In this post we will look in detail at Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, chapter 4, verses 1-16, regarding the spiritual gifts and the greater gifts. Through this passage we are reminded of the importance of unity with the body of Christ, along with a description of the “greater gifts” first mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12: 27-31.
Unity Through Peace
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) Ephesians 4:1-10 NIV
Paul begins this chapter with a strong emphasis on the unity of the body of Christ. Verse 3 in particular speaks to me as a guiding principle for any church and something that seems to always be a challenge. Paul states that unity can only be achieved through a bond of peace. Here he specifically calls out the fact that divisiveness in the church, or lack of unity, can only be achieved through peace. Remember that in the book of Romans, chapter 12, and 1 Corinthians 12 Paul describes the body of Christ as a human body, with each it’s own purpose and equal importance to the whole. If the body is in conflict with itself, it cannot function properly.
Paul continues in this thought of unity as he describes how everything about our faith and the body of Christ comes from the same God, with Christ as the head of the body and the grace of God comes through Him. Jesus Christ makes the decision on what roles each of us have in the body of Christ and it is always for the good of the whole body.
The Greater Gifts
” 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-13
Here we find three very important verses when it comes to the spiritual gifts. Paul notes five gifts that serve a special purpose in the body of Christ, and I term them as the “greater gifts” noted in 1 Corinthians 12:27-31. These five gifts carry tremendous responsibility and are given for the purpose outlined in verse 12 “to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up”. The greater gifts are only “greater” in the fact that they carry a greater responsibility than the other gifts. The greater gifts are no more important than any other gift given by the Holy Spirit, but they affect the body of Christ in a much broader way. They influence, guide, teach, and grow the body as a whole and their impact is felt throughout. They help the body “mature” (v.13) in the faith and following of Christ. Take some time to read through the descriptions of the greater gifts here.
Maturity in Spirit
“14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:14-16
These verses describe the maturity that we will reach within the body of Christ as mentioned in verse 13. Through the unity of the body, everyone doing their part as a member, helps the church grow and thrive. It’s important to point out two key thoughts within these verses. First, Paul mentions that the body “grows and builds itself up in love” in verse 16. Only with love will the body mature and anything else leads to regression. A body that does not have love for all it’s members cannot never reach the maturity that Christ has planned for it. Secondly, Paul writes “as each part does its work” in the same verse. Here Paul states the importance of every part of the body, every gift, doing it’s part. Without a part of the body functioning properly, the whole body suffers. This is where I see the balance of the spiritual gifts within the body being described and the basis for the Spiritual Gifts Matrix described in this project.
Spiritual Gifts Matrix
As illustrated above, you can see that it is my belief that the greater gifts are a culmination of one or more of the spiritual gifts. As a Christian with one or more spiritual gifts matures in his or her walk with Christ, there is an opportunity for a greater gift to emerge. That is why Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 12:31 “Now eagerly desire the greater gifts” (NIV). The greater gifts are things you can aspire to and desire as your spiritual gifts and walk with Christ matures.
Spiritual Gifts within Greater Gifts
Though my research and observations I have been unable to find consistent correlations between particular spiritual gifts and the greater gifts, other than the fact that someone with one of the greater gifts possesses one or more of the spiritual gifts. I have seen Teachers with great gifts of wisdom but not of knowledge, and vice versa. I have witnessed Pastors be loving care givers and healers to their congregation but not be very good teachers. Evangelists are generally very gifted with the gift of tongues but I have seen some with gifts of servanthood and some with gifts of administration, or both. It seems all over the place with the greater gifts and the foundational spiritual gifts the person possesses.
Because of this I do not include any sort of questionnaire for discovering a greater gift within you. I feel the greater gifts are an evolution and something only the Holy Spirit understands. Each person with a greater gift has been molded to fit the need that exists within the body. I do encourage people who may have a greater gift to share their experiences on this website and participate in discussions about the gift. It will help all of us learn and use our gifts to the fulfillment of the Holy Spirit’s purposes.
Conclusion
I sincerely hope this series on Paul’s writings have helped your understanding of the spiritual gifts and their purpose in the church. I welcome your feedback and input on your discernment and understanding on this topic.
