---
title: 1 Corinthians 12:4
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/1-corinthians-12-4/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/1-corinthians-12-4.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: 1 Corinthians 12:4
testament: NT
section: Letters
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# 1 Corinthians 12:4

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.

## NWT Wording of the Key Phrase

- NWT (2013 revision): "Now there are different gifts, but there is the same spirit"

## JW Usage

Read as describing the variety of ways Jehovah's active force operates among his people. Because the holy spirit is taught to be an impersonal force rather than a person, the "same spirit" is understood as one power producing many effects — like one current running many appliances.

## Protestant Usage

Read verses 4 to 6 as the unit Paul wrote. There are different gifts but the same spirit; different ministries but the same Lord; different activities but the same God. Three parallel lines, three named subjects, one pattern of unity in diversity. Paul is not building a doctrine of the Trinity here, but the shape of his sentence assumes something. Then go to verse 11, which is the one to actually press. In the NWT: all these operations are performed by the very same spirit, distributing to each one respectively just as it wills. Just as it wills. The Greek verb is one of volition — deciding, choosing, wanting. A force does not distribute gifts according to what it wants. Electricity does not choose which appliance gets power. Whatever the NWT's pronoun, the verb attributes a will. Add the rest: the Spirit searches the deep things of God (2:10), can be lied to as a person is (Acts 5:3-4, where lying to the holy spirit is called lying to God), teaches, testifies, and can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30). Compare 1 Corinthians 2:11, John 15:26, 1 Peter 1:2.

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [One Hope, Not Two](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/one-hope.md) — Ephesians 4:4 -- The Sevenfold Unity [Salvation]
- [We Didn't Invent the Trinity — We Summarised What God Revealed](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/trinity-from-revelation-not-deduction.md) — A summary of three biblical revelations, not a philosophical speculation [Deity of Christ]