1 Corinthians 12:5

5 and there are distinctions of services, and the same Lord;

1 Corinthians 12:5 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 12:5

And there are differences of administrations
Or ministries; offices in the church, ministered in by different persons, as apostles, prophets, pastors, or teachers and deacons; who were employed in planting and forming of churches, ordaining elders, preaching the word, administering ordinances, and taking care of the poor; for which different gifts were bestowed on them, they not all having the same office.

But the same Lord;
meaning either Jesus Christ, whom the believer, by the Holy Ghost, says is Lord; who, as the ascended King of saints, and Lord and head of the church, appoints different offices and officers in it; and having received, gives gifts unto them, qualifying them for the same; all which comes through the same hand, and not another's; or rather the Lord, the Spirit, who calls men to these several ministrations, separates and fits them for them, and constitutes and installs them into them, and assists them in the discharge of them; since he only, and all along, is spoken of in the context as the efficient of these several things.

1 Corinthians 12:5 In-Context

3 I give you therefore to know, that no one, speaking in [the power of the] Spirit of God, says, Curse [on] Jesus; and no one can say, Lord Jesus, unless in [the power of the] Holy Spirit.
4 But there are distinctions of gifts, but the same Spirit;
5 and there are distinctions of services, and the same Lord;
6 and there are distinctions of operations, but the same God who operates all things in all.
7 But to each the manifestation of the Spirit is given for profit.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.