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Selected Verse: 1 Corinthians 12:4 - King James

Verse	Translation	Text
1Co 12:4	King James	Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
diversities of gifts--that is, varieties of spiritual endowments peculiar to the several members of the Church: compare "dividing to every man severally" (Co1 12:11). same Spirit--The Holy Trinity appears here: the Holy Spirit in this verse; Christ in Co1 12:5; and the Father in Co1 12:6. The terms "gifts," "administrations," and "operations," respectively correspond to the Divine Three. The Spirit is treated of in Co1 12:7, &c.; the Lord, in Co1 12:12, &c.; God, in Co1 12:28. (Compare Eph 4:4-6).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

diversities of gifts--that is, varieties of spiritual endowments peculiar to the several members of the Church: compare "dividing to every man severally" (Co1 12:11).

same Spirit--The Holy Trinity appears here: the Holy Spirit in this verse; Christ in Co1 12:5; and the Father in Co1 12:6. The terms "gifts," "administrations," and "operations," respectively correspond to the Divine Three. The Spirit is treated of in Co1 12:7, &c.; the Lord, in Co1 12:12, &c.; God, in Co1 12:28. (Compare Eph 4:4-6).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Now there are diversities of gifts - There are different endowments conferred on Christians. For the meaning of the word "gifts," see the note at Rom 1:11; compare Rom 5:15-16; Rom 6:23; Rom 11:29; Rom 12:6; Co1 1:7; Co1 7:7. But the same Spirit - Produced by the same Spirit - the Holy Spirit. What those diversities of gifts are, the apostle enumerates in Co1 12:8-11. The design for which he refers to these various endowments is evidently to show those whom he addressed, that since they are all produced by the same Holy Spirit, have all the same divine origin, and are all intended to answer some important purpose and end in the Christian church, that, therefore, none are to be despised; nor is one man to regard himself as authorized to treat another with contempt. The Spirit has divided and conferred those gifts according to his sovereign will; and his arrangements should be regarded with submission, and the favors which he confers should be received with thankfulness. That the Holy Spirit - the third person of the adorable Trinity - is here intended by the word "Spirit," seems to be manifest on the face of the passage, and has been the received interpretation of the church until it was called in question by some recent German commentators, at the head of whom was Eichhorn. It is not the design of these notes to go into an examination of questions of criticism, such as an inquiry like this would involve. Nor is it necessary. Some of the arguments by which the common interpretation is defended are the following: (1) It is the obvious interpretation. It is that which occurs to the great mass of readers, as the true and correct exposition. (2) it accords with the usual meaning of the word Spirit. No other intelligible sense can be given to the word here. To say, with Eichhorn, that it means "nature," that there are the same natural endowments, though cultivated in various measures by art and education, makes manifest nonsense, and is contrary to the whole structure and scope of the passage. (3) it accords with all the other statements in the New Testament, where the endowments here referred to "wisdom," "knowledge," "faith," "working of miracles," etc., are traced to the Holy Spirit, and are regarded as his gift. (4) the harmony, the concinnity of the passage is destroyed by supposing that it refers to anything else than the Holy Spirit. In this verse the agency of the Spirit is recognized, and his operations on the mind referred to; in the next verse the agency of the Son of God (see the note on the verse) is referred to; and in the following verse, the agency of God - evidently the Father - is brought into view; and thus the entire passage Co1 12:4-6 presents a connected view of the operations performed by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the work of redemption. To deny that this verse refers to the Holy Spirit is to break up the harmony of the whole passage, and to render it in no small degree unmeaning. But if this refers to the Holy Spirit, then it is an unanswerable argument for his personality, and for his being on an equality with the Father and the Son.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Now there are diversities of gifts - There are different endowments conferred on Christians. For the meaning of the word "gifts," see the note at Rom 1:11; compare Rom 5:15-16; Rom 6:23; Rom 11:29; Rom 12:6; Co1 1:7; Co1 7:7.

But the same Spirit - Produced by the same Spirit - the Holy Spirit. What those diversities of gifts are, the apostle enumerates in Co1 12:8-11. The design for which he refers to these various endowments is evidently to show those whom he addressed, that since they are all produced by the same Holy Spirit, have all the same divine origin, and are all intended to answer some important purpose and end in the Christian church, that, therefore, none are to be despised; nor is one man to regard himself as authorized to treat another with contempt. The Spirit has divided and conferred those gifts according to his sovereign will; and his arrangements should be regarded with submission, and the favors which he confers should be received with thankfulness. That the Holy Spirit - the third person of the adorable Trinity - is here intended by the word "Spirit," seems to be manifest on the face of the passage, and has been the received interpretation of the church until it was called in question by some recent German commentators, at the head of whom was Eichhorn. It is not the design of these notes to go into an examination of questions of criticism, such as an inquiry like this would involve. Nor is it necessary. Some of the arguments by which the common interpretation is defended are the following:

(1) It is the obvious interpretation. It is that which occurs to the great mass of readers, as the true and correct exposition.

(2) it accords with the usual meaning of the word Spirit. No other intelligible sense can be given to the word here. To say, with Eichhorn, that it means "nature," that there are the same natural endowments, though cultivated in various measures by art and education, makes manifest nonsense, and is contrary to the whole structure and scope of the passage.

(3) it accords with all the other statements in the New Testament, where the endowments here referred to "wisdom," "knowledge," "faith," "working of miracles," etc., are traced to the Holy Spirit, and are regarded as his gift.

(4) the harmony, the concinnity of the passage is destroyed by supposing that it refers to anything else than the Holy Spirit. In this verse the agency of the Spirit is recognized, and his operations on the mind referred to; in the next verse the agency of the Son of God (see the note on the verse) is referred to; and in the following verse, the agency of God - evidently the Father - is brought into view; and thus the entire passage Co1 12:4-6 presents a connected view of the operations performed by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the work of redemption. To deny that this verse refers to the Holy Spirit is to break up the harmony of the whole passage, and to render it in no small degree unmeaning. But if this refers to the Holy Spirit, then it is an unanswerable argument for his personality, and for his being on an equality with the Father and the Son.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
gifts Compare (Eph 4:8); (Eph 4:11); (Eph 4:12). The Spirit gives gifts for service to men, Christ gives the gifted men to the churches.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Diversities (διαιρέσεις) Only here in the New Testament. It may also be rendered distributions. There is no objection to combining both meanings, a distribution of gifts implying a diversity. Co1 12:11, however, seems to favor distributions. Gifts (χαρισμάτων) See on Rom 1:11. Administrations (διακονιῶν) Rev., better, ministrations. Compare Eph 4:12. In the New Testament commonly of spiritual service of an official character. See Act 1:25; Act 6:4; Act 20:24; Rom 11:13; Ti1 1:12; and on minister, Mat 20:26.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit - Divers streams, but all from one fountain. This verse speaks of the Holy Ghost, the next of Christ, the sixth of God the Father. The apostle treats of the Spirit, Co1 12:7, &c.; of Christ, Co1 12:12, &c.; of God, Co1 12:28, &c.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
There are diversities of gifts - Χαρισματων· Gracious endowments, leading to miraculous results; such as the gift of prophecy, speaking different tongues, etc. And these all came by the extraordinary influences of the Holy Spirit.

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⁴ There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
⁵ One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
⁶ One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

²⁸ And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

¹² For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

⁶ And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

⁵ And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

¹¹ But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

⁴ Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
⁵ And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
⁶ And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

⁸ For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
⁹ To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
¹⁰ To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
¹¹ But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

⁷ For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

⁷ So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

⁶ Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

²⁹ For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

²³ For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

¹⁵ But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
¹⁶ And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

¹¹ For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

¹² For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

¹¹ And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

⁸ Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

²⁶ But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

¹² And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

¹³ For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

²⁴ But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.