Quotes About Spiritual Gifts

Leningrad Codex of the Hebrew Scriptures

Quotes about spiritual gifts from throughout Christian History.

Justin Martyr, c. A.D. 150

Daily some [Jews] are becoming disciples in the name of Christ and leaving the path of error. These are also receiving gifts, each as he is worthy, illumined through the name of Christ. For one receives the spirit of understanding, another of counsel, another of strength, another of healing, another of foreknowledge, another of teaching, and another of the fear of God. (Dialogue with Trypho 39)

Irenaeus, c. A.D. 185

The apostle declares, "We speak wisdom among those who are perfect" [1 Cor. 2:6]. He terms those perfect who have received the Spirit of God, and who through the Spirit speak in all languages, as he himself used to speak. Similarly, we also hear many brothers in the Church who possess prophetic gifts and who through the Spirit speak all kinds of languages. They bring to light the hidden things of men for the general benefit and declare the mysteries of God. These the apostle terms spiritual. They are spiritual because they partake of the Spirit, not because their flesh is stripped off and taken away and they have become purely spiritual [as the gnostics teach]. (Against Heresies V:6:1)

Martin Luther, 1520 - 1546

Elsewhere Paul draws a sharp distinction between an apostleship and lesser functions, as in I Corinthians 12:28: "And God hath set some in the church; first, apostles; secondarily, prophets; thirdly, teachers." He mentions the apostles first because they were appointed directly by God. (Commentary on Galatians)

Craig D. Allert, 2007

Did the early church view _only_ the documents that went into the New Testament canon as inspired and those alone? The short answer to this question is No. The early church considered not only other documents as inspired, but also many aspects of the church's life including bishops, monks, interpreters of Scripture, martyrs, councils, and a wide array of prophetic gifts. (A High View of Scripture? The Authority of the Bible and the Formation of the New Testament Canon. Baker Academic, 2007, p. 59)

David Servant, 2010

In many churches only a minority of people know what their gifts are. That is because the majority don't have gifts because they aren't in Christ's body. Goats don't have gifts. Their pastors need to stop giving sermons on "How to Discover Your Gift," and start giving sermons on "How to Repent and be Born Again." (HeavenWord Daily, Day 123, Romans 12)