The apostle Paul enumerates the "gifts" here in I Corinthians and it is a listing that is interesting to the student of the Word of God. I can't help but wonder why it is that we don't hear much about most of them and usually most folks only want to talk about two of them. Let me say at the outset of this article, that if
any one of them is still in existence and is being given to anyone today, then
we by the same reasoning and logic must conclude that all of these charismata
(gifts of grace) are still here for Christians today. By the same reasoning, if
one is no longer here, then neither are the others. It would be good if we keep
in mind as we study this subject that at this time there was no New Testament in
the sense that we think of it now. The Christians at Corinth were not able to go
to the New Testament and read I Corinthians or There are many books of the New Testament which the earliest Christians never saw nor heard for they had died before they were written. Besides that, many of the letters were written to specific groups and it was some years before these were collected and came into their present form of what we know as "The New Testament". This may help us to understand just why these gifts were necessary and useful to the church at that time but today might no longer be either. With these thoughts in mind let us proceed to look at these grace gifts. The first one named by the apostle in I Cor. 12:8 is "the utterance (or word) of wisdom". Now just what is that, and how many do you know today that have the gift? Most today who try to be wise usually make it evident that they are otherwise if you will just listen. This particular gift is speaking of something, I believe, that can be shown to be possessed by the apostles only. That it refers to speech is evident from the way it is described as "the utterance" or "word" of wisdom. But what is the wisdom spoken of here? Jesus is called in scripture "the Wisdom of God". (Luke 11:49) He told his apostles when he was about to leave them that he would send to them the Holy Spirit who would teach them all things and bring all things to their remembrance. (Jn. 14:25-26) He told them also that they would be infallible in their teaching as it would "not be them that spoke but the Spirit of the Father speaking through them." (Matt. 10:20) If you notice down in verse 28 of the 12th chapter, the apostles are ranked as 1st within the order of works and/or gifts there, and there is good reason for that. If you read I Cor. 2:7 you find the following: "we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God which God decreed before the ages for out glorification". When we consider along with this, what is found in Ephesians 3:7-10, I believe it becomes even clearer. Listen to this; "Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace which was given to me be the working of his power. To me, though I am the least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created al things; that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to principalities and powers in the heavenly places." It is further said of this man Paul that he "wrote to you according to the wisdom given him". II Peter 3:15 This shows, I believe, that this "word of wisdom" spoken of in our study, is nothing more or less than the wisdom of God concerning the things of God that he wished revealed to men. The gospel story and how it was necessary that Jesus come and die. The understanding of the how, the when and the why of the resurrection of Jesus and those who are his at this coming as laid down by Paul in the 15th chapter of this same letter. These things are not at all clear to these men before the coming of the Holy Spirit to them, but afterwards these things are as clear as a bright spring morning and they go forth with the "word of wisdom" or as other translations say the "utterance of wisdom". Not their own wisdom, but the wisdom of God. The gift of receiving, understanding and being able to relate the plan of God for the ages without alteration, addition or addenda seems to be what is being spoken of here. The point might be made just here that after this "word of wisdom" had been told and written (all done within the lifespan of the chosen apostles) there was no further use for this grace gift and so it was that it ceased to be. We now can partake of the "wisdom of God" by opening our Bibles and reading and meditating upon what these men who were grace gifted have given us. Thank you Father! It is important to remember that these men never went a day or an hour to a "seminary" or to a so called "Christian College". It is important to remember that when these men had occasion to speak to people, they never had to prepare a speech by studying in order to make that speech. I have known some in my time, who made the claim that they never prepare or study for a speech either. I have always believed every one of them I have ever heard make this claim, as it is obvious from their speech that they have not prepared or studied! I pray that this article will help you get a good perspective on these things as we proceed. Remember the principles that I have introduced here in regard to this first "gift" that is mentioned. I believe we will see as we go along that these principles will apply to most if not all of the other "gifts" mentioned by the great apostle and we will be able to come to a better understanding of them. May God's blessings rest upon you and yours as we endeavor to understand God's Word. Gerald Email: thornsandnails@avsia.com
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