Women in Ministry-Spiritual Gifts

The following are Spiritual Gifts listed in the Bible. Ask yourself based upon Scripture, not the opinion of man, which spiritual gift are women banned from receiving from God.

Before we list the variety of spiritual gifts found in Scripture, take note of the command to employ and be good stewards of whatever spiritual gift(s) God has given you.

Employ and Be a Good Steward

1 Peter 4:10
As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God.

Kindle Afresh the Gift of God Which is In You Through the Laying on of Hands
Paul was speaking to Timothy specifically, but there still is the practice today of laying on of hands to commission individuals to walk in their gifts and calling.

2 Timothy 1:5-7 NASB
⁵ For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelled in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. ⁶ For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

Gifts of the Spirit
It is clear in these passages that it is God who distributes the gifts as He wills and they are available for ALL Believers.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 AMP
⁴ Now there are [distinctive] varieties of spiritual gifts [special abilities given by the grace and extraordinary power of the Holy Spirit operating in believers], but it is the same Spirit [who grants them and empowers believers]. ⁵ And there are [distinctive] varieties of ministries and service, but it is the same Lord [who is served]. ⁶ And there are [distinctive] ways of working [to accomplish things], but it is the same God who produces all things in all believers [inspiring, energizing, and empowering them].
NOTE: ‘Operating in believers’ and ‘all believers’ would include both men and women, and even young people. There is nothing in this passage with any stipulation of sex or age. The operating of the gifts are done through the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:8-10 NASB
⁸ For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, ¹⁰ and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
NOTE: It is God who distributes the gifts, not man, thus if anyone is operating in any of the gifts, rather male, female, young, or old, it is because God has anointed them to operate in the gift.

1 Corinthians 12 and 14 addresses how the gifts should be used.

Variety of Spiritual Gifts
Notice the variety of gifts listed, including the gifts of the Spirit which God distributes as He wills and we are to earnestly desire the gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:28-31 NASB
²⁷ Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it. ²⁸ And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, and various kinds of tongues. ²⁹ All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? ³⁰ All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? ³¹ But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And yet, I am going to show you a far better way.

Many Members in One Body, All Members Do Not Have the Same Office
These gifts, abilities are the result of God’s grace being dispersed as He chooses.

Romans 12:4-8 ASV
⁴ For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office: ⁵ so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another. ⁶ And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; ⁷ or ministry, let us give ourselves to our ministry; or he that teacheth, to his teaching; ⁸ or he that exhorteth, to his exhorting: he that giveth, let him do it with liberality; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Fivefold Gifts or Offices
Some call the following the Fivefold Spiritual Offices. Take note that the passage clearly states that these gifts are to occur until there is unity of faith and we all fulfill the fullness of Christ. That will not fully come until the Return of Christ. So none of these gifts have been ‘done away with’. Some would argue that only men can hold some or any of these ‘offices’.

Regarding apostles, this is not referencing the original apostles. The term “apostle” comes from the Greek word ἀπόστολος (apóstolos), meaning “one who is sent off”. It is derived from the verb ἀποστέλλω (apostellō), which means “to send away” or “to send forth”. In a biblical context, an apostle is often seen as a delegate or ambassador of the Gospel, officially commissioned by Christ. The term emphasizes the role of an apostle as a messenger sent on a mission. Some will argue that there is no longer apostles, no biblical basis for this. Others say apostles are missionaries or church planters. Women can be missionaries.

This we know for sure, women can be prophets because there are prophetesses and women prophesying in the New Testament. Women can do some form of teaching because there are women teaching in the New Testament. Women can do evangelism because women are doing it in the New Testament and all of us are called to share the Gospel. Pastors are shepherds. Women can certainly do some form of shepherding. (We will look at the ‘restrictions’ in another article.)

Ephesians 4:11-14
¹¹ And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ¹² for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ: ¹³ till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: ¹⁴ that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;

SUMMARY
There are over 22 spiritual gifts listed in the Bible. Only four of these gifts is there a question if women can operate in: apostles, pastors, teachers, elders. If apostles are sent out ones, in the form of a missionary, women can be missionaries. Many believe women can at least be pastors, shepherds, of children/youth and women. Many believe women can teach children/youth and women. So the big questions is: can women pastor/teach men and become elders, and if not, why? We will be tackling this question in a future article.

Women in Ministry Series
Introduction-Women in Ministry-Why the Topic?
Part One-Women in Ministry, Complementarianism, Egalitarianism, And?
Part Two-Women in Ministry, Isorropiaism-HUH??? Balance
Part Three-Women in Ministry, Bible Passages
Part Four-Women in Ministry, Extremism
Part Five-Women in Ministry, No Speak
Part Six-Women in Ministry, Prophecy
Part Seven-Women in Ministry-Spiritual Gifts
Part Eight-Women in Ministry-Examples
Part Nine-Women in Ministry-Headship