12:8 given by the Spirit. There are thirteen different gifts of the Spirit listed in I Corinthians 12:8-10 and 28-30, while seven are given in Romans 12:6-8 (two of which, however, are also listed in I Corinthians 12). Another list of four (possibly five) gifts is found in Ephesians 4:11, but there they are listed as “gifts” (still a different Greek word, doma, meaning “a present”) of Christ…unto men,” implying these are gifts to those in the church for the edifying of the whole church (Ephesians 4:16). Only two in this list are still different, making a total of twenty different gifts. One more may be the gift of celibacy, mentioned as a charisma in I Corinthians 7:7. Since the three lists are all different, it is obvious that none are intended as complete lists, but rather simply as typical lists. No individual would have all the gifts, nor (probably) would any one church. Some would cease with time, others would be added, as needed. They are gifts of the Spirit “as He will” (I Corinthians 12:11), not “as we wish!”

12:8 wisdom. The “word of wisdom” and the “word of knowledge,” as special gifts of the Spirit, surely imply more than natural wisdom and knowledge, but they are not defined anywhere in Scripture. Perhaps the “word of knowledge” applies to a God-given ability to learn and retain in one’s memory an abundance of information of value in the ministry, while the “word of wisdom” applies to a similar special ability to apply such knowledge in the making of wise decisions. Others have understood these terms in a more supernatural sense, however, to be applied as specially needed in particular situations that arise from time to time. Similarly the “gift of faith” would refer not to the faith through which we are saved (all believers have that faith), but special faith for special needs.