Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 12–13)

A stained-glass window of the Holy Spirit as a white dove descending with outstretched wings, in a glowing amber oval framed by gilded sculpted angels and clouds — **Photo:** Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the Holy Spirit window above the Cathedra Petri, St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome. Photograph by Wilfredor, public domain (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons

The issue regarding the continuation of spiritual gifts rests heavily on these two chapters in the first epistle to the Corinthians. Cessationism presents the non-continuation of the three groups of gifts listed in these two chapters. The only gifts continuing on for the use of Christians today involve only those gifts listed outside these three groups.

The biblical text in 1 Corinthians 12:8–11 and 13:1–8 divides spiritual gifts into three groups (note the chiastic arrangement):

(1)12:8to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit,

and to another [allō] the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;

(2)12:9to another [heterō] faith by the same Spirit,

and to another [allō] gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

12:10and to another [allō] the workings of miracles,

and to another [allō] prophecy,

and to another [allō] the distinguishing of spirits,

(3)12:11to another [heterō] various kinds of tongues,

and to another [allō] the translation of tongues.

(3)13:1If I speak with the tongues …

(2)13:2And if I have the gift of prophecy,

(1)and know all mysteries and all knowledge …

allō (ἄλλῳ) =	“to another [of the same kind]”	(homogeneous)
heterō (ἑτέρῳ) =	“to another [of a different kind]”	(heterogeneous)

In 1 Corinthians 13:8–13, the concluding verses of the chapter, a different order appears by which the gifts related to prophecy take the preeminence. That occurs because the finalization of biblical revelation and its inclusion in the final canon of Scripture brings an end to the special, temporary gifts related to prophecy (the group of gifts related to the giving of revelation), tongues (the group of miraculous gifts confirming divine revelation), and knowledge (the group of gifts operating prior to the completion of Scripture to provide guidance to believers in understanding and coordinating divine revelation).

(2)13:8Love never fails, but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away;

(3)if there are tongues, they will cease;

(1)if there is knowledge, it will be done away.

For a full discussion of spiritual gifts, see John MacArthur and Richard Mayhue, eds., Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017), 379–86. See, also, the collections of articles on the topic in Master’s Seminary Journal 14, no. 2 (2003): 143–327 and Master’s Seminary Journal 25, no. 2 (2014): 17–93.