The supernatural gifts of the Spirit

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The ministry of the Spirit and His mighty deeds were the portion of the Early Church in lavish generosity (as the Greek indicates in Galatians 3:5; Philippians 1:19). The abundance of gifts and the wonderful way they fitted the needs of the Body shows that God’s way is always, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty” (Zechariah 4:6).

There is, however, no special order in which the Bible lists the gifts. Romans 12:6–8 begins with prophecy. First Corinthians 12:8–10 begins with the message of wisdom. The other three lists begin with apostles. 

  1. Some attempt to classify the gifts according to their nature, such as gifts of revelation, gifts of power, and gifts of speaking. 
  2. Others distinguish between traveling gifts, such as apostles, teachers, and evangelists; and local gifts such as pastors, government, and helps. Or they divide them according to function, such as proclamation, teaching, service, and administration. These are all legitimate, but there is no way of avoiding the overlapping that comes in any system of classification.
  3. Some try to distinguish between public and private gifts or between functional and official gifts. But these usually fail to recognize that every Christian has his own gift, calling, or office available to him.
  4. Others attempt to distinguish between extraordinary gifts that are charismatic, completely supernatural, and which they wrongly suppose are beyond the control of the individual (as prophecy, miracles, healings, and tongues) and those they call ordinary, non-charismatic, involving natural, human abilities (as teachers, ministry, ruling, administration, helps, giving, and showing mercy). 
  5. Some carry this further and suggest that since apostles and prophets were needed in the establishing or laying the foundations of the Church (Ephesians 2:20), they are not needed today. But Ephesians 4:7–11 makes it clear that apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers were all needed in the establishing of the Church. Paul in no way distinguished between them. It seems clear also that each of these ministries involves supernatural gifts. (Some take the prophets of Ephesians 2:20 as Old Testament prophets. However, 3:5 and 4:11 definitely indicate New Testament prophets.)

Nor does the Bible distinguish between gifts that are “more supernatural” and “less supernatural.” They are all part of the work of the Spirit through the Church. The statement of Harold Horton that all the gifts are “one hundred percent miraculous” with “no element of the natural in them at all” has been pushed to extremes by some. He himself said later that the expression of the gift “may vary in accordance with the office or even the personality of the one through whom it is given.”

A problem arises here when some say that gifts such as prophecy or a message of wisdom and a message of knowledge are totally supernatural and must be manifested in an independent, distinct way that identifies them for what they are. They do not see these gifts as having anything to do with teaching or preaching. Paul contrasted what man’s wisdom teaches with what the Spirit teaches and indicated that the Spirit gives the wisdom and knowledge for the preacher or teacher to use. 

Donald Gee’s comment is appropriate: “If our conception of what is ‘supernatural’ stands in the way of seeing the gifts of the Spirit in the ministries of preaching and teaching, then it is clear that our understanding of the meaning of ‘supernatural’ needs correcting. Perhaps with some it is a confusion of ‘spectacular’ with ‘supernatural.’ ” Actually, the gifts are interrelated, and each one involves a variety of manifestations or ways in which it can be expressed.


Horton, S. M. (2005). What the Bible Says about the Holy Spirit (pp. 261–263). Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House.

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