How many spiritual gifts can one person have?
This is a pretty common question that people have concerning spiritual gifts.
But before we answer this, we need to define precisely what we mean by spiritual gifts.
Specifically, what type of spiritual gift are we talking about.
Because the Scripture lays out a total of 21 spiritual gifts that can be divided into three categories:
Support Gifts / Ministry
- Apostle – Eph. 4:11; 1 Cor. 12:28
- Prophecy – Eph. 4:11; Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 12:10, 28
- Evangelism – Eph. 4:11
- Pastor – Eph. 4:11
- Teaching – Eph. 4:11; Rom. 12:7; 1 Cor. 12:28
Service Gifts / Motivational
- Administration – 1 Cor. 12:28
- Encouragement – Rom. 12:8 (Exhortation)
- Giving – Rom. 12:8
- Hospitality – 1 Pet. 4:10-11
- Leadership – Rom. 12:8
- Mercy – Rom. 12:8
- Service (and Helping) – Rom. 12:7; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; 1 Cor 12:28
- Speaking – 1 Pet. 4:10-11
Sign Gift / Manifestation *
- Discerning of Spirits – 1 Cor. 12:10
- Faith – 1 Cor. 12:9
- Healing – 1 Cor. 12:9; 1 Cor. 12:28
- Word of Knowledge – 1 Cor. 12:8
- Working of Miracles – 1 Cor. 12:10
- Tongues – 1 Cor. 12:10
- Prophecy – 1 Cor. 12:10
- Interpretation of Tongues – 1 Cor. 12:10
- Word of Wisdom – 1 Cor. 12:8
(* Note that “Prophecy” is also listed under “Support Gifts”)
Obviously, no one has all 21 spiritual gifts. It is most likely that a person will have some blend from the list shown above.
Each of these three categories of spiritual gifts functions uniquely and can be described accordingly:
Support Gifts / Ministry – The person is the spiritual gift
Service Gifts / Motivational – A person has been given a spiritual gift
Sign Gift / Manifestation – The spiritual gift flows through the person
Click the links to go into detail concerning each of these categories but in short, the answer to the question How many spiritual gifts can one person have?
Is this:
Every believer is given a primary Motivational spiritual gift. (At least 1)
The Holy Spirit can use every believer in the Manifestation spiritual gifts on occasion. (Occasionally many)
Some believers have been given to the Church as Ministry gifts to equip the church. (Possibly one or more)
So how many spiritual gifts can one person have?
Every Christian is given at least one spiritual gift, and should the Holy Spirit lead; they could be used in many other spiritual gifts. If you would like to or discover what spiritual gifts you have, be sure to take our free spiritual gifts test.
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