There are different ministries, but the same Lord.
The apostle comes now to treat of spiritual gifts, which abounded in the church of Corinth, but were greatly abused. What these gifts were is at large told us in the body of the chapter; namely, extraordinary offices and powers, bestowed on ministers and Christians in the first ages, for conviction of unbelievers, and propagation of the gospel. Gifts and graces, charismata and charis, greatly differ.
Commenting on 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
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.
Verse 5. Of administrations. Marg., Ministries. The word properly denotes ministries; so that there are different ranks and grades in the ministries which Christ has appointed, to wit, those specified in . But the same Lord. This refers evidently to the Lord Jesus, by whom these various orders of ministers were appointed, and under whose control they are. . Comp. .