What Does 1 Corinthians 12:5 Mean in the King James?

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

1 Corinthians 12:5 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The same Lord holds the differences together because each difference is a form of service.

THE MEANING

Your service takes different forms, and the same Lord holds those forms together. The word translated “administrations” is ⁨διακονία⁩ (diakonia), meaning service; its word family also names a servant and the act of serving. The difference is in how service takes shape, not in who the Lord is.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

Different ways of serving do not mean you belong to a different Lord or that your service must look like someone else’s to belong.

THE ROOT

διακονιῶν

diakoniōn

GROWS FROM

διακον-

diakon-

Service or serving.

“administrations” in this verse is diakoniōn. The Greek word-family joins service, servant, and serving: ⁨διακονία⁩ (diakonia), ⁨διάκονος⁩ (diakonos), and ⁨διακονέω⁩ (diakoneō). So the verse’s differences are distinct forms of service held under the same Lord.

ALSO GROWS

diakonos: Servant; one who serves.

διάκονος

The servant belongs to the same word-family as the different services named here.

diakoneō: To serve or minister.

διακονέω

This verb names service in action, showing that the varied administrations are ways of serving.

THE PATTERN

Different capacities and forms of service can come from one source and belong to one shared purpose.

And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;

Exodus 31:6 · KJVDifferent makers receive wisdom from the same God for the work they are given.

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

Romans 12:6 · KJVDiffering gifts are held within the favor given to the whole community.

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

1 Peter 4:10 · KJVDifferent gifts become forms of serving one another, all held within God’s manifold favor.

THE THREAD

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Mark 10:45 · KJV

The Greek verb translated “minister” belongs to the same ⁨διακον-⁩ (diakon-) family as “administrations” here. Mark places the Son of Man’s own work within that service-family, opening the many services of this verse as expressions of a pattern already present in the Lord.

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