Uniquely Designed for Purpose: How Personality and Spiritual Gifts Shape the Body of Christ

Genesis 1:27 states “So God created mankind in his own image…”

Man is created in the image of God –

Genesis 1:27 states, “So God created mankind in his own image…” Consequently, we are, by nature, complex. We are also fallen; as much as God is holy and perfect, we are not.

By simple observation, we can see that people’s personalities are different and varied.

Although all Christians have access to the same fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, patience, etc.), we can see that the gifts of the Spirit are different and varied, and further that God gives man a unique combination of these for our service to the body of Christ.

To be clear, all believers are endowed with the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) as characteristics of our Christian walk: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control.

Spiritual gifts (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:4-11; and 1 Cor 12:28) come in unique combinations for service to the church body and include – prophecy, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, mercy, wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, discerning, speaking and interpretation of languages, and helps. Some of these were, for a time, to point to the truth of Christianity, while others are permanent.

God is a God of purpose and planning; these characteristics display this purpose and planning.

The point of understanding personalities is understanding and acceptance. That is to say, we’re all aspects of God’s image. No one portion is right or wrong; it is just an aspect of who we are.

With this, let’s examine personality temperaments and types.

Temperaments

One of the oldest personality classifications is Temperaments, which includes the four groupings below:

Sanguine –

This personality tends to be lively, optimistic, buoyant, and carefree. They love adventure and have a high risk tolerance. They seek variety and entertainment and will dress with flair.

Phlegmatic –

This personality tends to be a people person who seeks harmony and close relationships. They avoid conflict, are easy-going, and generally have less energy. Many issues, such as appearance and dress, are not especially vital to them.

Choleric –

This personality type is more goal-oriented and includes analytic and logical traits. It is straightforward and naturally speaks what is on its mind, sometimes without filtering.

Melancholic –

This personality is the traditionalist and tends to mind the details. They are not particularly adventurous but are social, thorough, and accurate.

Many believe we have a dominant and recessive temperament of the four temperaments. In other words, we may be primarily Phlegmatic/Melancholic or a Choleric/Sanguine.

In addition to differentiating degrees of these characteristics, there is the element of maturity. For example, an immature Choleric may be overbearing, whereas a more mature Choleric could be a natural leader.

These temperament types are from ancient Graeco-Arabic times and are simply observational characteristics. You can see these features in the people around you and hopefully in yourself.

Finally, although no biblical verse specifically defines these personality characteristics, it is easy to observe that Peter is impulsive, bold, and outspoken, Moses is hesitant and reflective, Paul is intense, disciplined, and logical, and Barnabas is encouraging, supportive, and peace-loving. These general observations easily fit into the definitions of sanguine, melancholic, choleric, and phlegmatic typologies.

Personality Types

Personality types are simply a more detailed division of the four temperaments. Four groupings of two characteristics each form up to 16 personality types. Isabel Myers and Katharine Briggs (Myers and Briggs) developed personality types based on Carl Jung's work in the early 1900s.

There are free online tests that will help you determine your personality type and provide more detailed insights.

Introvert and Extrovert (I and E)

Most view introverts and extroverts as reserved and outgoing. To a degree, this is correct, but we are talking about the source and direction of a person’s energy expression. The extrovert’s source and direction of energy expression is mainly in the external world, while an introvert has a source of energy mainly in their internal world.

For example, come Friday night after a long work week, the introvert will likely stay home and read or watch a movie. In contrast, extroverts revitalize their energy level by going out to a party.

Sensory and Intuitive (S and N)

The S and N represent the method by which someone perceives information. Sensing means that a person mainly believes information he or she receives directly from the external world. Intuition means that a person believes mainly the information he or she receives from the internal or imaginative world.

For example, Ss are usually “by the book” and follow the rules. Ns, on the other hand, are more willing to see if the rule should be bent and go with their gut feelings.

Thinking and Feeling (T and F)

The T and F represent how a person processes information. Thinking means that a person makes decisions primarily through logic. Feeling means that, as a rule, they decide based at least initially on emotion, i.e., what they feel they should do.

This does not mean that thinkers don’t feel or feelers don’t think; instead, based on our personality type, we are prone to think first or feel first.

Judging and Perceiving (J and P)

The J and P reflect how a person implements the information he or she has processed. Judging means that a person organizes all of his life events and, as a rule, sticks to his plans. Perceiving means that he or she is inclined to improvise and explore alternative options.

Another significant aspect of the J and P is closure and openness. For example, the J would rather make a decision and move on, whereas the P would rather keep their options open. You can observe this characteristic when two people, a J and a P, plan a trip to Disneyland. The J arrived before they even left for the trip. On the other hand, the P, on the way to Disneyland, may suggest another destination would be more desirable.

The Myers-Briggs typing combines these four types into 16 groupings. For example, someone may be an INTJ or an ESTP. The INTJ may be called “The Mastermind,” whereas the ESTP would be called “The Doer.” A good reference for understanding these groupings is available here.

Sample conflicts and resolutions

After studying and understanding this for a while, you can easily determine the temperaments and types of the people around you. Over time, the knowledge will become more automatic and natural.

Understanding different personality types is key to improving relationships at work and home.

For example, imagine your boss is a "P" (perceiver) and you are a "J" (judger). If you’re frustrated because your boss constantly delays making decisions, recognizing this difference can help you adapt your approach. Instead of getting annoyed, you can focus on providing clear, compelling information to encourage decision-making. Similarly, if you’re hiring an assistant, you might benefit from choosing someone with a "J" personality, who prefers structure and decisiveness.

Another common scenario involves introverts ("I") and extroverts ("E"). If you’re an introvert who prefers a quiet night in, and your spouse is an extrovert who wants to socialize, it's essential to recognize these differences. Communicating openly allows you to find compromises, such as going out together to a relaxed dinner and movie instead of a large party.

Remember, personality differences can naturally lead to misunderstandings and conflicts. However, you can significantly strengthen your relationships by understanding these differences and working toward mutual respect and compromise.

Summary

This is just a summary of two general personality groupings – the basic temperaments and personality types.

Learning this will help you understand others and yourself. We are all different, but still made in God’s image.

As much as another personality might rub you the wrong way, your personality is not necessarily a delight to them.

The more you know about personalities, the better you are equipped to understand and accept others.

Realizing that we all have something to contribute, this knowledge may enable you to be more successful in these relationships.

Finally, we must recognize that we are not locked into our natural personality temperaments and types as believers. Our very salvation is a transformation as declared by Romans 12:2, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

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Thad