Note 6 at 1Co 12:4: Through 1Co 12:5, Paul was continuing the thought he began in 1Co 12:2 (see note 3 at that verse). He was saying that even though there are different gifts (this verse) and different ways of administering the gifts (1Co 12:5), all the spiritual gifts come from the same Lord through the same Holy Spirit, and therefore, they are all subject to the instructions he was giving. There is no such thing as people who have been gifted by the Holy Spirit in such a way that they are exempt from these guidelines.

Note 7 at 1Co 12:4: The Greek word translated "diversities" here is "DIAIRESIS." It was only used three times in the New Testament, and all three of those times are here in 1Co 12:4-6. It was translated "diversities" in 1Co 12:4 and 6 and "differences" in 1Co 12:5. Therefore, by looking at the Greek word from which these two words were translated, we can see that Paul was using "diversities" and "differences" interchangeably.

Note 8 at 1Co 12:4: In Ga 5:22, Paul said, "But the fruit of the Spirit is," and then he listed nine things. Notice that "fruit" is singular. These nine things are all characteristics of the one fruit in a similar way that light can be divided into many colors, but all those colors are part of light. Individuals who have the Spirit have all nine of these attributes in them, whether they ever manifest them or not.

However, in contrast to that, Paul was saying here that there are different gifts (plural) of the Holy Spirit. No one individual necessarily possesses all nine of the gifts of the Spirit listed here (1Co 12:8-10). In 1Co 12:11, he did say that the Holy Spirit gives "to every man severally as he will." So, it is possible for one person to operate in more than one of these gifts, but it is not every believer's right to do so as it is with the fruit of the Holy Spirit.