1 Corinthians 12:4-6
(4) There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
(5) There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.
(6) There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. (NIV)

1. There is no mention here of the “Trinity.” The verses speak of three: God, Christ and the spirit, but do not speak of a Trinitarian formula. We put “spirit” with a lower case “s” because it refers to God’s gift of holy spirit that is born in each believer.

2. We find it significant, especially in light of Trinitarian doctrine, that the three mentioned in this verse are “spirit,” “Lord” and “God” instead of “spirit,” “Lord” and “Father.” Morgridge writes:

Three objects are distinctly mentioned—God, Christ and the Spirit. If Christ and the Spirit were persons in the Trinity, the distinct mention of them would be superfluous, they being included in “God.” But as one of the objects mentioned is called “God,” it follows that neither of the other two can be God; for we know that “there is none other God but one.” If the three objects were the three persons in the Trinity, why is the name “God” given to one of them only?

We agree with Morgridge that the mention of “God” as one of the three, precludes the other two from being “God.” The language of the text is plain and simple. There are three distinct things being mentioned, and any attempt to force them together into “one” distorts the simple truth being communicated by the Word of God.

Morgridge, pp. 101 and 102

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