Not everyone has all the same spiritual gifts

Summary:

Spiritual gifts can be described as being given to those who are in Christ. 

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List of spiritual gifts:
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There is evidence that NOT EVERYONE has all the same spiritual gifts (by design).

For example:

1) It is possible for SOME individuals in Christ to have the same spiritual gifts. 

2) NOT EVERYONE has all the same spiritual gifts (by design).

3) Doesn't everyone in Christ have THE SAME SOURCE of spiritual gifts: the Spirit of God?

➔ Everyone in Christ has in them THE SAME SOURCE of spiritual gifts: THE SPIRIT OF GOD. However this would NOT necessitate that believers in Christ are therefore given ALL the manifestation of that source.

4) Doesn't the Spirit of God simply give the spiritual gifts to anybody He wants?

➔ The "SPIRIT" (1 Corinthians 12:11) gives the spiritual gifts "JUST-AS (IT) WILLS" (1 Corinthians 12:11). However this would NOT necessitate that therefore the Spirit of God WILLS that all the same spiritual gifts are given to everyone. 

5) Christ exercised ALL the spiritual gifts, so why not an individual in Christ?

➔ Christ, as an individual in the body of His flesh, exercised all the spiritual gifts. However it would not follow that therefore an individual in Christ would also be able to exercise all the spiritual gifts, because an individual in Christ is just a BODY PART of the body of Christ. 

6) Doesn't God just DYNAMICALLY give spiritual gifts ACCORDING TO THE PRESENT NEED?

➔ God does give spiritual gifts ACCORDING TO THE NEED HE SEES FIT. However this would NOT necessitate that therefore God would then DYNAMICALLY give spiritual gifts SUCH THAT someone will not have certain gifts anymore (but have others more fit to the present need). 

7) It is important to believe that not everyone has all the same spiritual gifts for several reasons. 

You can find more details below:

1) It is possible for SOME individuals in Christ to have the same spiritual gifts:

An individual in Christ can have multiple spiritual gifts and can even exercice multiple spiritual gifts at once. 

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Someone in Christ can have multiple spiritual gifts:
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Multiple spiritual gifts can be exercised together:
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It is possible for SOME individuals in Christ to have the same spiritual gifts. 

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Some individuals in Christ can have the same spiritual gifts:
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It is even possible for someone to be given more spiritual gifts than they already have.

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It is possible for someone to be given more spiritual gifts:
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However none of that necessitate that therefore everyone will have by design all the same spiritual gifts. 

2) Not everyone has all the same spiritual gifts:

There is evidence that NOT EVERYONE has all the same spiritual gifts (by design).

Paul wrote: "HAVING DIFFERENT GIFTS according-to the grace having-been-given (to) us, (exercise them accordingly): whether prophecy [...] or ministry [...] or the (one) teaching [...] or the (one) exhorting [...] the (one) giving [...] the (one) leading [...] the (one) showing-mercy" (Romans 12:6-8). Paul here wrote that believers have "DIFFERENT " (Romans 12:6) spiritual gifts. 

Paul wrote that there are "GIFTS, but the same Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:4) and "the manifestation (of) the Spirit is-given (to) each (one) for (our) benefit" (1 Corinthians 12:7), "For (TO) ONE (a) word (of) wisdom is-given through the Spirit; AND (TO) ANOTHER, (a) word (of) knowledge according-to the same Spirit; (TO A) DIFFERENT (ONE), faith by the same Spirit; AND (TO) ANOTHER, gifts (of) healings by the one Spirit; AND (TO) ANOTHER, (things-)worked (by) miracles; AND (TO) ANOTHER, prophecy; AND (TO) ANOTHER, discernments (of) spirits; (TO A) DIFFERENT (ONE), kinds (of) tongues; AND (TO) ANOTHER interpretation (of) tongues" (1 Corinthians 12:8-10).

Paul wrote about "GIFTS" (1 Corinthians 12:31) and asked rhetorically (expecting the answer to be "no"): "ALL (are) NOT apostles, (are they)? ALL (are) NOT prophets, (are they)? ALL (are) NOT teachers, (are) they? ALL (do) NOT (do) powers, (do they)? ALL do NOT have gifts (of) healings, (do they)? ALL do NOT speak (in) tongues, (do they)? ALL do NOT interpret, (do they)?" (1 Corinthians 12:29-30).

Paul explained that this is so that as a result individual members of the collective body of Christ can come to NEED each other, as it is written in the same chapter: "the eye can not say (to) the hand, “I-do not have NEED (of) you”. Or again the head (to) the feet, “I-do not have NEED (of) you”." (1 Corinthians 12:21). This is done "in-order-that there-should NOT BE DIVISION in the body" (1 Corinthians 12:25), as individuals would need some of the spiritual gifts that only others can minister to them. 

3) Doesn't everyone in Christ have THE SAME SOURCE of spiritual gifts: the Spirit of God?

Everyone in Christ has in them THE SAME SOURCE of spiritual gifts: THE SPIRIT OF GOD. However NOT necessitate that believers in Christ are therefore given ALL the manifestation of that source.

Believers in Christ have the Spirit of God, as Paul wrote: "(THE) SPIRIT (OF) GOD IS-DWELLING IN YOU. But if anyone does not have (the) Spirit (of) Christ, this (one) is not (of) Him" (Romans 8:9). 

THE SPIRIT OF GOD can be described as a SOURCE of spiritual gifts, as Paul wrote about "the manifestation (OF) THE SPIRIT" (1 Corinthians 12:7) being "gifts, but THE SAME SPIRIT" (1 Corinthians 12:4). 

However that DOESN'T NECESSITATE that believers in Christ are therefore given ALL the manifestation of that source, as Paul wrote that "the manifestation (of) the Spirit is-given (to) each (one) for (our) benefit" (1 Corinthians 12:7), "For (TO) ONE (a) word (of) wisdom is-given through the Spirit; AND (TO) ANOTHER, (a) word (of) knowledge according-to the same Spirit; (TO A) DIFFERENT (ONE), faith by the same Spirit; AND (TO) ANOTHER, gifts (of) healings by the one Spirit; AND (TO) ANOTHER, (things-)worked (by) miracles; AND (TO) ANOTHER, prophecy; AND (TO) ANOTHER, discernments (of) spirits; (TO A) DIFFERENT (ONE), kinds (of) tongues; AND (TO) ANOTHER interpretation (of) tongues" (1 Corinthians 12:8-10).

4) Doesn't the Spirit of God simply give the spiritual gifts to anybody He wants?

Paul wrote about "the manifestation (OF) THE SPIRIT" (1 Corinthians 12:7) that "THE SAME SPIRIT works all these (things), distributing (to) each (one) individually, JUST-AS (IT) WILLS" (1 Corinthians 12:11). 

A spiritual gift will not be given to someone if it is not in accordance with the WILL of the Spirit of God. Indeed there can be CONDITIONS for spiritual gifts to be given.

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There can be conditions for spiritual gifts to be given:
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The "SPIRIT" (1 Corinthians 12:11) gives the spiritual gifts "JUST-AS (IT) WILLS" (1 Corinthians 12:11). However this would NOT necessitate that therefore the Spirit of God WILLS that all the same spiritual gifts are given to everyone. 

Indeed just after mentioning that the Spirit gives spritiual gifts "JUST-AS (IT) WILLS" (1 Corinthians 12:11) the very next verse indicates: "FOR just-as the (human) body is one (body); and IT HAS MANY BODY-PARTS" (1 Corinthians 12:12). 

This can be an indication that the Spirit of God may NOT necessarily WANT everyone to have all the same spiritual gifts for the reason that a body contains many (different) body parts (having different functions).

Paul actually then mentioned the differences in functions of the different body parts, writing: "If the WHOLE BODY (were an) EYE, where (would) the HEARING (be)? If (the) whole (were an) EAR, where (would) the SMELLING (be)?" (1 Corinthians 12:17). 

The body has different individual BODY PARTS having different functions (the ear for HEARING, the nose for SMELLING, etc), and each body part does not make the WHOLE BODY but is just one different body part (each with a different function). 

Paul thus indicates in the next verse: "But now, God PLACED the body-parts, EACH one (of) them, in the body, JUST-AS HE-WANTED" (1 Corinthians 12:18). 

The different body parts are PLACED EACH in the body just as God WANTED (with a different function each), similarly to how the Spirit is "DISTRIBUTING (to) EACH (one) individually, JUST-AS (IT) WILLS" (1 Corinthians 12:11), with a different spiritual gift each.

Indeed already described how the Spirit gives the spiritual gifts as it wills, writing: "For (TO) ONE (a) word (of) wisdom is-given through the Spirit; AND (TO) ANOTHER, (a) word (of) knowledge according-to the same Spirit; (TO A) DIFFERENT (ONE), faith by the same Spirit; AND (TO) ANOTHER, gifts (of) healings by the one Spirit; AND (TO) ANOTHER, (things-)worked (by) miracles; AND (TO) ANOTHER, prophecy; AND (TO) ANOTHER, discernments (of) spirits; (TO A) DIFFERENT (ONE), kinds (of) tongues; AND (TO) ANOTHER interpretation (of) tongues" (1 Corinthians 12:8-10).

Later in the same chapter, the same Greek word for "PLACED" from the verse "God PLACED [tithémi 5087 in Greek] the body-parts, EACH one (of) them, in the body, JUST-AS HE-WANTED" (1 Corinthians 12:18) is used again by Paul when he wrote about the "GIFTS" (1 Corinthians 12:31) that "God PLACED [tithémi 5087 in Greek] SOME in the church (as) first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then powers [miracles]; then gifts (of) healings, helps, administrations, kinds (of) tongues" (1 Corinthians 12:28). 

God PLACED only SOME in the church to have the same function, the same way that only SOME body parts in a body have the same function (only TWO ears for hearing, only TWO eyes for seeing, only ONE noise for smelling, etc). 

This explains why Paul then asked rhetorically (expecting the answer to be "no"): "ALL (are) NOT apostles, (are they)? ALL (are) NOT prophets, (are they)? ALL (are) NOT teachers, (are) they? ALL (do) NOT (do) powers, (do they)? ALL do NOT have gifts (of) healings, (do they)? ALL do NOT speak (in) tongues, (do they)? ALL do NOT interpret, (do they)?" (1 Corinthians 12:29-30). It would simply not be the WILL of the Spirit of God to give all the same spiritual gifts to everyone. 

5) Christ exercised ALL the spiritual gifts, so why not an individual in Christ?

Christ, as an individual in the body of His flesh, exercised all the spiritual gifts. However it would not follow that therefore an individual in Christ would also be able to exercise all the spiritual gifts, because an individual in Christ is just a BODY PART of the body of Christ. 

Indeed, believers are COLLECTIVELY the body of Christ. Each believer is just ONE INDIVIDUAL MEMBER of this collective body of Christ, as it is written: "WE THE MANY ARE ONE BODY in Christ, and INDIVIDUALLY MEMBERS (of) one another" (Romans 12:5).

God will give ALL THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS to the COLLECTIVE body of Christ, just like He gave all the spiritual gifts to Christ when He was in His body. 

But because we are INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS of that collective body, God will give to one member a spiritual gift, then to another member another spiritual gift, as Paul wrote: "(TO) ONE (a) word (of) wisdom is-given through the Spirit; and (TO) ANOTHER (a) word (of) knowledge according-to the same Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:8). 

Based on that, God will NOT necessarily give ALL THE SAME SPIRITUAL GIFTS TO EVERYONE so that as a result individual members of that collective body can come to NEED each other, as it is written in the same chapter: "the eye can not say (to) the hand, “I-do not have NEED (of) you”. Or again the head (to) the feet, “I-do not have NEED (of) you”." (1 Corinthians 12:21). Notice that the text does not say that others are an "add-on" or a "plus" added to the fact that we would already be able to have individually all the spiritual gifts without them, but a "NEED", implying that we would be missing things without them. This is done "in-order-that there-should NOT BE DIVISION in the body, but (that) the body-parts should-be-having THE SAME CONCERN FOR ONE-ANOTHER" (1 Corinthians 12:25).

6) Doesn't God just DYNAMICALLY give spiritual gifts according to the present need?

God does give spiritual gifts ACCORDING TO THE NEED HE SEES FIT. 

For more information:

There can be conditions for spiritual gifts to be given:
Click here

It is even possible for someone to be given MORE spiritual gifts than they already had. 

For more information:

It is possible for someone to be given more spiritual gifts:
Click here

However this would NOT necessitate that therefore God would then DYNAMICALLY give spiritual gifts SUCH THAT someone will not have certain gifts anymore (but have others more fit to the present need). 

For example, to illustrate this principle, in Acts 6 a NEED arose as "widows were-being-overlooked in the daily ministry (of food)" (Acts 6:1). 

And it was written that the APOSTLES, "the twelve, having-summoned the multitude (of) the disciples, said, “IT-IS NOT PLEASING (THAT) WE, HAVING-LEFT-BEHIND THE WORD (OF) GOD, (SHOULD) BE-SERVING TABLES. But brothers, LOOK-FOR SEVEN MEN from (among) you being-attested, full (of the) Spirit and wisdom, WHOM WE-WILL-APPOINT OVER THIS NEED. And WE WILL-DEVOTE-OURSELVES (TO) prayer and THE MINISTRY (OF) THE WORD" (Acts 6:2-4).

Notice how the APOSTLES did not have for intuition that the Lord would dynamically grant them to not function as apostles for a time in order to dynamically presently fulfill that need instead, but on the contrary they said that "IT-IS NOT PLEASING (THAT) WE, HAVING-LEFT-BEHIND THE WORD (OF) GOD, (SHOULD) BE-SERVING TABLES" (Acts 6:2) and so they instructed to "LOOK-FOR SEVEN MEN" (Acts 6:3) OTHER THAN THEMSELVES to be appointed "OVER THIS NEED" (Acts 6:3).

7) Why is it important to believe that not everyone has all the same spiritual gifts?

It is important to believe that not everyone has all the same spiritual gifts for several reasons:

Not believing it could lead someone to think that they do NOT ACTUALLY "NEED" (1 Corinthians 12:21) anybody else in the collective body of Christ because they might think that they can have access to all the spiritual gifts directly in themselves anyway. 

As a result, they might decide to live on their own their spiritual edification, which can lead to what Paul warned: "DIVISION" (1 Corinthians 12:25) from the collective body of Christ as someone may divide themselves from the collective body to live on their own without thinking that they have any actual need for others. 

It could also PRODUCE A LACK OF CONCERN for the spiritual well-being of others, thinking that they do not need anybody else than themselves anyway, which is why Paul wrote that "there-should NOT BE DIVISION in the body, but (that) the body-parts should-be-having THE SAME CONCERN FOR ONE-ANOTHER" (1 Corinthians 12:25). Indeed, the same way we need others, others also do need us, in order that we should be having the same concern for one another. 

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