I think many are misunderstanding the gift of discerning of spirits which is found in 1 Corrinthians 12:
All of these gifts are supernatural/spiritual in nature; that is, they allow one for a moment to do something that we normally wouldn't be able to do.
To discern is a verb and it means literally to see through in English. Notice it is not the gift of discernment in a general sense, as in a supernatural ability to see everything in the universe. It has a much more narrow focus, that is, it gives the recipient the supernatural ability to discern spirits.
What are spirits? Well, angels are spirits, demons are spirits, man is a spirit in the inner man, and God himself is a Spirit.
Any time one is allowed to see any spirit with his natural eyes, this gift is in operation.
Though I am not a Greek expert, I do love to search the Greek words out by a reverse concordance to see how the Words are used elsewhere. I find this more satifying even than just looking up the definition in a Greek dictionary, because I have found that even those are often skewed by the theology of the writer.
The Greek word is diakrisis (the noun) and diakrino (the verb). Krino/krisis means to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially); while dia means through, (in the sense of showing something that is hidden). The compound word then means to distinguish by seeing through to; or, by extension, to judge by what one sees.
This was a very interesting Word study for me. It is worth noting that this is the same word used in Mark 11:23 when Jesus tells us not to doubt (diakrino) in our hearts, and in James 1:6 where the writer says to ask in faith nothing wavering (diakrino).
It is also interesting to note its use in 1 Corinthians 14 where the author gives instruction for one to prophesy and the other to judge (diakrino). I have hear it said that because the same word is used here, that this is referring to the spiritual gift of discernint of spirits; however, the passage does not give instruction for the other to judge the spirit of the prophet, but the prophecy itself. It does not call this judging a spiritual gift, nor does it in any way infer, at least to me, that this is some supernatural judging. I read it as judging prophecy against the written Word.
The Word is only used 21 times in the New Testament, and any definition that is correct will have to fit the context of all 21 occurances.
For instance, if discern (diakrino-krisis) means only to see, or only to judge it does not fit well in whatever context we put it. If we were to place this definition in Mark 11:23, we would read this:
...whosever shall say...and shall not judge...
-or-
...whosever shall say...and shall not see...
Neither of which make sense in context.
However, if we use the compound definition, to judge by what one sees, it fits perfectly:
...whosever shall say...and shall not judge by what one sees...
Not to mention, that krino itself means to judge, so why use a new Word here, that is not often used in the New Testament? If the author only meant to judge, then he could have used other more common words to make his point.
What does fit in all the contextual occurances of the word however, is this definition:
To judge by what one sees.
In other words, If one speaks to the mountain and does not doubt (does not judge by what he sees); or, Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (not judging by what he sees); or Discerning of spirits (judging by what spirits he sees).
Such a definition fits well the context of all 21 uses of this word in the New Testament; whereas the definition to see only fits some, and the definiton to judge only fits some.
There are examples in the bible of some one receiving supernatural knowledge about a person, place, or thing; but I would clearly classify these as the Word of Knowledge, not the gift of Discerning of Spirits.
A good example of the gift of Discerning of Spirits in operation was when Elijah prayed that Elishas eyes would be opened so that he could see the hosts of angels that were surrounding them.
But I would classifiy any angelic or demonic encounter in the Bible as the gift of Discerning of Spirits in operation.
I am not aware of any special supernatural gift of discernment or watchman in the sense that it is often described on these forums, of being able to know when you brother is right or wrong, and then letting everyone know about it.
All of us as christians have the Holy Spirit, and are able to judge what is scriptural or not. This anointing abides in all believers, (1 John 2:27) and is accessed based on their level of maturity, and their abilty therefore to discern both good and evil. (Heb. 5:14).
However, it is not one of the nine spiritual gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12, that are for the church as a whole, but are given individually as He wills. That gift is called Discerning of Spirits, and is the supernatural ability to judge the spirits one sees, not the ability to judge and/or rebuke ones brother.
Some in leadership positions may well be expected/required by their office to rebuke and/or correct those under their leadership, but the idea of laymen rebuking their own leadership, or worse yet, others leadership and those around them in a public setting is not a gift mentioned in the New Testament.
The New Testament does have something to say on this subject however:
I would note that this scripture equates judgement of ones brother with speaking evil of ones brother. From this I think one could reasonably conclude that there is no spiritual gift of judging ones brother, nor is their a spiritual gift of speaking evil of ones brother, the two components of this so-called gift of 'discernment' or 'watchman' or 'perceiver' that I keep hearing about.
Peace...
All of these gifts are supernatural/spiritual in nature; that is, they allow one for a moment to do something that we normally wouldn't be able to do.
To discern is a verb and it means literally to see through in English. Notice it is not the gift of discernment in a general sense, as in a supernatural ability to see everything in the universe. It has a much more narrow focus, that is, it gives the recipient the supernatural ability to discern spirits.
What are spirits? Well, angels are spirits, demons are spirits, man is a spirit in the inner man, and God himself is a Spirit.
Any time one is allowed to see any spirit with his natural eyes, this gift is in operation.
Though I am not a Greek expert, I do love to search the Greek words out by a reverse concordance to see how the Words are used elsewhere. I find this more satifying even than just looking up the definition in a Greek dictionary, because I have found that even those are often skewed by the theology of the writer.
The Greek word is diakrisis (the noun) and diakrino (the verb). Krino/krisis means to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially); while dia means through, (in the sense of showing something that is hidden). The compound word then means to distinguish by seeing through to; or, by extension, to judge by what one sees.
This was a very interesting Word study for me. It is worth noting that this is the same word used in Mark 11:23 when Jesus tells us not to doubt (diakrino) in our hearts, and in James 1:6 where the writer says to ask in faith nothing wavering (diakrino).
It is also interesting to note its use in 1 Corinthians 14 where the author gives instruction for one to prophesy and the other to judge (diakrino). I have hear it said that because the same word is used here, that this is referring to the spiritual gift of discernint of spirits; however, the passage does not give instruction for the other to judge the spirit of the prophet, but the prophecy itself. It does not call this judging a spiritual gift, nor does it in any way infer, at least to me, that this is some supernatural judging. I read it as judging prophecy against the written Word.
The Word is only used 21 times in the New Testament, and any definition that is correct will have to fit the context of all 21 occurances.
For instance, if discern (diakrino-krisis) means only to see, or only to judge it does not fit well in whatever context we put it. If we were to place this definition in Mark 11:23, we would read this:
...whosever shall say...and shall not judge...
-or-
...whosever shall say...and shall not see...
Neither of which make sense in context.
However, if we use the compound definition, to judge by what one sees, it fits perfectly:
...whosever shall say...and shall not judge by what one sees...
Not to mention, that krino itself means to judge, so why use a new Word here, that is not often used in the New Testament? If the author only meant to judge, then he could have used other more common words to make his point.
What does fit in all the contextual occurances of the word however, is this definition:
To judge by what one sees.
In other words, If one speaks to the mountain and does not doubt (does not judge by what he sees); or, Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (not judging by what he sees); or Discerning of spirits (judging by what spirits he sees).
Such a definition fits well the context of all 21 uses of this word in the New Testament; whereas the definition to see only fits some, and the definiton to judge only fits some.
There are examples in the bible of some one receiving supernatural knowledge about a person, place, or thing; but I would clearly classify these as the Word of Knowledge, not the gift of Discerning of Spirits.
A good example of the gift of Discerning of Spirits in operation was when Elijah prayed that Elishas eyes would be opened so that he could see the hosts of angels that were surrounding them.
But I would classifiy any angelic or demonic encounter in the Bible as the gift of Discerning of Spirits in operation.
I am not aware of any special supernatural gift of discernment or watchman in the sense that it is often described on these forums, of being able to know when you brother is right or wrong, and then letting everyone know about it.
All of us as christians have the Holy Spirit, and are able to judge what is scriptural or not. This anointing abides in all believers, (1 John 2:27) and is accessed based on their level of maturity, and their abilty therefore to discern both good and evil. (Heb. 5:14).
However, it is not one of the nine spiritual gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12, that are for the church as a whole, but are given individually as He wills. That gift is called Discerning of Spirits, and is the supernatural ability to judge the spirits one sees, not the ability to judge and/or rebuke ones brother.
Some in leadership positions may well be expected/required by their office to rebuke and/or correct those under their leadership, but the idea of laymen rebuking their own leadership, or worse yet, others leadership and those around them in a public setting is not a gift mentioned in the New Testament.
The New Testament does have something to say on this subject however:
I would note that this scripture equates judgement of ones brother with speaking evil of ones brother. From this I think one could reasonably conclude that there is no spiritual gift of judging ones brother, nor is their a spiritual gift of speaking evil of ones brother, the two components of this so-called gift of 'discernment' or 'watchman' or 'perceiver' that I keep hearing about.
Peace...
