Word of Knowledge
Encyclopedia
In Christianity
, the word of knowledge is a spiritual gift
listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8. Among Pentecostal and charismatic
Christians, it is regarded as a supernatural
revelation of knowledge
through the power of the Holy Spirit
. It is closely related to the gift of the word of wisdom
.
, when Jesus encountered the Samaritan
woman at the well. Jesus told the woman how many times she had been married and that the man she was living with was not her husband. The woman perceived Jesus is a prophet because of this. Some Pentecostals are unsatisfied with this explanation since in biblical accounts these types of actions are ascribed to prophet
s, and this is seen as confusing the word of knowledge with the gift of prophecy
in the church.
Many Pentecostals seek to place this gift within the context of ministry in the church and not simply private revelation. This view, advocated by Donald Gee
, is that the word of knowledge is primarily a teaching gift. Though imparted by a supernatural operation of the Spirit, this revelation comes by rational
means. This does not mean, however, that all teaching ministry in the church is empowered by this gift. Pentecostals believe there must always be a teaching ministry made possible by "consecrated natural ability", but they also believe that anointed teaching is connected to this supernatural gift. Gee describes this gift operating in the teaching ministry:
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, the word of knowledge is a spiritual gift
Spiritual gift
In Christianity, spiritual gifts are endowments given by the Holy Spirit. These are the supernatural graces which individual Christians need to fulfill the mission of the church. They are described in the New Testament, primarily in , , and . also touches on the spiritual gifts...
listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8. Among Pentecostal and charismatic
Charismatic movement
The term charismatic movement is used in varying senses to describe 20th century developments in various Christian denominations. It describes an ongoing international, cross-denominational/non-denominational Christian movement in which individual, historically mainstream congregations adopt...
Christians, it is regarded as a supernatural
Supernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
revelation of knowledge
Knowledge
Knowledge is a familiarity with someone or something unknown, which can include information, facts, descriptions, or skills acquired through experience or education. It can refer to the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject...
through the power of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
. It is closely related to the gift of the word of wisdom
Word of wisdom
In Christianity, the word of wisdom is a spiritual gift listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8. Among Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians, it is regarded as the supernatural revelation of wisdom through the power of the Holy Spirit. This gift is closely related with the gift of the word of knowledge.This...
.
Description
Pentecostals and charismatics find it difficult to form a definitive portrait of the gift of the word of knowledge as they say there is a lack biblical examples that clearly reference it. Many times this gift is explained in terms of a divine impartation of factual knowledge to a believer, such as the circumstances of friends or missionaries in need or danger, knowledge of which guides intercessory prayer and practical assistance. Knowledge imparted could concern hidden matters in the church leading to its purging or to the right counsel of its leaders. It could also concern the secrets of the human heart. An often cited example word of knowledge is recorded in fourth chapter of the Gospel of JohnGospel of John
The Gospel According to John , commonly referred to as the Gospel of John or simply John, and often referred to in New Testament scholarship as the Fourth Gospel, is an account of the public ministry of Jesus...
, when Jesus encountered the Samaritan
Samaritan
The Samaritans are an ethnoreligious group of the Levant. Religiously, they are the adherents to Samaritanism, an Abrahamic religion closely related to Judaism...
woman at the well. Jesus told the woman how many times she had been married and that the man she was living with was not her husband. The woman perceived Jesus is a prophet because of this. Some Pentecostals are unsatisfied with this explanation since in biblical accounts these types of actions are ascribed to prophet
Prophet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
s, and this is seen as confusing the word of knowledge with the gift of prophecy
Prophecy
Prophecy is a process in which one or more messages that have been communicated to a prophet are then communicated to others. Such messages typically involve divine inspiration, interpretation, or revelation of conditioned events to come as well as testimonies or repeated revelations that the...
in the church.
Many Pentecostals seek to place this gift within the context of ministry in the church and not simply private revelation. This view, advocated by Donald Gee
Donald Gee
Donald Gee was an English Pentecostal Bible Teacher. Donald wrote the book Wind and Flame, which is the story of Pentecostalism in Europe in the 20th century. He was called "The Apostle of Balance."-Biography:...
, is that the word of knowledge is primarily a teaching gift. Though imparted by a supernatural operation of the Spirit, this revelation comes by rational
Rationality
In philosophy, rationality is the exercise of reason. It is the manner in which people derive conclusions when considering things deliberately. It also refers to the conformity of one's beliefs with one's reasons for belief, or with one's actions with one's reasons for action...
means. This does not mean, however, that all teaching ministry in the church is empowered by this gift. Pentecostals believe there must always be a teaching ministry made possible by "consecrated natural ability", but they also believe that anointed teaching is connected to this supernatural gift. Gee describes this gift operating in the teaching ministry: