JEFF TURNER

In 1 Corinthians 12:8-9, the Apostle Paul talks about spiritual gifts. When describing how these gifts are given, the passage says, “to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the one Spirit.”

This might lead some to ask if this means all Christians have only one spiritual gift.

In one way, it is fair to say yes, all Christians have a spiritual gift. Peter also wrote that “as each has received a gift,” and then he mentions speaking and serving gifts. It is believed that every believer has a gift. However, the specific gift that each individual believer has is likely a combination of different categories of giftedness.

In 1 Corinthians 12 and also in Romans 12, there are lists of various categories of gifts. For each believer, it seems the Lord blends elements from these categories to create their unique gift. It’s like painting: there are many colors, and the Spirit uses them to create your own special color. Each believer has a gift that combines different types of gifts, and through this gift, they can serve the Lord in the church.