Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Corinthians 12:5

"And there are diversities of ministrations, and the same Lord." — 1 Corinthians 12:5 (ASV)

Of administrations. Margin: Ministries. The word properly denotes ministries, so that there are different ranks and grades in the ministries which Christ has appointed, namely, those specified in 1 Corinthians 12:9, 10, 28.

But the same Lord. This evidently refers to the Lord Jesus, by whom these various orders of ministers were appointed, and under whose control they are. (See the commentary on Acts 1:24).

Compare Ephesians 4:5. The term Lord, when it stands by itself in the New Testament, usually refers to the Lord Jesus, the name by which He was commonly known by the disciples .

The fact also that this stands between the mention of the work of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 4:4) and the work of God (1 Corinthians 12:6), and that the appointment of these various grades of officers in the church pertained to the Lord Jesus (Luke 10:1 and following), is further proof that this refers to Him.

The design of the verse is to show that all these offices were appointed by Him, and that since all were His appointment and all were necessary, no one should be proud of an elevated station; no one should be depressed or feel degraded because he has been assigned to a more humble office.