Teaching Notes are Bible studies we taught before GraceLife Ministries began publishing articles online in 1995. Some were presented as sermons, others as group studies.

Our hope is that these older studies will be a blessing to you in your life and ministry. Please use them in any way God leads you.

These teaching notes are from a series of studies about Spiritual Gifts. 

[These notes are from more than 45 years ago.]

Charismata

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:1-8

The word “gifts” in Romans 12:6 is the Greek word charismata. It means “gifts of grace.”

Charismata is found 18 times in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul used the word 17 times. The Apostle Peter used the word once.

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:10-11

  1. Speaking Gifts — “speak the very oracles of God”
  2. Serving Gifts — “as of the ability which God giveth”

charisma (singular) … charismata (plural)

For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established. Romans 1:11

“impart” — to share with one

“spiritual gift” — gift of grace

“established” — to make fast, to fix strongly, strengthen

Paul longed to share a spiritual gift of grace with the Roman Christians for the purpose of making them spiritually strong. That gift of grace was Paul’s spiritual ministry gift.

But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. Romans 5:15-16

vs. 15 — “free gift” … charisma (a grace gift) — “gift” … dōrea (a gift given freely)

vs. 16 — “gift” … dōrēma (boon, a timely benefit) — charisma (a grace gift)

The context of Romans 5 is that of salvation through Jesus Christ. That is the great “gift.”

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

The “grace gift” of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Our just compensation (wages) of sin is death. Our undeserved and unearned gift from God is eternal life!

For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. Romans 11:29

The context for the word charismata is how God will save Israel in the future. Paul talked about how God’s election and love for Israel is “without repentance” (irrevocable, without change of mind or purpose).

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:6-8

“differing” — diaphora … to differ, to vary”

“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us”

  1. Prophecy — to speak forth
  2. Ministry — to serve
  3. Teaching — to instruct
  4. Exhortation — to speak words of encouragement
  5. Giving — to give a share of
  6. Ruling — to lead
  7. Showing mercy — to feel sympathy with the misery of another

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. Romans 12:4

“diversities” — variety, difference

There are “various or different” gifts of grace — but the same Spirit.

There is unity in diversity. Our spiritual gifts are various but the giver of those gifts is the same loving God.

Paul gives us a second list of gifts in verses 8-10:

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues.

  1. Word of wisdom
  2. Word of knowledge
  3. Faith
  4. Healing (also mentioned verses 28 & 30)
  5. Working of miracles
  6. Prophecy
  7. Discerning of spirits
  8. Divers kinds of tongues
  9. Interpretation of tongues

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 1 Corinthians 12:28-30

  1. Apostles
  2. Prophets
  3. Teachers
  4. Miracles
  5. Healings
  6. Helps
  7. Governing
  8. Tongues
  9. Interpretation

Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf. 2 Corinthians 1:11

Paul spoke of God’s grace in keeping them alive while in the province of Asia. Paul thanked the Corinthians for their prayers on his behalf.

Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 2 Corinthians 8:4

The word “gift” is charis. It should be translated “grace” instead of gift.

Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 1 Timothy 4:14

This charismatos was given to Timothy “with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery” (with the laying on of the hands of the body of elders). The gift may have had something to do with Timothy’s pastoral ministry or his apostolic assistance.

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 2 Timothy 1:6

Paul’s usage of charisma and charismata:

  1. Eternal life
  2. Salvation of Israel
  3. Prophecy
  4. Ministry
  5. Teaching
  6. Exhortation
  7. Giving
  8. Ruling
  9. Showing mercy
  10. Marital status
  11. Word of wisdom
  12. Word of knowledge
  13. Faith
  14. Healing
  15. Working of miracles
  16. Discerning of spirits
  17. Tongues
  18. Interpretation of tongues

Next Time

In the next part of our Teaching Notes series we will look at the spiritual gifts of ministry and teaching.

[Thank you for reading these teaching notes from more than 45 years ago. My prayer is they will be a blessing to you and your life and ministry.]

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