There is no "gift of discernment" in Bible.

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by Felicity

I think this scripture........

1 Corinthians 12:10: to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. (NKJV)

....... is where we get the "gift of discernment" idea.

Yes ma'am I think so. But I think Big-Lar is saying that discerning of spirits is not the same as a the gift of discernment.

[Rev]

Originally Posted by Felicity

I think this scripture........

1 Corinthians 12:10: to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. (NKJV)

....... is where we get the "gift of discernment" idea.

That's possible, but notice that it is the gift of discerning of spirits not the gift of discernment.

{1253} “a distinguishing, discerning, judging”: 1 Corinthians 12:10;

[mfblume]

Some people confuse WORD OF KNOWLEDGE with GIFT OF DISCERNMENT. "Calling people out" sort of ministry is actually word of Knowledge. Jesus named Nathaniel and told him He saw him under the fig tree, when naturally speaking that knowledge could never have been known by Jesus. Others speak of DISCERNMENT of SPIRITS as the gift of Discernment. And technically, that is correct. To have discernment of spirits is to have a gift of discernment. And then others confuse word of Knowledge with discernment. Some feel discernment of spirits refers to discerning human spirits so as to know things about them that only they and God know. Personally, I would say that is more correctly called word of knowledge. Discernment of spirits seems to be more about recognizing demonic spirits, and spirits of people in the sense of their sincerity, etc.

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by Rev

That's possible, but notice that it is the gift of discerning of spirits not the gift of discernment.

{1253} “a distinguishing, discerning, judging”: 1 Corinthians 12:10;

Exactly, but isn't this what we usually mean when we talk about the gift of discernment? Such as picking up on bad attitudes or some other kind of negative, sinful or evil nature or problem in a person or possibly in a collective body of people such as a church, etc.? Or on the other hand could be discerning whether a person has a spirit and attitude of purity, humility, sincerity, etc.

My understanding of it has always been generally speaking referring to a person's spirit or attitude which according to Strong's is "PNEUMA" and in this context would be defined as:

• the rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides
  
  
• a spirit, i.e. a simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter, and possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding, and acting
  
  
• the efficient source of any power, affection, emotion, desire, etc.

I think that often it is referred to as the 'gift of discernment' rather than the full biblical term .... "gift of discernment of spirits", but that it's often used in regard to the spirits of people or groups of people as to motive, sincerity, evil or good intention.

At least that's always been my understanding, it's how I've used the term generally speaking and what I've usually understood people to mean when they talk about the "gift of discernment".

[Rev]

Originally Posted by Felicity

Exactly, but isn't this what we usually mean when we talk about the gift of discernment? Such as picking up on bad attitudes or some other kind of negative, sinful or evil nature or problem in a person or possibly in a collective body of people such as a church, etc.? Or on the other hand could be discerning whether a person has a spirit and attitude of purity, humility, sincerity, etc.

My understanding of it has always been generally speaking referring to a person's spirit or attitude which according to Strong's is "PNEUMA" and in this context would be defined as:

• the rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides
  
  
• a spirit, i.e. a simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter, and possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding, and acting
  
  
• the efficient source of any power, affection, emotion, desire, etc.

I think that often it is referred to as the 'gift of discernment' rather than the full biblical term .... "gift of discernment of spirits", but that it's often used in regard to the spirits of people or groups of people as to motive, sincerity, evil or good intention.

At least that's always been my understanding, it's how I've used the term generally speaking and what I've usually understood people to mean when they talk about the "gift of discernment".

What you are saying I think, is that people say one thing but actually are referring to the scriptural term?

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by Rev

What you are saying I think, is that people say one thing but actually are referring to the scriptural term?

Well, yes. Most of the people I've heard using the term "gift of discernment" are referring to discerning of spirits basically.

Some may be a little off in their understanding of that scripture but I think most people use it correctly and understand what it refers to.

[Rev]

Originally Posted by Felicity

Well, yes. Most of the people I've heard using the term "gift of discernment" are referring to discerning of spirits basically.

Some may be a little off in their understanding of that scripture but I think most people use it correctly and understand what it refers to.

I tried to find something more specific about that term "spirit". But some of the word studies I have you have to go through 20-30 pages of information to find the answer and I didn't find what I was looking for. The question is, is the word spirit referring to a demon only, or does it also include the human spirit that is not demon possessed? Strong's is a lot better than nothing but it is pretty elementary so don't lean to heavy on it.

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by Rev

I tried to find something more specific about that term "spirit". But some of the word studies I have you have to go through 20-30 pages of information to find the answer and I didn't find what I was looking for. The question is, is the word spirit referring to a demon only, or does it also include the human spirit that is not demon possessed? Strong's is a lot better than nothing but it is pretty elementary so don't lean to heavy on it.

Here's a link to my source. It's pretty good info actually.

http://cf.blueletterbible.org/lang/l...51&Version=kjv

[Rev]

Originally Posted by Felicity

Here's a link to my source. It's pretty good info actually.

http://cf.blueletterbible.org/lang/l...51&Version=kjv

I have all of those resources including the TDNT which is the one I was talking about where the definition for spirit is 20-25 pages long and which is listed on your site but you can't bring it up there. I also read Greek so I'll look through some of my other sources.

[Bro-Larry]

Many of you have described what the term "discerning of spirits" seems to indicate in today's English. However the key is "seeing" into the spirit world.

II Kings 6:17 is an example of "discerning of spirits, where Elisha prayed that the eyes of his servant be opened, then he saw the mountain full of chariots and horses of fire around Elisha.