By Timothy W. Burnett
God is emphasizing something with the repetitive use of "same." It is the same spirit, the same Lord, and the same God. God is the one true God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The spirit of God is His gift which was poured out on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2:1-4. God did not give various kinds of holy spirits for different people. But He did give various gifts that are available by the same spirit. He gave different administrations or ways to serve that are available by the same Lord Jesus Christ. And the one and same God gave various operations or workings that are able to work mightily for all people, in all who are filled with holy spirit. Think of the spirit of God as a package that is fully complete and available for anybody who believes with the heart that God rasied Jesus Christ from the dead (Romans 10:9-10).
These verses make for a very good study. According to E.W. Bullinger's notes in the King James Companion bible, the words "gifts," "administrations" and "operations" came from the earlier known Greek words charisma, diakonia and energema (respectively). In some cases it helps to work the Greek translations. The Greek word charisma meant gifts of grace, favor or free gifts. The word "administrations" meant the service rendered by servants. The word "operations" referred to the thing worked, or the effect. For anybody who wants to study the various uses of each word, a good tool is Young's Analytical Concordance to the Bible (King James). It is available in most Christian bookstores. It may also be found in used-book stores for a much lower price. An excellent webiste for Biblical studies is in crosswalk.com.
The word "charisma" is always translated gift(s). Go to Romans 6:23, "...the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." In 2Corinthians 1:11 it is used as gifts freely given to Paul and his company. Ephesians 4:7 uses "charisma" in the context of ministries, "...and He gave some apostles: and some prophets: and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ..." (Ephesians 4:11-12). In the previous scripture, the word "ministry" is translated from the Greek word "diakonia." The word "energema" is used only in 1Corinthians 12:6&10 where it refers to "working of miracles." But its verb form is used in 1Thessalonians 2:13, "For this cause also we thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard of us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God which effectually works in you that believe."
Our readers are encouraged to search out and study the various uses of the above mentioned words used in 1Corinthians 12:4-6. By God's grace we no longer need to walk in spiritual ignorance. Instead, we can shine God's radiant light in our minds and hearts.
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