A biblical clarification of spiritual gifts (Part Three)

Let’s continue discussing the characteristics about the distribution of gifts. Third, some gifts are limited as to time. It stands to reason that since every believer doesn’t have all the gifts, neither does every generation of the church have all the gifts! Indeed, this principle is found in the Bible. The foundation gifts of apostles and prophets (see Ephesians 2:19-20) belonged not to this generation of the church but to the founding era of the church, and don’t appear in the periods of building the superstructure (that which is built upon the foundation) of the church. Yet all who live after the foundation was laid continue benefitting from those two gifts. For example, the gift of apostleship given to Paul continues giving and serving the church through the letters he wrote. Paul's letters continue serving and  building the church by gifted teachers providing sound and healthy doctrinal instruction, practical guidance, shaping the church's identity, fostering growth, equipping believers to live out their faith, and continuing to guide believers today. Be encouraged!

Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D., Bible teacher & expositor