For the structure of these verses, see the introduction to this chapter. In Greek all three verses are linked by and. Good News Bible‘s right to omit these conjunctions and begin new sentences for two reasons: first, because verses 5a and 6a introduce no new information; and second, to make the sentence lighter.

The word translated varieties or “different ways” (Good News Bible) is not used elsewhere in the New Testament. It is a compound of the word translated “factions” in 11.19, but without the negative meaning of that word.

The word for gifts (Greek charismata) is not related to the term used in verse 1. It emphasizes the “giving” nature of the gifts, while the term in verse 1 emphasizes the spiritual nature of the gift (see the comments on 1.7). Translators may add the word “spiritual” in these verses as Good News Bible does.

In verse 3 Paul identifies the “Spirit of the Lord” or the “Holy Spirit” as the Spirit who works in Christians. In many languages it will be necessary to keep on using one of these terms in verses 4-13 so that readers are clear which Spirit is referred to. In many languages capitalization does not carry the effect it does in English, and also, when the text is read aloud, the effect of capitalization is lost on the listener. Another way of expressing but the same Spirit is “but it is God’s Spirit who gives them all.”

But the same Lord can be expressed as “but people serve the same Lord” or “but it is the same Lord who is served.”

The word translated working (Good News Bible‘s “abilities to perform service”) is used in the New Testament only here and in verse 10, where it is translated by Good News Bible as “power to work.” It seems likely that Paul uses these different expressions for variety, with little difference in meaning.

In the second part of verses 4, 5, and 6, Paul is not concerned with distinctions between the persons of the Trinity, Spirit, Lord, and God, but with emphasizing that they work together.

Translators would do well to use Good News Bible as a model for translating these three verses. Revised Standard Version‘s translation is too literal, resulting in poor English style.

An alternative translation model for these three verses is:
• 4 There are different kinds of abilities, but God’s Spirit gives them all. 5 There are different ways that people can serve, but people serve the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of abilities for service, but the same God gives ability to every person for their particular service.

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .