is not the manifestation but the profit withal. The profit withal is virtually

ignored by the gifts of the spirit crowd. It sets the purpose for the manifestation of the spirit.

The ellipsis of verses 8-10 are significant and should draw our attention to them to solve the question

another what?. If we assume (because of some teachings) that the what is a person then the use of

the specific Greek words will pose a problem. The another is marked with the correct Greek word,

heteros is used of another of a different kind; allos is used of another of the same kind. If people are the

missing piece of the ellipsis then there are some strange people around of a different kind (you know

like in Walmart late at night). We know that God is not a respecter of persons and that we are all alike

to him.

The only clue for the solution of the ellipsis is the words For to one of verse 8 where the words are in

greek gar hos for being translated from gar and to one from hos.

Hos is translated this way:

which 418, whom 270, that 139, who 87, whose 52, what 40, that which 20, whereof 17, misc 346

It is a demonstrative pronoun and is not gender specific. The emphasis of to profit withal coupled

with the different words for another point to the fact that the ellipsis should be solved by the profit

withal and not people. Hos being used of both people and things.

The interpretation that these verses mean that one person has the gift of prophecy, another person has

the gift of tongues, and etc. is not supported by the scriptures. The disciples showed more than one

manifestation of the spirit as a rule.

Peter spoke in tongues Acts 2, performed miracles Acts 3, performed healing, received word of

knowledge Acts

Paul spoke in tongues Acts , performed miracles, performed healings, performed discerning of spirits,

performed word of knowledge performed word of wisdom

The believers in Ephesians spoke in tongues and prophesied.


35/74



Historic Context

Its progress is arrested now, because man of its preachers live in an unreal world. The truths they set

forth are truths of utterance rather truths of their lives. But if Christianity is to be again the power that

it was in its earliest ages, it must renounce it costly purchase. A class of rhetorical chemist would bethought of only to be ridiculed: a class of rhetorical religionist is only less anomalous because we are

accustomed to it. The hope of Christianity is, that the class which was artificially created may ultimately

disappear; and that the sophistical element is Christian preaching will melt, as a transient mist, before

the preaching of the prophets of the ages to come, who, like the prophets of the ages long gone by, will

speak only "as the Spirit gives them utterance." -- Influence of Greek Ideas and Usages upon the

Christian Church by Edwin Hatch, pp 113-114

Notes: The early Christians were a brotherhood. See Acts 2 (All things common). There were no

distinctions between them (all one in Christ). Distinctions occurred over time and developed into the

clergy-laity split such that the clergy gained exclusive claim to the spiritual, the laity becoming mere

sheep. This is cross-purpose to a brotherhood (ala members of one body) and cross-purpose to Christ

headship of the body. This is a migration from organic family to institutional dogma, from faith to

sacraments, from fellowship to membership, from spiritual to religious. The execution of dogma

requiring the dissolution of the supernatural.

There is a progression of manifestation to gift theology beginning in the late 3rd

century and

completed by the 5th

. [This needs to be researched]

There had been cessationists since the days of the Church Councils. But as a well-defined viewpoint,modern cessationism starts with John Calvin. Back in the days of the Reformation, the Vatican had sent

Robert Bellarmine to win back the people who had joined the Reformed churches. One of Bellarmine's

main methods was to point to wondrous signs done by loyal Catholics, and then ask, 'Where's your

miracles? How is God working through you?' For a while, at least, Bellarmine was quite effective. Calvin

knew he had to respond to that specific challenge. Calvin replied :

"The gift of healing, like the rest of the miracles, which the Lord willed to be brought forth for a time,

has vanished away in order to make the new preaching of the Gospel marvelous forever."

(*Institutes*, Battle translation, 1960, p.1467).

He drew this from Augustine of Hippo, who wrote when commenting on one particular sign in Acts 2:4 :


36/74



"In the earliest times, 'the Holy Ghost fell upon them that believed: and they spake with tongues,' which

they had not learned, 'as the Spirit gave them utterance.' These were signs adapted to the time. For

there behooved to be that betokening of the Holy Spirit in all tongues, to shew that the Gospel of God

was to run through all tongues over the whole earth. That thing was done for a betokening, and it

passed away."

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.viii.iv.lxxxii.html

The prophetical gifts of the Jews were transferred to the Christians.

For the prophetical gifts remain with us, even to the present time. And hence you ought to understand

that [the gifts] formerly among your nation have been transferred to us. And just as there were false

prophets contemporaneous with your holy prophets, so are there now many false teachers amongst us,

of whom our Lord forewarned us to beware; so that in no respect are we deficient, since we know that

He foreknew all that would happen to us after His resurrection from the dead and ascension to heaven.

The Purpose of God in Creation and Redemption. And the Successive Steps for Manifesting the Same in

and by the Church By Francis Sitwell pp 34,35,36

This is a point we particularly call attention to. Men say that the manifestation of the presence and

power of the Holy Ghost in the church was only for the confirming of the mission of Jesus Christ, and

that of His apostles; and that, when that purpose was accomplished, those manifestations were to

cease; but they only reason thus because they have forgotton the gospel of the kingdom; and,

moreover, this is asserted in the face of all evidence, that these manifestations did not cease till three

centuries after, when the Church formed its first alliance with the kings of the earth . . . The

Manifestations of the Spirit were to be an "earnest" of this - only and earnest; as a man gives another a

small portion of money as a pledge he will give the whole when the time comes. The Church was not to

know or teach all things perfectly; she was not to cast out every devil; or heal every sick person; or raise

every dead man; or render innoxious every poisonous thing; for then the kingdom would be come; but

she was to testify that it could be done; and would be done completely, when the appointed time

should arrive, by showing the earnest now; i.e., by wisdom and knowledge in part, by casting out some

devils, healing some sick, raising some dead, shaking off some serpents unhurt; a putting forth smallmeasure of the power of the world to come, that men convinced by that partial deliverance might

believe, and look, and wait, for the perfect salvation.

Justin Martyr Second Apology

Chapter VI.Names of God and of Christ, their meaning and power.


37/74



But to the Father of all, who is unbegotten there is no name given. For by whatever name He be called,

He has as His elder the person who gives Him the name. But these words Father, and God, and Creator,

and Lord, and Master, are not names, but appellations derived from His good deeds and functions. And

His Son, who alone is properly called Son, the Word who also was with Him and was begotten before the

works, when at first He created and arranged all things by Him, is called Christ, in reference to His being

anointed and Gods ordering all things through Him; this name itself also containing an unknown

significance; as also the appellation God is not a name, but an opinion implanted in the nature of men

of a thing that can hardly be explained. But Jesus, His name as man and Saviour, has also significance.

For He was made man also, as we before said, having been conceived according to the will of God the

Father, for the sake of believing men, and for the destruction of the demons. And now you can learn this

from what is under your own observation. For numberless demoniacs throughout the whole world, and

in your city, many of our Christian men exorcising them in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified

under Pontius Pilate, have healed and do heal, rendering helpless and driving the possessing devils out

of the men, though they could not be cured by all the other exorcists, and those who used incantations

and drugs.

"There were prophets who fed themselves and not the poor, who made a trade of their Christianity

{xpia-TeixiropoL^), whose ' ways ' were not the ways of the Master: prophets who spoke ' in the Spirit,'

possessing the gifts but not the character of the ' man of God.' The situation is anticipated by St Paul ; i//

have prophecy. . .but have not love, I am, nothing'^. But in St Paul's time the danger came from an

excess of enthusiasm, not from hypocritical self-seeking ; in the age of the Didache corruption has set in,

and though the prophets now rank as the chief priests of the Church and take precedence of the local

bishops, the charismatic ministry is evidently drawing to its end." The Holy Spirit in the Ancient Church

by page 22

Historian John Romer, in his 1988 book, Testament: The Bible and History, writes about the early

Catholic Church:

"Subtly, so subtly that the bishops themselves had not seen them, the old gods had entered their

churches like the air of the Mediterranean. And they live still in Christian ritual, in the iconography andthe festivals of Christianity. When Julian arrived in Antioch in 362... the great Christian city was in

mourning, bewailing in the Levantine manner the annual death of Adonis, Venus's beautiful lover. At

Ephesus, though the sanctuary of Diana, goddess of the city, was taken down... her statues were

carefully buried in dry sand. And when the Third Council of the church assembly at Ephesus solemnly

voted that henceforth the Virgin Mary should be honoured with the title of Theotokos, the God-bearer,

Ephesus, itself for centuries the city of the virgin hunter Diana, became the city of the Virgin Mary, the


38/74



Mother of God. In Egypt, too, the ancient sign of life, the ankh, which the gods had carried in their

sculptures for thousands of years, was easily transformed into the Christian cross; the figure of Isis

nursing her child Horus, Isis Lactans, became the figure of the Virgin with Jesus at her breast....

At Rome, Romulus and Remus were swapped for the biblical saints Peter and Paul. And still in the fifth

century, the Pope had to stop the early morning congregation of St Peter's from walking up the churchsteps backwards so as not to offend Sol, the rising sun god. Similarly, 25 December, now Christ's

birthday, was also the day of Sol Invictus' festival and Constantine's birthday. This festival was

celebrated by cutting green branches and hanging little lights on them, and presents were given out in

the god's name. Sol's weekly festival Sol-day--Sunday--became the Christian Sabbath. Just as Apollo of

Delphi had made a beautiful transformation to become the Roman Sol Invictus, so later he became a

Christ of the sun. All three of them are sometimes pictured in their fiery chariots... with... radiant haloes

[pp. 230-231]."

Charles Guignebert, in his 1927 book, The Early History of Christianity, gave the following explanation:

"Now at the beginning of the fifth century, the ignorant and the semi-Christians thronged into the

Church in numbers.... They had forgotten none of their pagan customs.... The bishops of that period had

to content themselves with redressing, as best they could, and in experimental fashion, the shocking

malformations of the Christian faith which they perceived around them.... [To properly teach new

converts] was out of the question; they had to be content with teaching them no more than the symbol

of baptism and then baptizing them en masse, postponing until a later date the task of eradicating their

superstitions, which they preserved intact.... This "later date" never arrived, and the Church adapted to

herself, as well as she could, them and their customs and beliefs. On their side, [converts] were content

to dress their paganism in a Christian cloak.... The ancient [pagan] festivals [are now] kept as [Christian]holidays and celebrated in the country parts, and the Church can only neutralize their effect by turning

them to account for her own profit [pp. 208-210, 214]."

"Contemplate the Christian Church at the beginning of the fourth century, therefore, and some difficulty

will be experienced in recognizing in her the community of Apostolic times, or rather, we shall not be

able to recognize it at all" (Charles Guignebert, The Early History of Christianity, 1927, p.122

Irenaeus was a disciple of Polycarp. In his book entitled Against Heresies he spoke of the gifts of the

Spirit this way: Those who are in truth His disciples, receiving grace from Him, do in His name perform

[miracles], so as to promote the welfare of other men, according to the gift which each one has received

from Him. For some do certainly and truly drive out devils, so that those who have thus been cleansed

from evil spirits frequently both believe [in Christ], and join themselves to the Church. Others have


39/74



foreknowledge of things to come: they see visions, and utter prophetic expressions. Others still, heal the

sick by laying their hands upon them, and they are made whole. Yea, moreover, as I have said, the dead

even have been raised up, and remained among us for many years. The name of our Lord Jesus Christ

even now confers benefits [upon men], and cures thoroughly and effectively all who anywhere believe

on Him

Eusebius, in the fourth century, interpreted Irenaeus writings when he wrote: He shows that

manifestations of divine and miraculous power continued to his time in some of the churches. And in

another place the same author [Irenaeus] writes: As also we hear that many brethren in the Church

possess prophetic gifts, and speak, through the Spirit, with all kinds of tongues, and bring to light the

secret things of men for their good, and declare the mysteries of God. So much in regard to the fact that

various gifts remained among those who were worthy even until that time.

Irenaeus continues his teaching on the resurrection by writing: Now God shall be glorified in His

handiwork [meaning mans physical body], fitting it so as to be conformable to, and modeled after, His

own Son. For by the hands of the Father, that is, by the Son and the Holy Spirit, man, and not [merely] a

part of man, was made in the likeness of God. Now the soul and the spirit are certainly a part of the

man, but certainly not the man; for the perfect man consists in the commingling and the union of the

soul receiving the spirit of the Father, and the admixture of that fleshly nature which was molded after

the image of God.

For this reason does the apostle [Paul] declare, We speak wisdom among them that are perfect,

terming those persons perfect who have received the Spirit of God, and who through the Spirit of Goddo speak in all languages, as he used Himself also to speak. In like manner we do also hear many

brethren in the Church, who possess prophetic gifts, and who through the Spirit speak all kinds of

languages

Tertullian, like Irenaeus and Justin Martyr, rightly interpreted the teaching of Ephesian 4:8, that is, God:

led captivity captive, not by taking dead souls in Hades to heaven, but by setting men free from the

bondage and slavery of sin, by giving them the gift of the Holy Spirit, he then wrote: Now [this] was

absolutely fulfilled that promise of the Spirit, which was given by the word of Joel. Since, then, the

Creator promised the gift of His Spirit in the latter days; and since Christ has in these last days appearedas the dispenser of spiritual gifts it evidently follows in connection with this prediction of the last days,

that this gift of the Spirit belongs to Him [Jesus], who is the Christ of the predictors [meaning the

prophets]. [Therefore,] when he [the apostle Paul] mentions the fact that it is written in the law [1Co

14:21], how that the Creator would speak with other tongues and other lips [Isaiah 28:11], whilst

confirming indeed the gift of tongues by such a mention.


40/74



Let Marcion then exhibit, as gifts of his God, some prophets, such as have not spoken by human sense,

but with the Spirit of God, such as have both predicted things to come, and have made manifest the

secrets of the heart; let him produce a psalm, a vision, a prayer only let it be by the Spirit, in an

ecstasy, that is, in a rapture, whenever an interpretation of tongues has occurred to him. Let him showto me also, that any woman of boastful tongue in his community has ever prophesied from amongst

those specially holy sisters of his. Now all these signs (of spiritual gifts) are forthcoming from my side

without any d

Date post:	07-Apr-2018
Category:	Documents
Upload:	jeff-bramlett
View:	222 times
Download:	0 times

Gifts and the Manifestation of the Spirit

Documents