Read Introduction to 1 Peter
“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
As each one has received a gift,
“As” means to the degree that we received our gift. “As” sets up an analogy between the grace of how we received our gift and the grace of how we are to minister the gift. It is by grace we received the gift and it is by grace that we use the gift. We serve God because God gives, not because we earn the right to be used of God. God gave us our gift entirely by grace and we minister it entirely by grace.
“Each one” indicates that every Christian has at least one spiritual gift. God excludes no one in the distribution of gifts to the body of Christ. We receive these special supernatural endowments at our salvation (1 Co 12:11-13). Spiritual gifts enable the body of Christ to function as a whole (1 Co 12:15,21). All spiritual gifts must operate in the environment of love (1 Co 13). We should give greatest priority to the gifts that relate to maturity (1 Co 14).
Each of us “received” the gift. We did not work for it. We did not earn it. God gave it to us with no strings attached. Everything that we have, God donated to us. Therefore, there is no ground for bragging. What do we have to brag about?
What did we do to get the gift? Nothing. It was a donation. How did we “receive” our gift? By grace. We do not get this gift by some super sacrifice, by working for it, by hustling for it, by living a clean life or by agonizing in the closet. Since we did nothing to acquire our spiritual gift we should minister it in grace.
1 Co 4:7 “For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”
This use of the word “gift” is the only occurrence outside the writings of Paul. A spiritual “gift” is a special, supernatural bestowing of a special capacity to serve the body of Christ or reach those without Christ. It is a special, supernatural endowment by the Holy Spirit to do the work of God (Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 1:7; 12:4, 9, 28, 30, 31; 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6; 1 Pet. 4:10).
The word “gift” derives from the same root as “grace” denoting something freely given, a favor bestowed. A gift is the capacity to benefit the body of Christ. The Christian cannot claim that this capacity came from himself. He cannot claim to produce this gift because it was a grace given by God. Our gifts belong to the purpose of God.
Two chapters in the New Testament catalogue the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Romans 12 catalogues 7 gifts and I Corinthians 12 catalogues 11 gifts. Some gifts are duplications. Eliminating duplications there are 14 distinct gifts in those two chapters. All total, there are over 20 gifts when we take into consideration the aggregate of all the gifts of the New Testament.
PRINCIPLE:
We exercise our gift in grace because we received our gift by grace.
APPLICATION:
God does not want us to be ambivalent about the gifts he gives us. In fact, he warns us not to neglect our gifts:
1 Ti 4:14 “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.”
Some of us may not feel gifted but nevertheless God has gifted us. We may not have a public gift or a sensational gift but we have a gift. Paul tells us to activate our latent gifts. Our gift will not function without animating them. In order to discover what our gift is, we must read the label on the gift to see if God addresses the gift to us.
2 Ti 1:6 “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”
If someone were to give us a gift at Christmas and we threw it in the attic without opening it, it would be an insult to the giver. If Christians receive special supernatural endowments to do the work of God and leave them latent, this is an insult to God who gave the gift. God gave every Christian a special endowment to do his work without exception.
Will you stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ empty handed with no representation of using our gift responsibly? It will do no good to say, “Well, I wasn’t talented. I really do not have anything to offer the church. I am a speckled bird that does not fit in. I couldn’t do anything. All I could do was sit. All I could do was be a religious spectator all my life. I watch others serve. All I can do is pity myself all these years.”
Neglect of our gift is an indication of our lack of appreciation for the grace of God. Very few Christians seize their gifts and use them for God’s glory to the benefit of the body of Christ. Never did so many owe so much to so few.
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Parallel Verses
New American Standard Bible
As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
King James Version
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Holman Bible
Based on the gift they have received, everyone should use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God.
A Conservative Version
As each has received a gift, serving it for yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
American Standard Version
according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God;
Amplified
As each of you has received a gift (a particular spiritual talent, a gracious divine endowment), employ it for one another as good trustees of God’s many-sided grace .
An Understandable Version
As each of you has received a gift , you should make use of it , so that you will be caretakers of the many unearned ways that God favors you.
Anderson New Testament
As each has received a gift, minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Bible in Basic English
Making distribution among one another of whatever has been given to you, like true servants of the unmeasured grace of God;
Common New Testament
As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.
Daniel Mace New Testament
as good economists of the different dispensations of God, communicate to one another the gifts you have receiv’d.
Darby Translation
each according as he has received a gift, ministering it to one another, as good stewards of the various grace of God.
Emphatic Diaglott Bible
Let every one, according as he has received a gift, minister it to the others, as good stewards of the manifold favor of God.
Godbey New Testament
as each one received the gift of grace, ministering the same to one another, as the good stewards of the manifold grace of God:
Goodspeed New Testament
Whatever the endowment God has given you, use it in service to one another, like good dispensers of God’s varied mercy.
John Wesley New Testament
As every one hath received a gift, so minister it one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Jubilee 2000 Bible
Let each one according to the gift that he has received, administer it unto the others, as a good steward of the diverse graces of God.
Julia Smith Translation
As each received favor, serving the same among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
King James 2000
As every man has received a gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Lexham Expanded Bible
Just as each one has received a gift, it for serving one another, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.
Modern King James verseion
each one as he received a gift, ministering it to yourselves as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Moffatt New Testament
You must serve one another, each with the talent he has received, as efficient stewards of God’s varied grace.
Montgomery New Testament
Whatever the gifts which each has received, use them for one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
NET Bible
Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God.
New Heart English Bible
As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.
Noyes New Testament
According as each one hath received a gift, minister the same to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Sawyer New Testament
as each has received a gift, minister the same among yourselves as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
The Emphasized Bible
Each one, according as he hath received a gift of favour, unto one another, ministering the same, as careful stewards of the manifold favour of God:
Thomas Haweis New Testament
Let every one, according as he hath received a gift, minister it to others, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Webster
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Weymouth New Testament
Whatever be the gifts which each has received, you must use them for one another’s benefit, as good stewards of God’s many-sided kindness.
Williams New Testament
As all of you have received your spiritual talents, you must keep on using them in serving one another, as good trustees of God’s many-sided favor.
World English Bible
As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.
Worrell New Testament
according as each one received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God;
Worsley New Testament
as every one hath received a gift, imparting it to each other, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Youngs Literal Translation
each, according as he received a gift, to one another ministering it, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God;
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