Untitled Sermon
Spiritual Gifts
Old Testament and Postbiblical Jewish Literature
The concept of spiritual gifts has antecedents in the Old Testament and postbiblical Jewish literature. The Hebrew term for “spirit” is רוּחַ (ruach), which can also be translated “wind,” “breathe,” “life,” or “vitality.” What exactly is meant by “the Spirit of the Lord” or “Spirit of God” is uncertain. However the various contexts in which the phrase is found suggests that the Spirit’s activity was largely exclusive to God’s people, Israel, and generally in the form of either empowerment for a specific task, and/or revelation of God’s will. For example, the Spirit worked among the artisans for the garments of the priests and elements of the tabernacle in the exodus narrative (Exod 28:3; 31:3; 35:31; Turner, Spiritual Gifts, 4).