12:7 ministry. “Ministry” (Greek diakonia, from which we get our word “deacon”) refers to “service” in the form of mundane “helps.” In contrast, there is priestly service (Romans 12:1) and also slave service (Romans 12:11).

12:7 teacheth. The only gifts included in all three listings (see note on Romans 12:4) are the gifts of prophecy and teaching. The gift of prophecy would eventually “cease” (I Corinthians 13:8), evidently when the New Testament was completed, but the gift of teaching would continue to be needed in every church in every age.