Special gift (5486) (charisma from charis = grace + the ending --ma which indicates the result of something, in this case the result of grace, "the subjective grace that works within and shows itself in its result" [Wuest]) is a Pauline word (with exception of 1Peter 4:10) which literally means a gift of grace or a free gift. Considering that the root is charis (grace) the favor or gift which one receives is without any merit of one's own. Stated another way, whatever spiritual gift a man has comes from God, and should be no cause for personal pride or praise. It is something given to a man by God which the man himself could not have acquired or attained. Thayer writes that charisma "in the technical Pauline sense of extraordinary powers distinguishing certain Christians and enabling them to serve the church of Christ, the reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating in their souls by the Holy Spirit." It is interesting to notice that the world uses charisma to describe a person with magnetic personality and a commanding appearance. Notice also (and it is not surprising) that sixteen of the seventeen New Testament uses of charisma are connected to God as the Giver of the free gift. Specifically Paul explains (esp in 1 Cor 12:4, 6, 7, 11) that charisma is a special spiritual gift (or ability) bestowed by the Holy Spirit according to His will for the profit of the body of Christ and the work of the ministry in turn to enable believers to fulfill certain assigned functions in the body. Notice the context says that each one (each and every one) who is a genuine Christian (who has the gift of the Spirit - see note Romans 8:9) has received at least one gift from the Spirit (1 Cor 12:1-11), both the gift of the Spirit and the spiritual gift being bestowed by God at the moment of conversion (see 1 Cor 12:13ff). Richards - Charisma is a special term for grace gifts. It focuses attention on how we are called to function within the body of Christ. God has given each believer a special endowment of the Spirit, so that he or she can make a distinctive contribution to individuals and to the community of faith. Living together, united by the bonds of brotherly love, each of us is used by God to enrich our brothers and sisters and to stimulate their growth to Christian maturity. (Richards, L O: Expository Dictionary of Bible Words) Cremer (in Herzog) writes that in the technical Pauline sense charismata denote... extraordinary powers, distinguishing certain Christians and enabling them to serve the church of Christ, the reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating in their souls by the Holy Spirit Charisma is used 17 times in the NASB (see below) and is translated favor, 1; free gift, 3; gift, 5; gifts, 7; spiritual gift, 1. There are no uses in the Septuagint (LXX). Romans 1:11 (note) For I long to see you in order that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established (This is the one occasion where God is not the specific Giver, but even here He is ultimately the Giver for nothing of genuine spiritual value would originate from any source other than God.) Romans 5:15 (note) But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. Romans 6:23 (note) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 11:29 (note) for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Romans 12:6 (note) And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 1 Corinthians 1:7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 7:7 Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that. 1 Corinthians 12:4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 1 Corinthians 12:28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? 1 Corinthians 12:31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way. 2 Corinthians 1:11 you also joining in helping us through your prayers, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed upon us through the prayers of many. 1 Timothy 4:14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed upon you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. 2 Timothy 1:6 (note) And for this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 1 Peter 4:10 (note) As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. A spiritual gift is a graciously given supernaturally designed ability granted to every believer by which the Holy Spirit ministers to the body of Christ for the glory of the Father. The Greek word charisma emphasizes the freeness of the gift. Barclay has an interesting perspective on charisma writing that... A man might practise for a lifetime and yet never play the violin like Yehudi Menuhin. He has more than practice; he has the something plus, the charisma which is a gift of God. A man might toil for a lifetime and still be handless in the use of tools and wood and metals; another can fashion wood and mould metal with a special skill, and tools become part of himself; he has the something plus, the charisma which is a gift of God. One man might practise speaking for ever and a day, and still never acquire that magic something which moves an audience or congregation; another steps on to a platform or climbs into a pulpit, and the audience are in the hollow of his hand; he has that something plus, that charisma which is a gift of God. A man might toil for a lifetime and never acquire the gift of putting his thoughts on paper in a vivid and intelligible way; another without effort sees his thoughts grow on the sheet of paper in front of him; the second man has the something plus, the charisma, which is the gift of God. Every man has his own charisma. It may be for writing sermons, building houses, sowing seeds, fashioning wood, manipulating figures, playing the piano, singing songs, teaching children, playing football or golf. It is a something plus given him by God. (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series. The Westminster Press or Logos) In Romans, Paul uses charisma as a reference to the gift of salvation (Ro 5:15, 16, 6:23-see notes Ro 5:15; 16; 6:23), the blessings of God (Ro 1:11, 11:29-see notes Ro 1:11; 11:29), and divine enablements for ministry (Ro 12:6-note). Every other use of the word by Paul, and the one by Peter (1Pe 4:10-note), relates it to the divine enablements for believers to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit. Vine writes that charisma is... a gift of grace, a gift involving grace” (charis) on the part of God as the donor, is used (a) of His free bestowments upon sinners, Ro 5:15, 16; Ro 6:23; Ro 11:29 (b) of His endowments upon believers by the operation of the Holy Spirit in the churches, Ro 12:6 1Cor 1:7, 12:4, 9, 28, 30, 31 1Ti 4:14; 2Ti 1:6; 1Pe 4:10; (c) of that which is imparted through human instruction, Ro 1:11; d) of the natural “gift” of continence, consequent upon the grace of God as Creator, 1Cor 7:7; (e) of gracious deliverances granted in answer to the prayers of fellow believers, 2Cor 1:11 (Vine, W E: Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. 1996. Nelson) A spiritual gift cannot be earned, pursued, or worked up but can only be “received” through the grace of God. Spiritual gifts are controlled by the Spirit. Paul writes that... 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 And there are varieties of effects, but the same God Who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. (1 Cor 12:4-11) John MacArthur comments that... Spiritual gifts are not talents. Natural talents, skills, and abilities are granted by God just as everything good and worthwhile is a gift from Him. But those things are natural abilities shared by believer and unbeliever alike. An unbeliever can be a highly skilled artist or musician. An atheist or agnostic can be a great scientist, carpenter, athlete, or cook. If a Christian excels in any such abilities it has nothing to do with his salvation. Though he may use his natural talents quite differently after he is saved, he possessed them before he became a Christian. Spiritual gifts come only as a result of salvation. Spiritual gifts, however, are not natural, but rather are supernaturally given by the Holy Spirit only and always to believers in Jesus Christ, without exception (see 1Cor12:7 above). Spiritual gifts are special capacities bestowed on believers to equip them to minister supernaturally to others, especially to each other. Consequently, if those gifts are not being used, or not being used rightly, the body of Christ cannot be the corporate manifestation of its Head, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the work of God is hindered. Essential to unity is diversity. Unity of spirit and purpose can be maintained only through diversity of ministry. But unity is not uniformity. A football team whose players all wanted to play quarterback would have uniformity but not unity. It could not function as a team if everyone played the same position...God gives His people varieties of gifts just as players on a team have varieties of positions." (MacArthur, J. 1 Corinthians. Chicago: Moody Press) (Bolding added) Click summary of what Scripture says about Spiritual Gifts. John Piper say "the picture we have in 1Pe 4:10 is of a house with variously talented stewards who are given the owner's funds to administer. The house is the church, the stewards are all of you, the various talents are all our varied gifts, the funds are God's grace and the administration is the exercise of our gifts. The most striking part of this comparison is the analogy between the owner's funds and God's grace. Grace is the currency in the household of God. We are called to be stewards of grace. We have a board of stewards in the Minnesota Baptist Conference and they are given the responsibility to receive and disburse thousands of dollars for the household called the Minnesota Baptist Conference. That's the way we should think of our responsibility in the church - all of us. We are recipients of grace and it is our duty to disburse this grace for others. The vehicle by which we make these disbursements is our spiritual gift. So now we have another definition of spiritual gifts: they are abilities by which we receive the grace of God and disburse that grace to others. This fits beautifully with our earlier definition of spiritual gifts as the abilities given by the Spirit which express our faith and aim to strengthen the faith of others. They fit together because faith is what the house owner wants in all his stewards and grace is the only currency that can purchase faith. Or, to change the image, faith feeds on grace and is strengthened by grace. God gives us his grace in Christ and all the promises that are Yes in him, and our response is faith; then we, in the exercise of our spiritual gifts disburse that grace to others and thus feed their faith. It is the free and precious grace that strengthens the heart in faith (Heb 13:9-note). So, what should be happening at... (every church) is that all God's stewards -- all of you -- should be waking up to more and more of God's grace that you have in Christ, and finding more and more ways to creatively disburse that grace to each other and to those outside by the use of your spiritual gifts. O, that the Spirit might cause a wheeling and dealing in the currency of grace at Bethlehem Baptist Church (and in every one of His local bodies across the world)!" (Spiritual Gifts) (Bolding added) (Notes in parentheses added) EMPLOY IT IN SERVING ONE ANOTHER: eis heautous auto diakonountes (PAPMPN): (Mt 20:28; 25:44; Mk 10:45; Lk 8:3; Ro 15:25,27; 2Cor 9:1; 2Ti 1:18; Heb 6:10) Spiritual gifts were used, not for the exaltation of the one with the gift, but in loving concern for the benefit of others in the church (cf. 1Cor 12:7; 13). We are not meant to be the terminals of God’s gifts to us (like the Dead Sea that has no outlet); His grace reaches us but should not end with us. We are intended to be channels through whom the blessing can flow to others. Practicing hospitality is one way to use the gifts God has given to serve others. AS GOOD STEWARDS OF THE MANIFOLD GRACE OF GOD: os kaloi oikonomoi poikiles charitos theou: (Mt 24:45; 24:14,21; Lk 12:42; 16:1-8; 1Cor 4:1,2; Titus 1:7) (1Cor 3:10; 12:4; 15:10; 2Cor 6:1; Ep 3:8; 4:11) Spurgeon - Whatever “the gift” is, whether it be money, or talent, or grace, “even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” God gives much to you that you may give it to others; it is only meant to run through you as through a pipe. You are a steward and if a steward should receive his lord’s goods, and keep them for himself he would be an unfaithful steward. Child of God, see to it that you faithfully discharge your responsibility as one of the “good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”