Re: Impartation Theology

Dear Pilgrim,

I will try to help you on this subject. First , "Impartation Theology" is a misnomer. This whole idea of "impartation" of gifts is based on one particular Scripture, Romans 1:11

Romans 1:11 (KJV)

For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

Reading this scripture alone does not tell the whole story of spiritual "gifts." There is much more to be considered.

The word "impart" or "imparted" only appears three time in the New Testamant: (KJV)

Romans 1:11, Luke 3:11 and 1 Thesalonians 2:8.

The root Greek the word "impart" in all of the above scriptures is "didomi" In Romans the actual word is "metado" In Luke and Thesalonians it is "metadidomi". When we break it down "meta": means "with" and didomi means to give.

Why the translators used the word impart instead of give makes no sense except that possibly Impartation Theology was already present when the translation took place. These translators were under a lot of pressure by the Church and the King which led to some mistranslations in favor of present theology.

Didomi appears in the New Testamant 413 times and is translated "give" 365 times, grant 10 times, put 5, show 4, deliver 2, make 2, misc 25;

So we can substitute the word give for impart in this Scripture using good hermeneutics.

Now let's get to your questions;

1. Is it a kind of 'jump start' for the person prayed for?

2. Is impartation not a discipling process rather than a spiritual 'zap'?

3. If someone doesnt have strong faith or is starting to move say, in prophetic ministry....can a person with strong faith and prophetic ministry pray for an impartation on that person-eg a transfer of a his giftings? What if God doesnt want that person to have those gifts but gifts perhaps in hospitality or helps?

First of all it is ultimately God who imparts (gives} the gifts. Man cannot give a true spitirual gift in and of himself.

There are several words used for "gift" in the Bible , "doma" and "dorea" and "charisma",

Ephesians 4 (KJV)

7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift [doreas] of Christ.

8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts [domata] unto men.

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

God has given gifts "domata" unto men [anthrôpois] mankind. This by the way does include women. These domata gifts here in Ephesians are: Apsotles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Some refer to these as "gift ministries". These are ministries of service not necessarily of authority. God chooses his people not men. Sometimes they are seeming the most unlikely choices. For example, Paul who was a Pharisee and persecuted the Church was given the ministry of an Apostle.

These gift ministries are still in use today regardless of what the experts say. If there are no more apsotles or prophets as some say, then there would also then be no more evangelists, pastors or teachers either. That argument dies before it even starts. Note that "theologian" is not one of these gifts. (I had to get that in for the theologians who will read this.)

1 Kings 19 (KJV)

15. And the LORD said unto him, [ Elijah ] Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
16. And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.

So God chose Elisha as a prophet and told Elijah to anoint him. Elijah did not do the choosing.

And Elisha ministered to Elijah and became his underling and when it Elijah's time was up the following was recoreded:

2 Kings 2

9. And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
10. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.

11. And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
13. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
14. And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
15. And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

Elisha's request of a double portion was a "hard thing" according to Elijah. This was not up to Elijah but up to God.

And in verse 15 the sons of the prophets said " the spirit of Elijah dost rest on Elisha."

What was the Spirit of Elijah ? It was the spirit of God which dwelt upon him and it was this same spirit of God that Elisha also received after Elijah was carried away. It was not a transfer of Elijah's Spirit to Elisha by some kind of ceremony or praying or laying on of hands.

So to answer part of question # 3. No you cannot transfer any of these gifts to another of your chosing no matter how great the faith. These are gift ministries that God chooses.

And to answer question # 2. It is neither "zap" nor is it a decipling process where one can be taught to to the point that God will give the gift. God looks at the hearts of men and their inate abilities and thus chooses whom he will. The difficult part is recognizing the gift in yourself and others.

There are other kinds of gifts as well as gift ministries. A good word search in your Bible for gifts will prove very fruitfull.

Grace is a gift (Ephesians 2:8), eternal life is a gift,( Rom 6:23) there is the Gift of Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38)

Of course non of these things can be transferred or imparted by man.

Now to answer question #1 "Is it kind of a jump start for the person prayed for? Well not really. One can pray until they are blue in the face for another to receive a spititual gift and this will not bring it to pass unless it is God's will. The real jump start for a person begins when they receive Christ and realize the power of the Holy Spirit that is within them. But I believe your question refers to "impartation" . Again it is God who imparts or gives not man. What we can do is learn and teach the Bible.

Eph.2

8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Romans 10 (KJV)

9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Now I will handle one of the most difficult sections of Scripture concerning the "gifts"

1 Corinthians 12 (KJV)

1. Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

There is no greek word for gifts in the text for this verse. The word gifts was added by the translators. Here is the actual text of Verse 1 transliterated.

Peri de tôn pneumatikôn, adelphoi, ou thelô humas agnoein.

There is the word "pneumatikôn" which is used as a noun and literally means things of the spirit or spiritual matters. So actually a better translation of this verse would be " Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant [without knowledge]

So the context here is spiritual matters not gifts.... yet )

2. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

3. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

4. Now there are diversities (diareseis) of gifts ( charismaton ), but the same spirit.

5. And there are differences (diareseis) of administrations, but the same Lord.

6. And there are diversities (diareseis) of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

These "spiritual matters" or things listed are: Gifts, administrations, operations.

Verse 7 starts with "BUT" "But" sets things in contrast.

7. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

Now the text is talking about the manifestation of the spirit, not gifts.

8. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9. To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10. To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

11. But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

I know that these have been called "gifts" but using good hermeneutics we see that they are really manifestations of the Gift of the Holy Spirit. But we can call them gifts if you wish.

There are nine so called gifts.

Word of Wisdom - A form or revelation

Word of Knowledge - A form of revelation

Faith - the manifestation of faith

Gifts of Healing - (Healing is awlays a gift)

Working of miracles

Prophecy

Discerning of Spirits -(Not "discernment" )

Tongues - Speaking in Tongues

Interpretation of tongues

In verse 11 " But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."

These are all available today to the Christian who believes and wants them. They have not gone away as some say. God gives the Gift of the Holy Spirit which gives us the ability to manifest power of this spirit by these manefestations or "gifts."

1 Cor 12

28. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30. Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31. But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

In verse 31 we are told to covet ernestly the best gifts. I believe the best gifts are those that are most edifying to the church, meaning the Body of Christ.

To anyone who wants to understand and manifest the power of God in their lives I suggest visiting different groups or fellowships which believe and practice the gifts. But remember all things should be done descently and in order. Any group that relies on emotionalism and hype to frenzy up folks to speak in tongues and where there is confusion and disorderly behavior, is missing the boat.

I hope this has been helpful.

Pilgrim, feel free to email me.

Bill

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Re: Impartation Theology