Bible Strands
1 Corinthians 12:6
There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the divided Corinthian church to contextualize the distribution of spiritual gifts. He places this statement between declarations about diverse ministries and the Spirit's manifestations to anchor the community's unity in God's singular agency.
The words — The Greek διαιρέσεις (diaireseis) means "varieties" or "divisions," paired with ἐνεργημάτων (energēmatōn), literally "of workings." Together they frame the verse's focus on distinct operations rather than uniform actions.
The thread — The pattern of diverse operations under one divine agent appears in 1 Corinthians 12:5 regarding ministries, 1 Corinthians 12:11 regarding the Spirit's apportioning, and 1 Corinthians 3:7 regarding God's role in growth. John 5:17 also notes the Father's continuous work mirrored by the Son.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to accept functional diversity without attributing ultimate causality to human agents. It demands a shift from measuring spiritual worth to recognizing a single source behind every distinct operation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 3:7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
- John 5:17 But Jesus answered them, “To this very day My Father is at His work, and I too am working.”
- 1 Corinthians 12:11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions them to each one as He determines.
- Hebrews 13:21 equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
- Ephesians 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
- Philippians 2:13 For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
- Colossians 1:29 To this end I also labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me.
- Colossians 3:11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.
- 1 Corinthians 15:28 And when all things have been subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all.
- Ephesians 1:19 and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength,