Pneumatology: Spiritual Gifts

828 Words4 Pages
Tim Peery THEO 201_B13_201230 Short Essay #3 Pneumatology: Spiritual Gifts Spiritual Gifts, specifically speaking in tongues and baptism in the Holy Spirit, have been hotly debated. Spiritual gifts are of God through His Spirit given to the believer enabling the Christian to perform his or her service for the church. Elmer L. Towns states, “Spiritual gifts are given to men (1Cor. 12:11) and these men are in turn given to the church (Eph. 4:11).” “The Spirit bestows His charismata (gift) for the edification of the church, the formation of Christian character, and the service of the community.” Spiritual gifts very much differ from the Fruits of the Spirit. Spiritual gifts are given to the edification of the church whereas Fruit of the Spirit is what the believer receives by working out their Spiritual Gifts. The more the Christian exercise their Spiritual Gifts, the more fruit that exercise produces. As such, the more fruit a believer has in their life is a clear indication of spiritual maturity. The Spiritual Gift of speaking in tongues is not without controversy. Glossolalia, derived from two Greek words “glossa” (tongue or language) and “lalia” (speech), means speaking in tongues or languages. In Acts, its purpose is an initiation or authentication gift meant as a divine affirmation of a new group entering the church, but in 1 Corinthians and Romans it is a spiritual gift bestowed upon sovereignly chosen individuals within the church. The controversy arises from the so-called need or lack there of in today’s New Testament Church. To add to this controversy is the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist tells us that Jesus will baptize us with the Holy Ghost. “To be baptized with the Holy Ghost means, that the Messiah would send upon the world a far more powerful and mighty influence than had attended the preaching

More about Pneumatology: Spiritual Gifts

Open Document