Some believe their operation was limited to early Christianity. According to some Protestant denominations gifts like speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues were enjoyed only for a short time and were suited to the Church's infancy, not to later times. This view is known as cessationism. This opinion is held by John F. MacArthur, Jr., Robert L. Thomas and many other conservative mainline Protestants. In contrast, some Christian teachers such as Zola Levitt have maintained that the number of gifts cannot be determined.

Other groups, including Pentecostals, and other Holiness denominations of Christianity, take an opposing view, believing that the Spiritual gifts are still given by the Holy Spirit today, and Pentecostal meetings often involve ordinary parishioners displaying the use of these gifts (1 Cor 14). In addition, Catholic charismatics, Eastern Orthodoxy, and many other Protestant denominations also continue to believe in and make use of Spiritual gifts.

Yet others believe that the lists of gifts found in Scripture are representative, not exhaustive. They maintain that any talent or ability that the Holy Spirit uses for the good of the Church is a Spiritual gift.

Emphasis on teaching about the nine gifts of the Spirit originated from Howard Carter, an early Pentecostal evangelist. This is based on the text from 1 Corinthians 12:27-30 giving the gifts and listing them as the "gifts of the Spirit." They were later taught and popularized by Lester Sumrall, who accompanied Carter on many missionary journeys in his youth. Modern Bible teachers and scholars have come to the conclusion that there are other gifts of the Spirit listed in Scripture, as seen in the chart below.

These three verses in I Corinthians 12 seem to suggest that what is commonly termed as "Spiritual Gifts" may more accurately be described as "The Trinity Gifts" or "Gifts from the Godhead" although these terms are not specifically used in the Bible. However a closer look at each one of the 3 verses above will show that there are three distinct categories identified as Gifts, Operations, Administrations and Manifestation that are given by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.This distinction is important as each set of Gifts are different in their usage, purpose and origin.

Taking into account that the Triune God is involved in all areas of Creation, Redemption of man, and End Time Revelation, it would seem plausible to some that He would also be involved in the area of granting empowering gifts to humankind.

Certain individuals hold that the short list of Spiritual gifts identified in I Cor (12:27-30) is a list drawn from the top three and is more a summary or "recap" as Paul's discourse concludes and he speaks in general terms to all members of the Body of Christ who share in the variety of the three sets of Gifts.

Trying to distinguish one Spiritual gift from another or one Category of Gifts from another is not an easy task. In trying to make these distinctions, one must bear in mind that Paul uses the same Greek word (charismata) to describe them all. So one has to ask whether he meant them to be differentiated in this way. The Scriptures do, however, help us sort these out. In I Cor. 12:4-6, Eph. 4:12-13, and Rom. 12:1-6 each Category of Gifts has a different number of Spiritual gifts that is bestowed by a different Person of the Trinity.

The Corinthians category has the distinction of being Gifts as opposed to Administrations and Operations (verses 4-6). Verse 7, however, identifies and clarifies them precisely as manifestations that are available to all in the Body of Christ without reservation and at the will of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit Himself chooses one person or another to exhibit a particular Gift for the profit of all. One may be given the Gift of Healing because of a hospital visit that day, while the following day he may be given the Gift of Prophecy in order to communicate God's will and love to a local congregation. These Gifts are understood to be manifestations given at the time of need for the purpose at hand. Each individual believer, if open and willing to be used by the Holy Spirit, will eventually be used at the discretion of the Holy Spirit.

The Ephesians category is somewhat different in its application and its nature. The Gifts of this category are identified as Gifts given by the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to the Body of Christ. Verse 8 implies that these Gifts are part of the benefits of the resurrection which are directly associated with the works of the Son of God. Verses 12 and 13 state that they are given for the Body of Christ and its edification. I Cor. 12:5 tells us that the Gifts are Gifts of Administrations. They can be termed administrative or ministry positions within the Body of Christ that are instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ by a particular calling. This view is supported by Rom. 11:29, which says "The Gifts and Callings of the LORD are without repentance." Jesus Christ, the Son of God, therefore calls individuals to take on administrative positions or roles (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers) within the Body of Christ for the edification of all.