If it is service (διακονίαν, a form of διακονία),^[1] Paul wrote, to continue considering the different gifts (χαρίσματα, a form of χάρισμα)^[2] that comprise the diversity of oneness,, he must serve (διακονίᾳ).^[3]  Paul wrote to the Corinthians about different gifts (χαρισμάτων, another form of χάρισμα) and different ministries (διακονιῶν, another form of διακονία): the message of wisdom…the message of knowledge…faith…gifts (χαρίσματα) of healing…performance of miracles…prophecy…discernment of spirits…different kinds of tongues, and…the interpretation of tongues.^[4]  Yet in the previous chapter of Romans Paul wrote, Seeing that I am an apostle (ἀπόστολος)^[5] to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry (διακονίαν, a form of διακονία)…^[6]  As I consider this and the historical fact that most of the different ministries (διακονιῶν, another form of διακονία) listed in 1 Corinthians above were associated with Jesus’ apostles, I assume that the ministry (διακονίαν, a form of διακονία) of an apostle was the service (διακονίαν, a form of διακονία) Paul had primarily in mind in Romans 12.

Still, the service (διακονίαν, a form of διακονία) most associated with the apostles is the ministry (διακονία) of reconciliation: God…reconciled us to himself through Christ, and…has given us the ministry (διακονία) of reconciliation.^[7]  And the ministry (διακονία) of reconciliation is nothing less than the ministry (διακονία) of the Spirit, the ministry (διακονία) that produces righteousness (2 Corinthians 3:7-9 NET).

But if the ministry (διακονία) that produced death – carved in letters on stone tablets – came with glory, so that the Israelites could not keep their eyes fixed on the face of Moses because of the glory of his face (a glory which was made ineffective), how much more glorious will the ministry (διακονία) of the Spirit be?  For if there was glory in the ministry (διακονίᾳ) that produced condemnation, how much more does the ministry (διακονία) that produces righteousness excel in glory!

It was [Jesus], Paul wrote the Ephesians, who gave some as apostles (ἀποστόλους, another form of ἀπόστολος)…^[8]  And God has placed in the church first apostles^[9] (ἀποστόλους, another form of ἀπόστολος), he wrote the Corinthians.  Not all are apostles (ἀπόστολοι, another form of ἀπόστολος), are they?^[10] Paul asked rhetorically.

If [the gift] is teaching (διδάσκων, a form of διδάσκω),^[11] Paul continued in Romans, he must teach (διδασκαλίᾳ).^[12]  In Corinth the Lord said to Paul by a vision in the night, “Do not be afraid,but speak and do not be silent, because I am with you, and no one will assault you to harm you, because I have many people in this city” [Table].  So he stayed there a year and six months, teaching (διδάσκων, a form of διδάσκω) the word of God among them.^[13]  Paul^[14] lived^[15] [in Rome] two whole years in his own rented quarters and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching (διδάσκων, a form of διδάσκω) about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete boldness and without restriction.^[16]

I was appointed, Paul wrote Timothy, a preacher and apostle (ἀπόστολος) and teacher (διδάσκαλος)^[17] of the fact that our Savior Christ Jesus…has broken the power of death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.^[18]  Apparently Timothy was also appointed as a teacher.  Until I come, Paul wrote to him, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhortation, to teaching (διδασκαλίᾳ).^[19]  And he continued (1 Timothy 4:14-16 NET):

Do not neglect the spiritual gift (χαρίσματος, another form of χάρισμα) you have, given to you and confirmed by prophetic words (προφητείας, another form of προφητεία) when the elders laid hands on you.  Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that everyone will see your progress.  Be conscientious about how you live and what you teach (διδασκαλίᾳ).  Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.

It was [Jesus], Paul wrote the Ephesians, who gave some…as pastors and teachers (διδασκάλους, another form of διδάσκαλος), to equip the saints for the work of ministry (διακονίας, another form of διακονία), that is, to build up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God – a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ’s full stature.^[20]  And God has placed in the church…third teachers^[21] (διδασκάλους, another form of διδάσκαλος), he wrote the Corinthians.  Not all are teachers (διδάσκαλοι, another form of διδάσκαλος), are they? He asked rhetorically.  He also gave Timothy the following prophetic warning (2 Timothy 4:3 NET):

 For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound (ὑγιαινούσης, a form of ὑγιαίνω) teaching (διδασκαλίας, another form of διδασκαλία).  Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers (διδασκάλους, another form of διδάσκαλος) for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things.

In other words, the teachers most honored by people and the teachers spiritually gifted to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God – a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ’s full stature, may not be one and the same.  But the next gift to consider may provide a method for distinguishing between the two.

If [the gift] is exhortation (παρακαλῶν, a form of παρακαλέω), Paul continued in Romans, he must exhort (παρακλήσει, a form of παράκλησις)…^[23]  Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Paul began his second letter to the Corinthians, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort (παρακλήσεως, another form of παράκλησις), who comforts (παρακαλῶν, a form of παρακαλέω) us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort (παρακαλεῖν, another form of παρακαλέω) those experiencing any trouble with the comfort (παρακλήσεως, another form of παράκλησις) with which we ourselves are comforted (παρακαλούμεθα, another form of παρακαλέω) by God.^[24]

Paul wrote again about receiving God’s exhortation through the message brought by Titus:  But God, who encourages (παρακαλῶν, a form of παρακαλέω) the downhearted, encouraged (παρεκάλεσεν, another form of παρακαλέω) us by the arrival of Titus.  We were encouraged not only by his arrival, but also by the encouragement (παρακλήσει, a form of παράκλησις) you gave (παρεκλήθη, another form of παρακαλέω) him, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your deep concern for me, so that I rejoiced more than ever.^[25]

The Corinthians’ longing, mourning and deep concern for Paul also exhorted him: I have great confidence in you; I take great pride on your behalf.  I am filled with encouragement (παρακλήσει, a form of παράκλησις); I am overflowing with joy in the midst of all our suffering.^[26]  Therefore we have been encouraged (παρακεκλήμεθα, another form of παρακαλέω).  And in addition to our own encouragement (παρακλήσει, a form of παράκλησις), we rejoiced even more at the joy of Titus, because all of you have refreshed his spirit.^[27]  And Paul told Timothy not only to teach but to comfort and encourage his people in a similar manner: Until I come, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhortation (παρακλήσει, a form of παράκλησις), to teaching (διδασκαλία).^[28]

A teacher’s exhortation reveals that teacher’s knowledge and faith.  It may even be another valid way to test the spirits to determine if they are from God.^[29]  Surely the Spirit from God knows the depth (βάθος)^[30] of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God,^[31] that from him and through him and to him are all things.^[32]  For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep (βάθη, another form of βάθος) things of God.^[33]  Every spirit that confesses Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh is from God,^[34] John wrote.  Does a given teacher comfort me with the knowledge of the love that God has in us, or encourage me to believe the love that God has in us^[35] in Jesus, the Christ who has come in the flesh, the Son of God, through his Holy Spirit?  Or does that teacher rob me of such comfort, and encourage me to know or to believe or to do something else instead?