Note 6 at 1 Cor. 12:4: Through verse 5, Paul is continuing the thought he began in verse 2 (see note 2 at v. 2). He is saying that even though there are different gifts (v. 4) and different ways of administering the gifts (v. 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 is giving. There is no such thing as an individual who has been gifted by the Holy Spirit in such a way that he is exempt from these guidelines.

Note 7 at 1 Cor. 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 1 Corinthians 12:4-6. It was translated "diversities" twice in verses 4 and 6 and "differences" once in verse 5. Therefore, by looking at the Greek word from which these two words were translated, we can see that Paul is using "diversities" and "differences" interchangeably.

Note 8 at 1 Cor. 12:4: In Galatians 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. An individual who has the Spirit has all nine of these attributes in him whether he ever manifests them or not.

But, in contrast to that, Paul is 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 (vv. 8-10). In verse 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.