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    In Context

    What Does the Bible Say About Spiritual Gifts — In Biblical Context

    Spiritual gifts are abilities given by the Holy Spirit to every believer for building up the church, including teaching, prophecy, service, mercy, and many others.

    Quick Answer

    Spiritual gifts are abilities given by the Holy Spirit to every believer for building up the church, including teaching, prophecy, service, mercy, and many others.

    "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." — 1 Corinthians 12:7 (KJV)

    The Biblical Context

    The New Testament identifies spiritual gifts in several passages: Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 1 Corinthians 12:28, and Ephesians 4:11. These gifts include prophecy, teaching, serving, exhortation, giving, leadership, mercy, wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, discernment, tongues, and interpretation. Paul emphasizes that 'there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit' (1 Corinthians 12:4) and that every believer receives at least one gift for 'the profit of all' (1 Corinthians 12:7). No gift is inferior — Paul compares the church to a body where every member is essential (1 Corinthians 12:14-27). Gifts are to be exercised in love (1 Corinthians 13) and for edification, not personal glory. Peter instructs, 'As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God' (1 Peter 4:10). Spiritual gifts are not natural talents but supernatural enablements for kingdom service.

    Where It Sits in Scripture

    The core passage for this question, 1 Corinthians 12:7, sits inside 1 Corinthians 12. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.

    "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal."
    — 1 Corinthians 12:7 (KJV)

    Supporting Passages

    1 Peter 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."
    Romans 12:6
    "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us."

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