Spiritual gift

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Spiritual gifts, also called charisms, are special abilities that Christians believe the Holy Spirit gives to believers. They are meant to help people serve others and build up the church. These gifts are not earned by good behavior or effort; they are freely given by God.

What they are for
- They are tools for helping others, not just for personal gain.
- They can be practical skills or more miraculous abilities.
- The gifts are given to individuals to benefit the whole church, and no one has all the gifts.

What the Bible says
- The New Testament talks about spiritual gifts mainly in 1 Corinthians 12–14, Romans 12, and Ephesians 4, with some reference in 1 Peter 4.
- Gifts are described as manifestations of the Holy Spirit, not earned by the person.
- There are many gifts, and people often have different ones.

Common gifts and roles
Gifts that people might experience:
- Word of wisdom, word of knowledge
- Faith (special, bold trust)
- Gifts of healing
- Workings of miracles
- Prophecy
- Discerning of spirits
- Speaking in tongues
- Interpretation of tongues
Gifts connected to church roles:
- Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors/teachers
- Helps (serving the sick and poor)
- Government (leadership)

How they’re used
- The goal is to build up, encourage, and comfort the church.
- Gifts are given by the Holy Spirit and are not limited to one person; distribution varies.

Two big views about gifts today
- Cessationism: some Christians (often from Calvinist traditions) believe miraculous gifts stopped after the early church.
- Continuationism: many Christians (including Catholics, Orthodox, many Protestants, and Pentecostals) believe all the gifts continue today and are normal for believers.

Tongues and interpretation
- Tongues can refer to speaking in a real human language or a heavenly language.
- If tongues are spoken publicly, they are usually to be interpreted so everyone can understand.

Summary
Spiritual gifts are God-given abilities meant to serve others and strengthen the church. They come from the Holy Spirit, cannot be earned, and are used for the common good. Belief about how these gifts operate today varies among Christian traditions.