And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
Parallel translations
- WEB There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord.
- BSB There are different ministries, but the same Lord.
- NKJV There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.
- NASB And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.
- NLT There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord is served. Varied ministries unite in serving one Lord.
Overview
Continuing the pattern, Paul notes that the many forms of service in the church all serve the same Lord, Jesus. This frames the gifts as forms of ministry rather than status symbols. The unifying focus on the one Lord calls believers to use their differing roles in humble, coordinated service to Christ and his people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Eph 4:11–12And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
- Rom 12:6–8Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
- Rom 14:8–9For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
- Matt 23:10Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
- 1 Cor 8:6But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
- 1 Cor 12:28–29And 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.
- Acts 10:36The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
- Phil 2:11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 12:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.