1 Corinthians 12:12 kjv
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12 nkjv
For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12 niv
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12 esv
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12 nlt
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 12:13 | "For we were all baptized into one body..." | Unity in the body of Christ |
| Rom 12:4-5 | "For as in one body we have many members..." | Different gifts in one body |
| Eph 4:4 | "There is one body and one Spirit..." | Oneness in Christ |
| Gal 3:28 | "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free..." | Unity transcends divisions in Christ |
| Col 1:18 | "And he is the head of the body, the church..." | Christ as the head of the body |
| Acts 1:8 | "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you..." | The role of the Holy Spirit in empowering |
| Eph 2:19 | "...no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens with the saints..." | Belonging to the household of God |
| John 17:21 | "...that they may all be one..." | Jesus' prayer for unity among believers |
| 1 Cor 10:17 | "Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body..." | Communion signifies unity |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | "I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you..." | Exhortation for unity |
| 1 Peter 4:10 | "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another..." | Stewardship of spiritual gifts |
| Eph 4:11-12 | "...to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ..." | Gifts for the edification of the church |
| Rom 12:3 | "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think..." | Humility regarding gifts |
| Col 3:15 | "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body..." | Peace in the one body |
| Heb 12:23 | "...and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven..." | The church as a heavenly assembly |
| Eph 4:1-3 | "...eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." | Maintaining unity |
| 1 Cor 6:17 | "But whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him." | Union with Christ |
| 1 Cor 1:30 | "He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus..." | Christ as the source of life |
| John 15:5 | "I am the vine; you are the branches..." | Believers' connection to Christ |
| Rom 12:6 | "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us..." | Diversity of gifts from grace |
| 1 Cor 12:27 | "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." | Believers are members of Christ's body |
| Eph 4:16 | "...by which the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is supplied, grows and builds itself up in love." | Body growth and mutual support |
| Rom 12:5 | "So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individual members of one another." | Mutual belonging within the body |
1 Corinthians 12 verses
1 Corinthians 12 12 Meaning
This verse teaches that just as a physical body is a single entity with many parts, believers form one spiritual body in Christ, despite having diverse gifts and abilities.
1 Corinthians 12 12 Context
This verse is part of a larger discourse in 1 Corinthians 12-14 on spiritual gifts and their use within the church. The Corinthian church, experiencing spiritual vitality, was struggling with divisions and disorder, particularly in how different gifts were being exercised. Paul addresses this by emphasizing the essential unity of the Church as the body of Christ. He begins by likening the Church to the human body, where various members function together harmoniously. This analogy serves to highlight that diversity of gifts is not a cause for pride or division, but rather a sign of the body’s completeness and functionality, all orchestrated by the one Spirit. The chapter aims to correct the Corinthians' misunderstandings and misapplication of spiritual gifts, promoting order, unity, and mutual edification.
1 Corinthians 12 12 Word Analysis
- “For” (γάρ - gar): A conjunction indicating a reason or explanation. It connects this verse to the preceding discussion about the Holy Spirit's work.
- “the body” (τὸ σῶμα - to sōma): Refers to the physical human body. It is used metaphorically here to represent the Church, the collective community of believers united in Christ.
- “is” (ἐστιν - estin): The third-person singular present indicative of εἰμί (eimi), meaning "to be." It affirms the state of being.
- “one” (ἕν - hen): The neuter singular form of εἷς (heis), meaning "one" or "a single." It emphasizes the singular, unified nature of the body despite its many parts.
- “though” (εἰ καὶ - ei kai): A concessive clause meaning "even if," "although," or "though." It introduces the contrast between the multitude of members and the singularity of the body.
- “it has” (ἔχει - echei): The third-person singular present indicative of ἔχω (echō), meaning "to have" or "to possess." It refers to the body possessing various members.
- “many” (πολλά - polla): The neuter plural of πολύς (polys), meaning "many" or "much." It signifies the multitude of individual parts.
- “members” (μέλη - melē): The nominative plural of μέλος (melos), meaning "limb," "member," or "part." It refers to the individual components that make up the whole body.
Words-Group Analysis
- “the body is one, though it has many members”: This phrase is the core of the analogy. It establishes the principle of unity in diversity. The singular "body" represents the unified Church in Christ, while the plural "members" represents individual believers, each with distinct gifts and roles. This mirrors the human body where diverse organs and limbs function as a cohesive unit.
1 Corinthians 12 12 Bonus Section
The concept of "body" as a metaphor for a community or collective is found in classical Greek literature, but Paul applies it specifically and theologically to the Church, grounding it in the union of believers with Christ. The specific term "members" (melē) not only refers to limbs but also to parts of a discourse or members of a society, reinforcing the idea of individual contributions to the larger whole. This doctrine of the Church as the body of Christ has profound implications for how believers should treat one another, emphasizing interdependence, mutual respect, and love, rather than competition or arrogance based on spiritual gifts.
1 Corinthians 12 12 Commentary
Paul uses a powerful analogy of the human body to explain the nature of the Church. Just as a body, with all its varied parts like hands, feet, eyes, and ears, is fundamentally one organism, so too is the body of Christ. The Church is one unified entity in its spiritual identity in Christ, even though it comprises a multitude of individual believers. These believers, or "members," possess diverse spiritual gifts and functions given by the Holy Spirit. The point is not about uniformity of gifts but about unity of belonging. This unity is established by Christ and the Spirit, transcending ethnic, social, or spiritual distinctions that might otherwise cause division. The health and purpose of the body depend on the proper functioning of each member, contributing to the edification and mission of the entire Church. This unity in diversity is a testament to God's design for the Church.