Spiritual Gifts that Help us with Discernment

Scripture — 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (NRSV)

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

Devotion

In recent Life for Leaders devotions, we’ve examined a passage from Paul’s letter to the Philippians. In Philippians 1:9-11, Paul prays that God will enable the believers in Philippi to abound in love and knowledge so that they might “be able to discern what is best” (1:10). Discernment isn’t something we develop on our own. Rather, we are empowered to discern wisely by God’s help through the gifts of love and knowledge.

Love and knowledge are not the only paths to discernment, according to the writings of Paul. In the letter we know as 1 Corinthians, he reveals yet another way in which God can enable us to discern wisely and well. This way comes in chapter 12, where Paul is discussing “gifts” (charismata in Greek) that come from the Holy Spirit. He wants to help the Corinthian Christians come to a truer understanding of spiritual gifts, an understanding that values all gifts and not only the most unusual or spectacular ones. As he makes the case for the importance of all gifts, Paul writes,

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and
there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and
there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who
activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the
manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is
given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to
another the utterance of knowledge according to the same
Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts
of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of
miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment
of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another
the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by
one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually
just as the Spirit chooses.

In this devotion, I can’t examine the nuances of this crucial text. But I do want to highlight certain gifts which, it seems to me, can help us in the matter of discernment. I’m thinking especially of “the utterance of wisdom,” “prophecy,” and “the discernment of spirits.” Let me say at the outset that if you were to read a dozen commentaries on this passage for 1 Corinthians, you’d find a dozen different takes on the precise nature of these gifts. But here’s what I think Paul is talking about.

Notice that he refers to “the utterance of wisdom” (v. 8). The Greek reads more literally “a word [logos] of wisdom.” It seems that Paul is envisioning a situation in which, inspired by the Spirit, someone can speak wisely in a helpful and God-honoring way. Of course, the Spirit can also help us develop a discerning heart, something that happens over many years. But, in 1 Corinthians 12, Paul envisions a momentary gift of the Spirit by which someone says something wise to help people in the church make wise decisions about how to act (or not to act).

“Prophecy” in the New Testament often differs from what we see in the Old Testament. It’s not so much stating what will happen in the future or delivering God’s judgment on nations as it is addressing what’s going on in a particular community at a particular moment. As Paul will explain in 1 Corinthians 14:3, “those who prophesy speak to other people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.” One who receives a genuine gift of prophecy is able to convey God’s truth in such a way that others are built up, encouraged, and consoled.

“The discernment of spirits” has bedeviled biblical interpreters for centuries. As biblical scholar Gordon Fee observes in his commentary on 1 Corinthians, “This is language over which scholars have engaged in considerable debate, but with little agreement.” This lack of clarity is unfortunate, given that we actually find the word “discernment” in this verse (in the NRSV). The Greek word diakriseis is translated as “distinguishing” in the NIV or “the ability to tell [spirits] apart” in the CEB. In context, this gift enables us to know whether an apparent spiritual gift is from God or some other spiritual source (human spirit, demonic spirit, etc.). If, for example, someone in church purports to prophesy, one who receives a gift of discernment would be able to say, “Yes, that’s from God” or “No, that’s not authentic.”

Now, given what I said earlier about the lack of agreement among biblical scholars as to the precise nature of the particular gifts, it’s likely that I have missed the mark in the details here. But it is surely clear that God, through the Holy Spirit, gives us certain gifts when we need them in order to discern wisely and well.

Of course, 1 Corinthians 12 speaks directly to the functioning of Christians gathered as a church. Paul is envisioning how gifts should be exercised in the regular assembly of believers. But there is no need to limit the gifts of the Spirit to such corporate gatherings. If you are a Christian, the Spirit of God dwells within you (see Rom 8:9). The Spirit can give you particular gifts at any time—yes, when you’re in church, but also at work, at home, at school, in the community, and so forth.

No matter how we understand the gifts of wisdom, prophecy, and discernment of spirits, 1 Corinthians 12 encourages us when we need to exercise wise discernment. This passage encourages us to know that we are not alone in this process. When we are confronting a difficult decision, we can be confident that the Spirit of God will help us. We can ask for that help, opening our minds and hearts to the gifts of wisdom, prophecy, and discernment of spirits, as well as other gifts that will help us know the right way to go.

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Spiritual Gifts in Community (1 Corinthians 12:1–14:40).