How Many Spiritual Gifts Are There?

Are you wondering how many spiritual gifts there are? There are four main passages of Scripture where Spiritual Gifts are listed by name: 

• Ephesians 4:11-12
• Romans 12:6-8
• 1 Corinthians 12:4-10, 28 
• 1 Peter 4:10-11 

Taken together, these Scriptures list 21 different Spiritual Gifts. 

Spiritual Gifts List

Listed alphabetically, they are:

1. Apostle – Eph. 4:11; 1 Cor. 12:28
2. Administration – 1 Cor. 12:28 
3. Discerning of Spirits – 1 Cor. 12:10
4. Encouragement – Rom. 12:8 (Exhortation)
5. Evangelism – Eph. 4:11
6. Faith – 1 Cor. 12:9
7. Giving – Rom. 12:8
8. Healing – 1 Cor. 12:9; 1 Cor. 12:28
9. Hospitality – 1 Pet. 4:10-11
10. Interpretation of Tongues – 1 Cor. 12:10
11. Leadership – Rom. 12:8
12. Mercy – Rom. 12:8
13. Pastor – Eph. 4:11
14. Prophecy – Eph. 4:11; Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 12:10, 28
15. Service (and Helping) – Rom. 12:7; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; 1 Cor 12:28
16. Speaking – 1 Pet. 4:10-11
17. Teaching – Eph. 4:11; Rom. 12:7; 1 Cor. 12:28
18. Tongues – 1 Cor. 12:10
19. Word of Knowledge – 1 Cor. 12:8
20. Word of Wisdom – 1 Cor. 12:8
21. Working of Miracles – 1 Cor. 12:10

I should point out that some people view this list as a “sampling” of the kinds of Spiritual Gifts The Holy Spirit makes available to the believer rather than seeing the list as a “closed list.” 

They point to Dream Interpretation (See Gen. 41:1-45; Ex. Dan. 2:1-49) or Artistry (see Ex. 31:1-6), as mentioned in the Old Testament as examples. 

However, for our purposes, we will focus on the 21 spiritual gifts identified in the New Testament.

Because it can be difficult to remember 21 different Spiritual Gifts, it helps to place them in three different categories or subgroups.

 1) Ministry Gifts

1. Apostle – Eph. 4:11; 1 Cor. 12:28
2. Prophecy – Eph. 4:11; Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 12:10, 28  
3. Evangelism – Eph. 4:11
4. Pastor – Eph. 4:11
5. Teaching – Eph. 4:11; Rom. 12:7; 1 Cor. 12:28

2) Motivational

1. Administration – 1 Cor. 12:28 
2. Encouragement – Rom. 12:8 (Exhortation)
3. Giving – Rom. 12:8
4. Hospitality – 1 Pet. 4:10-11
5. Leadership – Rom. 12:8
6. Mercy – Rom. 12:8
7. Service (and Helping) – Rom. 12:7; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; 1 Cor 12:28
8. Speaking – 1 Pet. 4:10-11
9. Teaching – Rom. 12:7

  (*Note that “Teaching” is also listed under “Ministry Gifts and Motivation Gifts”)

 3) Manifestation Gifts

1. Discerning of Spirits – 1 Cor. 12:10
2. Faith – 1 Cor. 12:9
3. Healing – 1 Cor. 12:9; 1 Cor. 12:28
4. Interpretation of Tongues – 1 Cor. 12:10
5. Prophecy – 1 Cor 12:10
6. Tongues – 1 Cor. 12:10
7. Word of Knowledge – 1 Cor. 12:8
8. Word of Wisdom – 1 Cor. 12:8
9. Working of Miracles – 1 Cor. 12:10

             (* Note that “Prophecy” is also listed under “Ministry Gifts and Manifestation Gifts”)

Now that we have the Spiritual Gifts broken into three categories let’s look closer and add some detail to help our understanding.

First of all, let’s consider Ministry Gifts

1. Apostle – Eph. 4:11; 1 Cor. 12:28
2. Prophet – Eph. 4:11; Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 12:10, 28   
3. Evangelist – Eph. 4:11
4. Pastor – Eph. 4:11
5. Teaching – Eph. 4:11; Rom. 12:7; 1 Cor. 12:28

As you can see from the designation given to this category, these five giftings are often associated with those serving in one of the Five-Fold Ministry: Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor (Shepherds), and Teacher.

In this passage, the Apostle Paul indicates that these particular people not only possess Spiritual Gifts, but they themselves are actually gifts given by Jesus to his Church.

Also, I refer to these as “Support Gifts” because they undergird each of the other Spiritual Gifts found in the other categories. 

The purpose of these Support Gifts is to accomplish two primary goals: First, to equip the believers for the work of the ministry, and second, to bring the Church to a place of maturity.

Next, let’s look at Motivational Gifts

1. Administration – 1 Cor. 12:28 
2. Encouragement – Rom. 12:8 (Exhortation)
3. Giving – Rom. 12:8
4. Hospitality – 1 Pet. 4:10-11
5. Leadership – Rom. 12:8
6. Mercy – Rom. 12:8
7. Prophecy – Rom. 12:6
8. Service (and Helping) – Rom. 12:7; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; 1 Cor 12:28
9. Speaking – 1 Pet. 4:10-11

Each Christian is given a primary Service / Motivational Gift that is uniquely intertwined with their personality and makeup.

Notice that the Spiritual Gifts of “Prophecy” and “Teaching” found in the  Ministry Gifts category are also listed in Romans 12:6-7 among the Motivational Gifts. This means that a person may have one of these gifts and not necessarily be called to the Five-Fold Ministry. (For more on this, read my blog on What is the Five-Fold Ministry.)

Our third category is Manifestations of the Spirit

1. Discerning of Spirits – 1 Cor. 12:10
2. Faith – 1 Cor. 12:9
3. Healing – 1 Cor. 12:9; 1 Cor. 12:28
4. Interpretation of Tongues – 1 Cor. 12:10
5. Prophecy – 1 Cor. 12:10
6. Tongues – 1 Cor. 12:10
7. Word of Knowledge – 1 Cor. 12:8
8. Word of Wisdom – 1 Cor. 12:8
9. Working of Miracles – 1 Cor. 12:10

             (* Note that “Prophecy” is also listed under Manifestation and “Ministry Gifts)

We find these nine gifts (also called Sign Gifts) listed in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, where they are each described as a “manifestation of the Spirit” (v7). 

These Spiritual Gifts are given to believers to reveal the power of Christ in a given situation. 

While some Christians may be used in a particular manifestation of the Spirit quite regularly, all believers can be used by the Spirit at any moment should the Spirit lead. 

It is helpful to divide the Manifestations of the Spirit into three distinct subgroups, highlighting their unique function.

1. Power to Know – Word of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge, Discerning of Spirits

 2. Power to Speak – Prophecy, Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues

 3. Power to Act – Faith, Gifts of Healing, Working of Miracles

So, How many Spiritual Gifts Are There?

In summary, there are 21 spiritual gifts mentioned in the bible, with a few gifts mentioned in multiple lists. If you are ready to discover the gifts that God has given you, take our free spiritual gifts test.