Note 10 at 1 Cor. 12:6: The word "operations" was translated from the Greek word "energema," meaning "an effect" (Strong's). Fritz Rienecker's Linguistic Key to the Greek New Testament says this Greek word means "perform-ance. . . These are the results or effects of the working through energy" (p. 428). Some different translations of this word are: ". . .varieties of things accomplished" (Berkeley Version of the New Testament), ". . .results differ" (Twentieth Century New Testament), "And there are varieties of effects" (NASB). All of these renderings point to the meaning that the same gift operating through different people can get different results.

People who fail to understand this simple truth have criticized others who claimed to have the same gift as them and yet didn't use it the same way or got different results. They made the mistake of thinking that if someone else had the same gift that they had, then it would work exactly the same way. That thinking is wrong. The same Lord can administer the same gift through different people and get different results.

Note 11 at 1 Cor. 12:6: The Trinity is clearly referred to in these verses. Verse 4 says these are the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Verse 5 says Jesus administers the gifts. And verse 6 says God the Father is the one who is at work through the gifts.

Note 12 at 1 Cor. 12:6: Paul is saying that God is the one working all these gifts in all men (see ref. h at this verse). The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are directly in control of all the gifts of the Spirit so no one is free to do "his own thing" with these gifts. The use of the gifts have to conform to the instructions the Lord is giving through Paul (see note 3 at v. 2, p. 926 and note 6 at v. 4, p. 927).