DISCERNINGS OF SPIRITS

di-zurn'-inz, (diakriseis pneumaton, "judicial estimation," "through judgment or separation"): Occurs in 1 Corinthians 12:10 as being one of the gifts of the Spirit. The Greek word occurs in Hebrews 5:14; and Romans 14:1: "But him that is weak in faith receive ye, yet not for decision of scruples." This translation scarcely expresses the meaning, which Thayer has freely rendered, "not for the purpose of passing judgment on opinions, as to which one is to be preferred as the more correct." Taking these three passages together it is evident that the Greek term which is rendered "discerning" means a distinguishing or discriminating between things that are under consideration; hence, the one who possessed the gift of "discernings of spirits" was able to make distinction between the one who spoke by the Spirit of God and the one who was moved by a false spirit. This gift seems to have been exercised chiefly upon those who assumed the role of teachers, and it was especially important in those days, because there were many false teachers abroad (see 2 John 1:7 Acts 20:29, 30). See also SPIRITUAL GIFTS.

A. W. Fortune

1 Cor. xii. 1, 2
... Ver.10. "To another working of miracles; to another prophecies; to another discernings
of spirits; to another divers kind of tongues; to another the ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxix 1 cor xii.htm

1 Thessalonians v. 19-22
... This also he says in the Epistle to the Corinthians, that on this account He gave
"the discernings of spirits." (1 Corinthians 12:10.) For the devil, of his ...
/.../homily xi 1 thessalonians v.htm

Tenth Sunday after Trinity Spiritual Counsel for Church Officers.
... gifts of healings, in the one Spirit; 10 and to another workings of miracles; and
to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits; to another divers ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/tenth sunday after trinity spiritual.htm

On the Article, and in one Holy Ghost, the Comforter, which Spake ...
... to another gifts of healing, in the same Spirit; and to another workings of miracles;
and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits; and to ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture xvi on the article.htm