Romans 12 is a unique section of scripture. In it Paul gives us insight into God’s view on the human psyche. Seven gifts are listed and described for us with a separate admonition for each gift and the overall instruction for us to work together, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 12:8 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,” (Romans 12:6-8). These seven gifts give insight into human personalities and aside from the reference to the four faces in Ezekiel, it is one of the only explicit sections of Scripture addressing the topic.
It is worth noting, Paul gives us three separate ‘gifts’
sections in his letters. The first is in
Romans 12, simply described as “Gifts.” In I Corinthians 14, Paul discusses what he
refers to as “Spiritual Gifts” and in Ephesians 4 he calls “Gifts of
Ministry.” Given three lists of gifts,
it is easy to draw a parallel to Spirit, Soul and Body. In that parallel, Spiritual Gifts are gifts
for our spirit, Gifts of Ministry are for our physical lives, and the gifts of
Romans 12 are tailor-made for the seven distinct personality types.
Paul lists seven gifts: Prophecy, Ministry, Teaching,
Exhortation, Giving, Ruling (Other translations: administrator) and Mercy. Interestingly enough the Myers-Briggs Type
Indicators (MBTI) has eight differing types.
In this case, intentionally or unintentionally, MBTI reflects the Bible
in an almost one-to-one correlation.
Prophecy matches the Intuitive type, Ministry the Perceptive type,
Teaching the Thinking type, Exhortation the Extroverted type, Giving the Feeling
type, Ruling the Judging type and Mercy the Sensory type. The missing MBTI type is the Introvert. The MBTI Introvert is described as an
extrovert in differing circumstances.
The Extrovert is drawn to larger crowds, while the Introvert does what
an Extrovert does in smaller circles. The Biblical parallel is the Exhorter. The
Introvert then becomes an exhorter who exhorts in smaller circles.
How
does this relate to the four personality types?
Similar to the way the MBTI types can be mapped to the Controller (C),
Persuader (P), Stabilizer (S) and Analyst (A), the Romans 12 Gifts map to these
in a similar manner (See Figure). The A and S personalities tend to be the “Small
Crowd Exhorters” and “Teachers.” The C
and Ps are the Large Crowd Exhorters and Ministers. The A and Cs are Mercies and Rulers, while
the S and Ps are Prophets and Servants.
Gift
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Bible
Character
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Personality
Traits (Taken from IBLP)
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Prophet
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Peter
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P1
Truthfulness vs. Deception
Earning future trust by accurately reporting past facts
“Wherefore putting away
lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of
another.” (Ephesians 4:25)
P2
Obedience vs. Willfulness
Freedom to be creative under the protection of divinely-appointed
authority
“Casting down imaginations,
and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and
bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (II Corinthians 10:5)
P3
Sincerity vs. Hypocrisy
Eagerness to do what is right with transparent motives
“Seeing ye have purified
your souls unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another
with a pure heart fervently” (I Peter 1:22)
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P4
Virtue vs. Impurity
The moral
excellence and purity of spirit that radiate from my life as I obey God’s
Word
“According as His divine power hath given unto us
all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him
that hath called us to glory and virtue.” (II Peter 1:3)
P5
Boldness vs. Fearfulness
Confidence
that what I have to say or do is true and right and just in the sight of God
“And now, Lord, behold their threatening; and
grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy Word.” (Acts 4:29)
P6
Forgiveness vs. Rejection
Clearing the
record of those who have wronged me and allowing God to love them through me
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)
P7
Persuasiveness vs. Contentiousness
Guiding vital
truths around another’s mental roadblocks
“And the servants of the Lord must not strive; but
be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient.” (II Timothy 2:24)
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Ministry
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Timothy
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S1
Alertness vs. Unawareness
Being aware of that which is taking place around me so that I can
have the right responses to them
“Watch ye and pray, lest ye
enter into temptation. The spirit
truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14:38)
S2
Hospitality vs. Loneliness
Cheerfully sharing food, shelter, and spiritual refreshment with
those God brings into my life
“Be not forgetful to
entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:2)
S3
Generosity vs. Stinginess
Realizing that all I have belongs to God and using it for His
purposes
“But this I say, He which
soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully
shall reap also bountifully.” (II Corinthians 9:6)
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S4
Joyfulness vs. Self-pity
The
spontaneous enthusiasm of my spirit when my soul is in fellowship with the
Lord
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy
presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for
evermore.” (Psalm
16:11)
S5
Flexibility vs. Resistance
Not setting
my affections on ideas or plans which could be changed by God or others
“Set your affection on things above, not on things
on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2)
S6
Availability vs. Self-centeredness
Making my own
schedule and priorities secondary to the wishes of those I am serving
“For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally
care for your state. For all seek
their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.” (Philippians 2:20-21)
S7
Endurance vs. Giving up
The inward
strength to withstand stress to accomplish God’s best
“And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due
season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9)
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Teaching
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Luke
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T1
Self-Control vs. Self-indulgence
Instant obedience to the initial promptings of God’s Spirit
“And they that are Christ’s
have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk
in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:24-25)
T2
Reverence vs. Disrespect
Awareness of how God is working through the people and events in my
life to produce the character of Christ in me
“Let not thine heart envy
sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine
expectation shall not be cut off.” (Proverbs 23:17-18)
T3
Diligence vs. Slothfulness
Visualizing each task as a special assignment from the Lord and using
all my energies to accomplish it
“And whatsoever ye do, do
it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” (Colossians 3:23)
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T4
Thoroughness vs. Incompleteness
Knowing what
factors will diminish the effectiveness of my work or words if neglected
“The hearts of the prudent getteth knowledge; and
the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.” (Proverbs 18:15)
T5
Dependability vs. Inconsistency
Fulfilling
what I consented to do even if it means unexpected sacrifice
“In whose eyes a vile person is condemned; but he
honoureth them that fear the lord. He
that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.” (Psalm 15:4)
T6
Security vs. Anxiety
Structuring
my life around what is eternal and cannot be destroyed or taken away
“Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for
that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall
give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed.” (John 6:27)
T7
Patience vs. Restlessness
Accepting a
difficult situation from God without giving Him a deadline to remove it
“And not only so, but we glory in tribulation
also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience;
and experience, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4)
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Exhortation
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Paul
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E1
Wisdom vs. Natural inclination
Seeing and responding to life situations from God’s frame of
reference
“The fear of the Lord is
the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy one is understanding.”
(Proverbs
9:10)
E2
Discernment vs. Judgment
The God-given ability to understand why things happen
“But the Lord said unto Samuel,
look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have
refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the
outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7)
E3
Faith vs. Presumption
Visualizing what God intends to do in a given situation and acting in
harmony with it
“Now faith is the substance
of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
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E4
Discretion vs. Simple-mindedness
The ability
to avoid words, actions, and attitudes which could result in undesirable
consequences
“A prudent man forseeth the evil, and hideth
himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.” (Proverbs 22:3)
E5
Love vs. Selfishness
Giving to
others’ basic needs without having as my motive personal reward
“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the
poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it
profiteth me nothing.” (I Corinthians 13:3)
E6
Creativity vs. Under-achievement
Approaching a
need, a task, an idea from a new perspective
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind. . . .” (Romans 12:2)
E7
Enthusiasm vs. Apathy
Expressing
with my spirit the joy of my soul
“Rejoice evermore. . . . Quench not the Spirit.” (I Thessalonians 5:16, 19)
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Giving
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Barnabas
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G1
Resourcefulness vs. Wastefulness
Wise use of that which others would normally overlook or discard
“He that is faithful in
that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the
least is unjust also in much.” (Luke 16:10)
G2
Thriftiness vs. Extravagance
Not letting myself or others spend that which is not necessary
“If therefore ye have not
been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the
true riches?” (Luke 16:11)
G3
Contentment vs. Covetousness
Realizing God has provided everything that I need for my present
happiness
“And having food and
raiment let us be therewith content.” (I Timothy 6:8)
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G4
Punctuality vs. Tardiness
Showing high
esteem for other people and their time
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to
every purpose under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
G5
Tolerance vs. Prejudice
Acceptance of
others as unique expressions of specific character qualities in varying
degrees of maturity
“Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having
the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” (Philippians 2:2)
G6
Cautiousness vs. Rashness
Knowing how
important right timing is in
accomplishing right actions
“Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is
not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.” (Proverbs 19:2)
G7
Gratefulness vs. Unthankfulness
Making known
to God and others in what ways they have benefited my life
“For who maketh thee to differ from another? and
what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why
dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” (I Corinthians 4:7)
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Ruler
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Nehemiah
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R1
Orderliness vs. Disorganization
Preparing myself and my surroundings so that I will achieve the
greatest efficiency
“Let all things be done
decently and in order.” (I Corinthians 14:40)
R2
Initiative vs. Unresponsiveness
Recognizing and doing what needs to be done before I am asked to do
it
“Be not overcome of evil,
but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21)
R3
Responsibility vs. Unreliability
Knowing and doing what both God and others are expecting from me
“So then every one of us
shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12)
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R4
Humility vs. Pride
Recognizing
that God and others are actually responsible for the achievements in my life
“But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the
proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (James 4:6)
R5
Decisiveness vs. Double-mindedness
The ability
to finalize difficult decisions based on the will and ways of God
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God,
that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given
him.” (James
1:5)
R6
Determination vs. Faint-heartedness
Purposing to
accomplish God’s goals in God’s time regardless of the opposition
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my
course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of
righteousness. . . .” (II Timothy 4:7-8)
R7
Loyalty vs. Unfaithfulness
Using
difficult times to demonstrate my commitment to God and to those whom He has
called me to serve
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man
lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
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Mercy
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John
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M1
Attentiveness vs. Unconcern
Showing the worth of a person by giving undivided attention to his
words and emotions
“Therefore we ought to give
the more earnest head to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we
should let them slip.” (Hebrews 2:1)
M2
Sensitivity vs. Callousness
Exercising my senses so that I can perceive the true spirit and
emotions of those around me
“Rejoice with them that do
rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” (Romans 12:15)
M3
Justice vs. Fairness
Personal responsibility to God’s unchanging laws
“He that sheweth thee, O
man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly,
and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8)
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M4
Compassion vs. Indifference
Investing
whatever is necessary to heal the hurts of others
“But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his
brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how
dwelleth the love of God in him?” (I John 3:17)
M5
Gentleness vs. Harshness
Showing
personal care and concern in meeting the needs of others
“But we were gentle among you even as a nurse
cherisheth her children.” (I Thessalonians 2;7)
M6
Deference vs. Rudeness
Limiting my
freedom in order not to offend the tastes of those God has called me to serve
“It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink
wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made
weak.” (Romans
14:21)
M7
Meekness vs. Anger
Yielding my
personal rights and expectations to God
“My soul, wait thou upon God; for my expectation
is from Him” (Psalm
62:5)
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