Spiritual Gifts in Remote Missionary Contexts
The nature and continuation of spiritual gifts, particularly in contexts like remote missionary work, is a topic on which Christian traditions hold differing views. The New Testament speaks of various spiritual gifts (Greek: charismata), including speaking with tongues, healing, and prophecy, given for the edification of the body of Christ [1, 7, 8]. Paul emphasizes that believers should not be uninformed about these gifts [2, 4].
One perspective, often associated with Reformed theology, holds that certain miraculous spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues and healing, were primarily for the apostolic age to authenticate the message of the apostles and the early church [1, 6]. Charles Hodge, for instance, links the "signs and wonders and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost" to the credentials of the original apostles, suggesting that those who claimed the office without these gifts were considered "false apostles" [6]. Easton's Bible Dictionary states that these charismata "were enjoyed only for a time. They could not continue always in the Church" [1]. John Calvin, while acknowledging the Holy Spirit's outpouring of gifts, interpreted the laying on of hands by apostles as a ceremony to commend individuals to God, suggesting that if this apostolic ministry no longer remained, neither would the need for such ceremonies [10].
In contrast, other traditions, including some Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, believe that all spiritual gifts mentioned in the New Testament are available and active for believers today, regardless of geographical context. They emphasize that these gifts are dispensed according to God's sovereign will for the edification of the Church [5, 9]. The Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms that the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, preserves and expounds upon Revelation, implying a continued spiritual vitality and guidance [12]. While not explicitly detailing the continuation of all miraculous gifts, it points to an ongoing spiritual presence. Similarly, the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) includes an article "Of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost," acknowledging their reality without limiting their duration [11].
Despite these differences, traditions generally agree that spiritual gifts are given by God for the benefit of the church and the spread of the gospel [7, 9]. The apostle Paul desired to impart spiritual gifts to strengthen believers [3]. The divergence often stems from differing interpretations of biblical passages concerning the purpose and duration of these gifts, particularly whether they were temporary signs for the early church or ongoing manifestations of the Holy Spirit's power throughout history.
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Gifts, spiritual — (Gr. charismata), gifts supernaturally bestowed on the early Christians, each having his own proper gift or gifts for the edification of the body of Christ. These were the result of the extraordinary operation of the Spirit, as on the day of Pentecost. They were the gifts of speaking with tongues, casting out devils, healing, etc. (Mark 16:17, 18), usually communicated by the medium of the laying on of the hands of the apostles (Acts 8:17; 19:6; 1 Tim. 4:14). These charismata were enjoyed only for a time. They could not continue always in the Churc”
- 1 Corinthians “1 Corinthians 12:1 (NASB) — Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.”
- Romans “Romans 1:11 (Geneva1599) — For I long to see you, that I might bestowe among you some spirituall gift, that you might be strengthened:”
- I Corinthians “I Corinthians 12:1 (BSB) — Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit — Foretold -- Isa 35:4-6; Joe 2:28,29. Of different kinds -- 1Co 12:4-6. Enumerated -- 1Co 12:8-10,28; 14:1. Christ was endued with -- Mt 12:28. Poured out on the day of Pentecost -- Ac 2:1-4. Communicated Upon the preaching of the gospel. -- Ac 10:44-46. By the laying on of the Apostles' hands. -- Ac 8:17,18; 19:6. For the confirmation of the gospel. -- Mr 16:20; Ac 14:3; Ro 15:19; Heb 2:4. For the edification of the Church. -- 1Co 12:7; 14:12,13. Dispensed according to his sovereign will -- 1Co 12:11. Were to be sought after -- 1”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 38: adherence to the true gospel, by success in preaching (Paul said to the Corinthians that they were the seal of his apostleship, 1 Cor. ix. 2 ); and by signs and wonders and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost. Such were the gifts and qualifications and credentials of the original Apostles; and those who claimed the office without possessirig these gifts and credentials, were pronounced false apostles and messengers of Satan. When Paul claimed to be an apostle, he felt it necessary to prove, (1.) That he had been appointed not by m”
- 1 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 12:1: The apostle comes now to treat of spiritual gifts, which abounded in the church of Corinth, but were greatly abused. What these gifts were is at large told us in the body of the chapter; namely, extraordinary offices and powers, bestowed on ministers and Christians in the first ages, for conviction of unbelievers, and propagation of the gospel. Gifts and graces, charismata and charis, greatly differ. Both indeed were freely given of God. But where grace is given it is for the salvation of those who have it. Gifts are bestowed for the advantage and salvation”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 12 (introduction): THE USE AND THE ABUSE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS, ESPECIALLY PROPHESYING AND TONGUES. (1Co. 12:1-31) spiritual gifts--the signs of the Spirit's continued efficacious presence in the Church, which is Christ's body, the complement of His incarnation, as the body is the complement of the head. By the love which pervades the whole, the gifts of the several members, forming reciprocal complements to each other, tend to the one object of perfecting the body of Christ. The ordinary and permanent gifts are comprehended together with the extraordin”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 14:4: 14:4 The primary purpose of spiritual gifts is not self-edification, but the strengthening of the entire church (see 12:7; cp. 8:1; 14:12).”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 101: gifts of the Holy Spirit, which he then poured out upon his people, should be administered and distributed by his apostles by the laying on of hands. I think that there was no deeper mystery under this laying on of hands, but I interpret that this kind of ceremony was used by them to intimate, by the outward act, that they commended to God, and, as it were, offered him on whom they laid hands. Did this ministry, which the apostles then performed, still remain in the Church, it would also behove us to observe the laying on of hands”
- Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), 16.Of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost.: 16.Of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost.”
- Catechism of the Catholic Church (Catholic) “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Article 2 (part 3): Word of God which has been entrusted to the apostles by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit. It transmits it to the successors of the apostles so that, enlightened by the Spirit of truth, they may faithfully preserve, expound and spread it abroad by their preaching."43 82 As a result the Church, to whom the transmission and interpretation of Revelation is entrusted, "does not derive her certainty about all revealed truths from the holy Scriptures alone. Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honoured with equal sentiments of devo”