<Li> Whoever renders service </Li> <P> Christians believe that the charismata were foretold by the Prophet Joel (2: 28) and promised by Christ (Gospel of Mark 16: 17--18). This promise was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost and elsewhere as the church spread . In order to correct abuses concerning the spiritual gifts at Corinth, Paul devoted much attention to spiritual gifts in his First Epistle to the Corinthians (chapters 12--14). </P> <P> In 1 Corinthians 12, two Greek terms are translated as "spiritual gifts". In verse 1, the word pneumatika ("spirituals" or "things of the Spirit") is used . In verse 4, charisma is used . This word is derived from the word charis, which means "grace". In verses 5 and 6, the words diakonia (translated "administrations", "ministries", or "service") and energemata ("operations" or "inworkings") are used in describing the nature of the spiritual gifts . In verse 7, the term "manifestation (phanerosis) of the Spirit" is used . </P> <P> From these scriptural passages, Christians understand the spiritual gifts to be enablements or capacities that are divinely bestowed upon individuals . Because they are freely given by God, these cannot be earned or merited . Though worked through individuals, these are operations or manifestations of the Holy Spirit--not of the gifted person . They are to be used for the benefit of others, and in a sense they are granted to the church as a whole more than they are given to individuals . There is diversity in their distribution--an individual will not possess all of the gifts . The purpose of the spiritual gifts is to edify (build up), exhort (encourage), and comfort the church . </P>

A list of gifts of the holy spirit