ST. PAUL'S SEVEN CHRISTIAN GIFTS
In Romans chapter 12 St. Paul writes of seven Christian gifts of service which build up the Body of Christ, which is the Church:
Just as each of us has various parts in one body, and the parts do not all have the same function: in the same way, all of us, though there are so many of us, make up one body in Christ, and as different parts we are all joined to one another. Then since the gifts that we have differ according to the grace that was given to each of us: if it is a gift of prophecy, we should prophesy as much as our faith tells us; if it is a gift of practical service, let us devote ourselves to serving; if it is teaching, to teaching; if it is encouraging, to encouraging. When you give, you should give generously from the heart; if you are put in charge, you must be conscientious; if you do works of mercy, let it be because you enjoy doing them. Let love be without any pretense. Avoid what is evil stick to what is good. In brotherly love let your feelings of deep affection for one another come to expression and regard others as more important than yourself. In the service of the Lord, work not half-heartedly but with conscientiousness and an eager spirit.
Romans 12:4-11 (New Jerusalem Bible translation)
Paul lists 7 gifts and 7 functions or effects of the gift:
| GIFT | EFFECT OF THE SERVICE |
| 1. Prophecy | Inspired preaching to build up faith within the community |
| 2. Practical Service | The exercise of necessary services/ ministries that promote the growth of the Church |
| 3. Teaching | To provide the faithful with right teaching to understand the faith |
| 4. Encouragement or Exhortation | To promote ethical teaching and practice within the community |
| 5. Almsgiving | Generously given to support the Church and her ministries |
| 6. Position of Authority | To conscientiously and humbly provide resources and leadership in serve to the faith community |
| 7. Acts of Mercy | Bringing relief to the unfortunate with a cheerfulness of spirit that relieves the recipient of embarrassment through understanding that performing the service on their behalf is a privilege of love. |
1. Prophecy. Paul lists "prophecy" as the first of the gifts. He is not referring to the gift of predicting the future but rather to the first mission of the prophet which is to speak the words of God to the people, inspiring them to live in fellowship with God [see 1 Corinthians 12:10, 1 Corinthians 12:1028; 1 Corinthians 12:1013:2; 1 Corinthians 12:1014:1, 3-6, 24, 39; and 1 Timothy 4:14]. According to the literal translation this gift is to be used in "according to the analogy of faith". The Greek word analogia means "right relationship, proportion". In other words, all inspired preaching must agree with the teachings of Christ and His earthly representative, the Church. If certain preaching does not agree, it is not inspired by the Holy Spirit.
2. Practical Service. Paul uses the Greek word diakonia, meaning "service". It is the word from which comes our English word "deacon". Paul may be referring to those who serve in a specific ministry, as our deacons serve today, or he may have in mind all ministries that serve to build up the faith community. Paul applied this same term to his own ministry in Romans 11:13 and used the term in the same way in 1 Corinthians 12:5; 2 Corinthians 4:1; 11:8; Colossians 4:17; and Ephesians 4:12.
3. Teaching. In the Greek a ho didaskon is "the one who gives instruction". Paul uses this term for one who gives instruction in the interpretation of sacred Scripture or in catechesis [see 1 Corinthians 14:9 and Galatians 6:6].
4. Exhortation. Paul is using the Greek word paraklesis and is probably referring to one who guides the members of the Church in their communal life by encouraging or teaching ethical behavior or is living in the example of ethical behavior [see 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Galatians 6:6Philippians 2:1; and Hebrews 13:22].
5. Almsgiving. The Greek word metadidonai describes one who contributes to charity, sharing from his private wealth [see Luke 3:11; Ephesians 4:28]. Such a person, when giving from the heart without hope of recognition or thanks, gives motivated by the Holy Spirit and contributes to the well being of individuals in need within the Church and to the Church as a whole. Such a person judges genuine "wealth" in spiritual terms and not in monetary terms.
6. Authority. The literal Greek word used in the 6th charism is ho proistamenos, meaning "the one standing at the head", or a leader who presides or directs. This person would be one to whom the Spirit has given the gift of wisdom and leadership to guide the community in its various ministries and functions.
7. Mercy. The seventh position is ho eleon, in the Greek, "the one who performs acts of mercy". Paul probably intents this gift to include all acts of mercy including caring for the sick, burying the dead, etc. However, he cautions that this gift should be accompanied by cheerfulness. If this gift doesn't come from a heart of love which receives joy from serving God through serving brothers and sisters who are in need of God's mercy then the charism is not genuine. In all these gifts, the spirit in which the gifts are carried out is as important as the acts themselves.
Michal Hunt, Copyright © 2006 Agape Bible Study. Permissions All Rights Reserved.
From the Agape Bible Study on St. Paul's Letter to the Romans