King James Bible
King James Version (KJV)
Gift
"(1.) An gratuity (Prov. 19:6) to secure favour (18:16; 21:14), a" "thank-offering (Num. 18:11), or a dowry (Gen. 34:12)." "(2.) An oblation or proppitatory gift (2Sa 8:2, 6; 1Ch 18:2, 6; 2Ch 26:8; Ps. 45:12; 72:10). "(3.) A bribe to a judge to obtain a favourable verdict (Ex. 23:8; Deut. 16:19). "(4.) Simply a thing given (Matt. 7:11; Luke 11:13; Eph. 4:8); "sacrifical (Matt. 5:23, 24; 8:4); eleemosynary (Luke 21:1); a" gratuity (John 4:10; Acts 8:20). In Acts 2:38 the generic word "dorea is rendered "gift." It differs from the charisma (1 Cor." 12:4) as denoting not miraculous powers but the working of a new "spirit in men, and that spirit from God." "The giving of presents entered largely into the affairs of common life in the East. The nature of the presents was as "various as were the occasions: food (1 Sam. 9:7; 16:20), sheep" "and cattle (Gen. 32:13-15), gold (2 Sam. 18:11), jewels (Gen." "24:53), furniture, and vessels for eating and drinking (2 Sam." "17:28); delicacies, as spices, honey, etc. (1 Kings 10:25; 2" Kings 5: 22). The mode of presentation was with as much parade as possible: the presents were conveyed by the hands of servants "(Judg. 3:18), or still better, on the backs of beasts of burden" (2 Kings 8:9). The refusal of a present was regarded as a high indignity; and this constituted the aggravated insult noticed in "Matt. 22:11, the marriage robe having been offered and refused." "(Gr. charismata), gifts supernaturally bestowed on the early" "Christians, each having his own proper gift or gifts for the" edification of the body of Christ. These were the result of the "extraordinary operation of the Spirit, as on the day of" "Pentecost. They were the gifts of speaking with tongues, casting" "out devils, healing, etc. (Mark 16:17, 18), usually communicated" by the medium of the laying on of the hands of the apostles (Acts 8:17; 19:6; 1 Tim. 4:14). These charismata were enjoyed only for a time. They could not continue always in the Church. They were suited to its infancy and to the necessities of those times.