The Bible study below is for
the purpose of illustrating the value of “Strategies in the Scripture” #3,
“Understand the meaning of the words in the passage” which is the third
principle of Bible interpretation in Floyd Barackman's book, Practical Bible
Interpretation.
This particular Bible study
was chosen because of the very valuable light shed by a word study on the
original language words relevant to the topic of spiritual gifts.
Provided in the study are
the Scripture verses most important to the study of spiritual gifts from the
King James Version and include the number assigned each word from the Strong’s
Concordance of the Bible’s numbering system.
The key words in the study of spiritual gifts and their corresponding
Strong’s number have been bolded and turned into a hyperlink which when
clicked on will go to a screen containing the definition of that word as found
in the dictionary located in the rear portion of the Strong’s Concordance of
the Bible. The large blue or
purple dot at the end of the first line of definition is a hyperlink that will
jump back to the beginning of the Scripture list.
The following link will jump to an explanatory key to using the
definition information. Located at the end of this document.
Definition
Key
Note in the various passages
that different Greek words are translated “gift” or “gifts” and that
in four key verses there is actually no Greek word in four places that the
English translation supplies the English word “gifts” to the
translation. This is noted in the
KJV, NASB translations of the Bible by the use of italics on the English that
does not have an actual Greek word in the text.
In the verses of the Bible study below these words are enclosed by
square brackets. The NIV does not
employ this notation but treats all words in the English translation the same.
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3. Understand the meaning of the words in the passage
For example: Spiritual ‘Gifts’ 1
Corinthians 14:1 ‘spirituals’
(no “gifts”)
1 Cor 12.1 and 14:1
“spiritual [gifts] .
. .”
literally ‘spirituals’ (i.e. w/o the word “gift”)
1 Corinthians 1:7
7
So that <5620> ye <5209> come behind <5302> (5745) in
<1722> no <3361> <3367> gift
<5486>; waiting for <553> (5740) the coming <602> of
our <2257> Lord <2962> Jesus <2424> Christ <5547>:
1
Corinthians 7:7
7
For <1063> I would <2309> (5719) that all <3956> men
<444> were <1511> (5750) even <2532> as <5613> I
myself <1683>. But <235> every man <1538> hath <2192>
(5719) his proper <2398> gift <5486>
of <1537> God <2316>, one <3739> <3303> after this
manner <3779>, and <1161> another <3739> after that
<3779>.
1
Corinthians 12:1
1.
Now <1161> concerning <4012> spiritual
<4152> [gifts], brethren <80>, I would <2309> (0)
not <3756> have <2309> (5719) you <5209> ignorant <50>
(5721).
1
Corinthians 12:4
4
Now <1161> there are <1526> (5748) diversities
<1243> of gifts <5486>, but
<1161> the same <846> Spirit
<4151>.
1
Corinthians 12:9
9
<1161> To another <2087> faith <4102> by <1722>
the same <846> Spirit <4151>;
<1161> to another <243> the gifts
<5486> of healing <2386> by <1722> the
same <846> Spirit <4151>;
1
Corinthians 12:28
28
And <2532> God <2316> hath set <5087> (5639) some
<3303> in <1722> the church <1577>, first <4412>
apostles <652>, secondarily <1208> prophets <4396>, thirdly
<5154> teachers <1320>, after that <1899> miracles
<1411>, then <1534> gifts
<5486> of healings <2386>, helps <484>,
governments <2941>, diversities <1085> of tongues <1100>.
1
Corinthians 12:30
30
Have <3361> <2192> (5719) all <3956> the gifts
<5486> of healing <2386>? do all <3956> speak
<3361> <2980> (5719) with tongues <1100>? do <3361>
all <3956> interpret <1329> (5719)? 31
But <1161> covet earnestly <2206> (5720) the best
<2909> gifts <5486>: and
<2532> yet <2089> shew I <1166> (5719) unto you <5213>
a more <2596> excellent <5236> way <3598>.
1
Corinthians 13:2
2
And <2532> though <1437> I have <2192> (5725) [the
gift of] prophecy <4394>, and <2532> understand
<1492> (5762) all <3956> mysteries <3466>, and <2532>
all <3956> knowledge <1108>; and <2532> though <1437>
I have <2192> (5725) all <3956> faith <4102>, so
<5620> that I could remove <3179> (5721) mountains <3735>,
and <1161> have <2192> (5725) not <3361> charity <26>,
I am <1510> (5748) nothing <3762>.
1
Corinthians 14:1
1.
Follow <1377> (5720) after charity <26>, and <1161> desire
<2206> (5720) spiritual <4152>
[gifts], but <1161> rather <3123> that <2443> ye may
prophesy <4395> (5725).
1
Corinthians 14:12
12
Even <2532> so <3779> ye <5210>, forasmuch as
<1893> ye are <2075> (5748) zealous <2207> of spiritual
<4151> [gifts], seek <2212> (5720) that <2443> ye
may excel <4052> (5725) to <4314> the edifying <3619> of the
church <1577>.
Romans
1:11
11
For <1063> I long <1971> (5719) to see <1492> (5629)
you <5209>, that <2443> I may impart <3330> (5632) unto you
<5213> some <5100> spiritual
<4152> gift <5486>,
to the end <1519> ye
<5209> may be established <4741> (5683); * I long to see you so
that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong--
Romans
12:6
6
Having <2192> (5723) then <1161> gifts
<5486> differing <1313> according <2596> to the grace
<5485> that is given <1325> (5685) to us <2254>,
whether <1535> prophecy <4394>, [let us prophesy] according
<2596> to the proportion <356> of faith <4102>;
Ephesians
4:7
7
But <1161> unto every <1538> one <1520> of us
<2257> is given <1325> (5681) grace
<5485> according to <2596> the measure <3358> of the
gift <1431> of Christ <5547>. 8
Wherefore <1352> he saith <3004> (5719), When he ascended
<305> (5631) up <1519> on high <5311>, he led captivity
<162> (5656) captive <161>, and <2532> gave <1325>
(5656) gifts <1390> unto men
<444>. 9 (Now <1161>
that he ascended <305> (5627), what <5101> is it <2076>
(5748) but <1508> that <3754> he <2597> (0) also
<2532> descended <2597> (5627) first <4412> into
<1519> the lower <2737> parts <3313> of the earth
<1093>? 10 He that
descended <2597> (5631) is <2076> (5748) the same also
<2532> that ascended up <305> (5631) far above <5231> all
<3956> heavens <3772>, that <2443> he might fill
<4137> (5661) all things <3956>.) 11
And <2532> he gave <1325> (5656) some <3303>,
apostles <652>; and <1161> some, prophets <4396>; and
<1161> some, evangelists <2099>; and <1161> some, pastors
<4166> and <2532> teachers <1320>; 12
For <4314> the perfecting <2677> of the saints <40>,
for <1519> the work <2041> of the ministry <1248>, for
<1519> the edifying <3619> of the body <4983> of Christ
<5547>:
1
Peter 4:10
10
As <2531> every man <1538> hath received <2983>
(5627) the gift <5486>, [even
so] minister <1247> (5723) the same <846> one to another
<1519> <1438>, as <5613> good <2570> stewards
<3623> of the manifold <4164> grace
<5485> of God <2316>.
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4152 pneumatikos {pnyoo-mat-ik-os'}
n
from
4151; TDNT - 6:332,876; adj
AV
- spiritual 26; 26
1)
relating to the human spirit, or rational soul, as part of the man which is
akin to God and serves as his instrument or organ
1a) that which possesses the nature of the rational soul
2)
belonging to a spirit, or a being higher than man but inferior to God
3)
belonging to the Divine Spirit
3a) of God the Holy Spirit
3b) one who is filled with and governed by the Spirit of God
4)
pertaining to the wind or breath; windy, exposed to the wind, blowing
4151 pneuma {pnyoo'-mah} n
from
4154; TDNT - 6:332,876; n n
AV
- Spirit 111, Holy Ghost 89, Spirit (of God) 13,
Spirit (of the Lord) 5, (My) Spirit 3, Spirit (of truth) 3, Spirit (of
Christ) 2, human (spirit) 49, (evil) spirit 47, spirit (general) 26, spirit 8,
(Jesus' own) spirit 6, (Jesus'
own) ghost 2, misc 21; 385
1) a movement of air (a gentle blast
1a) of the wind, hence the wind itself
1b) breath of nostrils or mouth
2)
the spirit, i.e. the vital principal by which the body is animated
2a) the rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels,
thinks, decides
2b) the soul
3)
a spirit, i.e. a simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter,
and possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding, and acting
3a) a life giving spirit
3b) a human soul that has left the body
3c) a spirit higher than man but lower than God, i.e. an angel
3c1) used of demons, or evil spirits, who were conceived as inhabiting
the bodies of men
3c2) the spiritual nature of Christ, higher than the highest angels and
equal to God, the divine nature of Christ
4)
of God
4a) God's power and agency distinguishable in thought from his essence
in itself considered
4a1) manifest in the course of affairs
4a2) by its influence upon the souls productive in the cratic body (the
church) of all the higher spiritual gifts and blessings
4a3) the third person of the trinity, the God the Holy Spirit
5)
the disposition or influence which fills and governs the soul of any one
5a) the efficient source of any power, affection, emotion, desire, etc.
5486 charisma {khar'-is-mah} n
from
5483; TDNT - 9:402,1298; n n
AV
- gift 15, free gift 2; 17
1)
a favour with which one receives without any merit of his own
2)
the gift of divine grace
3)
the gift of faith, knowledge, holiness, virtue
4)
the economy of divine grace, by which the pardon of sin and eternal salvation
is appointed to sinners in consideration of the merits of Christ laid hold of
by faith
5)
grace or gifts denoting 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 on their
souls by the Holy Spirit
5485 charis {khar'-ece} n
from
5463; TDNT - 9:372,1298; n f
AV
- grace 130, favour 6, thanks 4, thank 4, thank + 2192 3, pleasure 2, misc 7;
156
1)
grace
1a) that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm,
loveliness: grace of speech
2)
good will, loving-kindness, favour
2a) of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence
upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps,
strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and
kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
3)
what is due to grace
3a) the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine
grace
3b) the token or proof of grace, benefit
3b1) a gift of grace
3b2) benefit, bounty
4)
thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward
1390 doma {dom'-ah}
n
from
the base of 1325;; n n
AV
- gift 4; 4
1)
a gift
For
Synonyms see entry 5839
4394 propheteia {prof-ay-ti'-ah}
n
from 4396 ("prophecy"); TDNT - 6:781,952; n f
AV
- prophecy 16, prophesying 3; 19
1)
prophecy
1a) a discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the
purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or
comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden; esp. by foretelling
future events
1b) Used in the NT of the utterance of OT prophets
1b1) of the prediction of events relating to Christ's kingdom and its
speedy triumph, together with the consolations and admonitions pertaining to
it, the spirit of prophecy, the divine mind, to which the prophetic faculty is
due
1b2) of the endowment and speech of the Christian teachers called
prophets
1b3) the gifts and utterances of these prophets, esp. of the
predictions of the works of which, set apart to teach the gospel, will
accomplish for the kingdom of Christ
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Key to understanding
the Strong’s definition window:
4151
pneuma {pnyoo'-mah} n
The
four digit number is the number assigned to the original language word that
the referenced English word is translated from.
Numbers started over with the Greek numbering system
i.e. there are duplicate Strong’s numbers in the Greek and Hebrew
therefore you have to keep in mind whether you’re in the Old Testament
(Hebrew) or
New Testament (Greek). “Pneuma”
in the above example is the transliterated
spelling of the Greek word most often translated “spirit” in the
New Testament. It is followed by
a phonetic spelling of the same word. The
blue or purple dot is just a hyperlink that I added to jump back to the
beginning of the list of Scripture references.
from
4154; TDNT - 6:332,876; n n
This
line gives the volume and page number (6:332) of the article on the referenced
word in Kittle’s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (TDNT)
for Greek words and the page number (876) for the article in the one volume
condensed edition of TDNT. For
Hebrew words in the Old Testament this information position references the
volume and page number for the article in the two volume Theological
Wordbook of the Old Testament (TWOT)
These two original language reference tools are probably the best in
the English reader original language reference tools.
The last entries on the line (n n) represent the part of speech of the word
and the gender of the
referenced word.
AV
- Spirit 111, Holy Ghost 89, Spirit (of God) 13,
Spirit (of the Lord) 5, (My) Spirit 3, Spirit (of truth) 3,
Spirit (of Christ) 2, human (spirit) 49, (evil) spirit 47,
spirit (general) 26, spirit 8, (Jesus' own) spirit 6,
(Jesus' own) ghost 2, misc 21; 385
This
section provides an analysis of the various ways the original language word is
translated (often into different words, although not always) in the English
Bible. Each word is followed by a
number representing the number of times the word is translated into that
English word in the Bible, and the final number (385 in the above example)
represents the total number of times that the referenced original language
word occurs in the Bible.
The
section below gives the definitions of the referenced word with it’s various
nuances or shades of meaning.
1)
a movement of air (a gentle blast
1a) of the wind, hence the wind itself
1b) breath of nostrils or mouth
2)
the spirit, i.e. the vital principal by which the body is animated . . .