διαίρεσις

From the study of 1 Corinthians 12:4

Range of meaning

From διαιρέω, 'to take apart, divide, distribute'. In Greek of the period it has two related meanings: (1) the act or result of dividing something up and handing it out (allotment, apportionment, a share), and (2) difference or distinction between things (variety). It can also mean a 'division' in the sense of an organised group or section.

Against the English

KJV 'diversities', ESV/NASB 'varieties', WEB/NIV 'kinds' and BSB 'different' all keep only the 'variety' meaning. None of them keeps the picture of gifts being given out in portions. BSB goes further and turns the noun into an adjective ('different gifts'), so the noun Paul put first for emphasis is lost.

How it drifted

Not drift in the strict sense. English has to choose one meaning, and translators usually pick 'variety' because it fits the contrast with 'the same'. The Latin Vulgate chose the other meaning: divisiones ('divisions, distributions').

Used elsewhere in the period

The Greek Old Testament uses it for the assigned divisions (rotating duty groups) of priests and Levites. In Ezra 6:18 (LXX 2 Esdras) the priests were set 'in their divisions'. Sirach 14:15 speaks of leaving one's labours 'for division by lot', meaning they will be shared out as an inheritance. The related verb appears in this same paragraph in 1 Cor 12:11: the Spirit is 'distributing (diairoun) to each one individually as he wills'.

From the study of 1 Corinthians 12:6

Range of meaning

(1) A division, apportionment or distribution: the act of dividing something up and handing out shares. (2) The resulting difference or distinction between things or kinds. Both senses are common in Greek, and BDAG lists both. The word appears in the New Testament only here and in verses 4–5.

Against the English

KJV "diversities", BSB "different", ESV "varieties" and NASB "varieties" all take sense (2). They lose the active picture of someone dividing things up and giving them out. "Distributions" or "apportionings" keeps sense (1), but then the idea of variety becomes less obvious.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) it can mean apportioned shares. Sirach 14:15 speaks of one's labours being left "for division by lot". Judges 5:15–16 (LXX) uses it for the divisions or clans of Reuben. In classical Greek, Plato uses diairesis for dividing a whole into kinds.