Gifts of God
A gift, as well as being something given and received, expresses something of the nature of the giver.
Luke 11: 11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
The nature of the particular gift effects a change in, and imparts a new experience in the receiver.
Now there are eight Greek words that have been translated as the word “gift” in the King James Version of the New Testament. These are:
1. Dosis: (dos’-is) [1394] A giving; the act of giving as distinct from a bestowment. Dosis is a gift that always represents the nature of the person who gave it. Dosis occurs twice in the New Testament.
James 1:17, “Every good gift (dosis) and every perfect gift (dorema = bestowment – eg. granting a pardon) is from above, and cometh DOWN from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
Here the gift represents the person. God is good; the gift is good. God is perfect; the gift is perfect. The nature of the gift will be known by its fruit as we read in:
Matthew 7:16-20(KJV)
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Philippians 4:15, “Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the Gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving (1394) and receiving, but ye only.”
The word “giving” is dosis. Here as well, all giving of any man will always be according to his nature and character. If one gives grudgingly, of necessity or sparingly, then one has just revealed their nature. The gift is an expression of the nature of the giver. The person who gives resentfully or frugally is self-regarding by nature and less considerate of others. They consider their time, talent and money far more important for their own self interests.
On the contrary side, those who give cheerfully and bountifully demonstrate the nature of their abundant hearts. God loves a cheerful giver. II Corinthians 9:7
2. Dorea: (do-reh-ah’)[1431] a gratuity; a present or gift given without being earned, without payment or recompense. Dorea always denotes a free gift, stressing its gratuitous character and in Scripture it is always used to denote a spiritual or a supernatural gift. Dorea is used eleven times in the New Testament:
John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift (1431) of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. [Jesus is the gift (Dorea) of God]
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift (1431)of the Holy Ghost. [The Holy Spirit is the gift (Dorea) of God]
Acts 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift (1431)of God may be purchased with money. [The Holy Spirit is the gift (Dorea) of God]
Acts 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift (1431)of the Holy Ghost. [The Holy Spirit is the gift (Dorea) of God]
Acts 11:17 So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?” [The Holy Spirit is the gift (Dorea) of God]
Romans 5:15-18 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift (Charisma 5486). For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift (1431) by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. [Eternal life is the gift (Dorea) of God]
16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift (Dorema 1434): for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift (Charisma 5486) is of many offences unto justification.
17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift (1431)of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) [Righteousness is the gift (Dorea) of God]
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift () came upon all men unto justification of life.
2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift(1431). [God’s grace is the gift (Dorea) of God]
Ephesians 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift (1431)of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. [God’s grace is the gift (Dorea) of God]
Ephesians 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift (1431) of Christ. [Christ’s grace is the gift (Dorea) of God]
Hebrews 6:4-6King James Version (KJV)
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift (1431), and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. [Christ himself is the gift (Dorea) of God]
All these Dorea gifts have all been given to mankind without requiring any payment. They are free and not earned by any works or action.
3. Doma: (dom’-ah) [1390] a present, to make a gift of and be presented into the hands of another. Doma is used only three times in the New Testament.
Philippians 4:17, “Not because I desire a gift (doma - present): but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.”
Money was presented in the form of a gift and placed into the hands of Paul.
Luke 11:13, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts (doma) unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”
The Holy Spirit is a Doma from the Heavenly Father and is placed into the hands of men.
Ephesians 4:8, “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”
Five Ministry Gifts (Doma)] given by Jesus Christ
Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift (Dorea 1431 – not Charisma 5486) of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts (Doma 1390 a present) unto men.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:]
4. Charisma: (khar’-is-mah) (5486) to grant an endowment, spiritual ability or qualification. Translated “free gift” and “gift/s”. Charisma occurs seventeen times in the New Testament.
Free gift: Twice - Romans 5:15,16
Gift: 8 times - Romans 1:11; 6:23; I Corinthians 1:7; 7:7; II Corinthians 1;11; I Timothy 4:14; II Timothy 1:6; 1 Peter 4:10
Gifts: 7 times - Romans 11:29; Romans 12:6; I Corinthians 12:4,9,28,30,31
Motivational Gifts of the Spirit (Chrisma) given according to grace Rom 12:(6-8)
Romans 12:6 Having then gifts (5486) differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Summary of Motivational Gifts (Charisma) [Given by GOD the FATHER]
Prophesy – Perceiving God’s will
Ministry – Serving others
Teaching – Searching out Scripture
Exhorting – Urging others along
Giving – Time, talent, energy.
Leadership – Ruling with diligence, administration.
Compassion – With cheerfulness, mercy
The gifts (Charisma) of the Spirit I Cor 12:1-11
1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual ‘gifts’, () brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
1 Corinthians 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts (5486), but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts (5486) of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally (Merismos 3311) as he will.
The gifts of the Spirit I Cor 12:1-11 can be summarized:
[Gifts given by The Holy Spirit]
Evangelical Gifts: Faith, Healing , Miracles
Communication (voice): Tongues, Interpretation, Prophesy
Ministries of prophet: Word of wisdom, Word of knowledge, Discerning of Spirits
1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift (Charisma)(5486), even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Neglect not the Ministry Gifts
Romans 11:29 For the gifts (5486) and calling of God are without repentance. (They can never be withdrawn; they are irrevocable.)
1 Timothy 4:14 Neglect not the gift (5486) that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
2 Timothy 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift (5486) of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
5. Dorema: (do’-ray-mah)(1434) a bestowment; the thing given. One who grants or bestows an honour on another. Used twice in the New Testament.
Romans 5:16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift (Dorema 1434 – grant of pardon): for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift (Charisma 5486 – Spiritual qualification) is of many offences unto justification.
The second word found in this verse is “charisma”. “...but the free charisma is of many offenses unto justification.” Here God grants man pardon and justification through Christ. Here ‘dorema’ is God’s grant of pardon to mankind.
James 1:17, “Every good gift (dosis) and every perfect gift (dorema) is from above...” The second word, gift, is “dorema”.
6. Doron: (do’-ron) a present or a sacrificial gift. Gifts given as an expression of honour, presents of mutual celebration. Doron is used nineteen times in the New Testament, being translated “gift” nine times and “gifts” ten times. It is found in: Matthew 5:23-24 (twice); Matthew 8:4; Matthew 15:5; Matthew 23:18; Matthew 23:19 (twice); Mark 7:11; Ephesians 2:8.
“Gifts”: Matthew 2:11; Matthew 7:11; Luke 21:1; Hebrews 5:1; Hebrews 8:3&4; 8:4; Hebrews 9:9; Hebrews 11:4; Revelation 11:10. In each of these verses, the meaning is the same for a gift that is sacrificial. Instead of giving something that you’re not using or is already obsolete or valueless, you give when it costs. Doron always represents a sacrificial gift that hurts or costs to give. God gave His Son to be crucified by the world. That gift was a sacrifice for God and became the sacrifice for mankind.[i]
In Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the ‘doron’ of God .” The nature of doron is: it is a sacrifice to become a sacrifice. In other words, salvation, deliverance, healing, soundness, wholeness, power, authority, anointing and completeness are the nature of the Sacrifice, which is Christ, and has become our sacrifice as a result. The Doron was that we might be. Christ was the Sacrifice that we might be saved, healed, delivered, sound, whole, complete, full of power, anointing and authority. This is available to all mankind, but a doron (sacrificial gift) is of no avail unless received and acted upon by faith. The nature of the “doron” must be received and acted upon by believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth or the sacrifice does not benefit according to its purpose.[ii]
The “doron” of Christ’s back was beaten that you might be healed. Matthew 8:17, “...Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” This was a “Doron” or “Sacrificial Gift”. A sacrificial gift means to take the place of so you don’t have to. Jesus Christ took our sins and sickness upon Himself that we might receive forgivenenss and healing through faith. 1 Peter 2;24, “Who his own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” Again the confirmation that the stripes on Jesus’ back was to remove our sicknesses and replace it with health.[iii]
Remember, a “doron” only becomes effective and productive when received through faith. It is given by Grace, received through faith, because it is the “doron” of God .
7. Merismos: (mer-is-mos’) (3311) a distribution or dividing. Is also translated “dividing asunder” in Hebrews 4:12.
1) Gifts: 1 time - Hebrews 2:4, “God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts (distributions) of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will?”
The word “gifts” is merismos and means “to distribute”. As we covered previously in I Corinthians 12:11 where it says, “...dividing to every man severally as He will.”
8. Charis: (khar’-ece) (5485) always means “grace”. It is the joyful, cheerful benefit and gift of God . Generally defined as unmerited favour. (Occurs 127 times.) It is translated as gift only once in:
II Corinthians 8:4 . Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift (grace), and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
[i] Reference: http://www.nephos.com/PatriaIIpage73.htm
[ii] Reference: http://www.nephos.com/PatriaIIpage73.htm
[iii] Reference: http://www.nephos.com/PatriaIIpage73.htm
(Strong’s Numbers)
