1 Corinthians 12:15 kjv
If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1 Corinthians 12:15 nkjv
If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body?
1 Corinthians 12:15 niv
Now if the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.
1 Corinthians 12:15 esv
If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.
1 Corinthians 12:15 nlt
If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," that does not make it any less a part of the body.
1 Corinthians 12 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 12:14 | For the body is not one member, but many. | Body unified by diversity of members |
| 1 Cor 12:18 | But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. | Divine ordination of gifts |
| 1 Cor 12:27 | Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. | Believers as Christ's body |
| Rom 12:4-5 | For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ; and every one members one of another. | Unity in diversity, Christ as head |
| Eph 4:4 | There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; | Singularity of the Spirit and the body |
| Eph 4:7,11-12 | But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: | Spiritual gifts for equipping the saints |
| Col 1:18 | And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. | Christ as Head of the Church |
| Heb 12:23 | To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect; | Heavenly assembly, unity of the church |
| Gen 1:26-27 | And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. | Man as God's image, diversity within unity |
| Ex 4:11 | And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I the LORD? | God as the creator and sustainer of human faculties |
| Psa 139:14 | I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. | Wonder of God's creation |
| Jer 18:6 | As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye, O house of Israel, in mine hand. | God's sovereignty as Creator |
| Matt 20:15 | Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? | God's prerogative and good will |
| John 3:8 | The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that isעל by the Spirit. | Sovereign work of the Spirit |
| Acts 13:22 | And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. | God's choice and purpose for individuals |
| 1 Cor 12:7 | But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. | Purpose of spiritual gifts |
| 1 Cor 12:11 | But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. | Spirit's sovereign distribution of gifts |
| Eph 1:5, 9 | Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, According to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: | God's eternal purpose and good pleasure |
| Phil 2:13 | For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. | God's active role in believers' lives |
| Rev 1:6 | And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. | Believers' divine calling and purpose |
1 Corinthians 12 verses
1 Corinthians 12 15 Meaning
If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? God arranged each one of the members in the body as He pleased.
1 Corinthians 12 15 Context
This verse is part of Paul's extensive teaching on spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12. The Corinthian church, rich in spiritual manifestations, struggled with disunity and pride regarding these gifts. Paul uses the analogy of the human body to illustrate the essential principle of unity in diversity. Just as a body, composed of many different parts, functions as a single unit, so the church, with its varied gifts and members, is meant to be one body in Christ. Verse 15 highlights that if every part were identical to a single, specialized part like the eye, the entire body's functionality would be lost. This emphasizes that God, in His wisdom, has purposefully designed each member with unique roles and abilities, all essential for the body's overall health and operation. This instruction combats the Corinthian tendency to value certain gifts over others or to feel indispensable, thus promoting mutual respect and interdependence.
1 Corinthians 12 15 Word Analysis
- εἰ: (ei) "If." Introduces a hypothetical condition.
- δὲ: (de) "But," "And." A connective particle, here marking a contrast or further point.
- εἰ: (ei) "If." Introduces another hypothetical condition.
- ὅλον: (holon) "the whole." "entire," "complete." Refers to the entirety of something.
- τὸ: (to) "the." Definite article.
- σῶμα: (sōma) "body." Refers to a physical body or, metaphorically, a collective entity like the church.
- ἦν: (ēn) "was." Imperfect tense of the verb "to be." Indicates a past continuous state or a hypothetical past state.
- ὀφθαλμός: (ophthalmos) "eye." One of the five senses.
- ποῦ: (pou) "where?" An interrogative adverb asking about location.
- ἂν: (an) Particle used with subjunctive or indicative moods to express potentiality, possibility, or a rhetorical question concerning what might be.
- ἦν: (ēn) "would be." Imperfect subjunctive of "to be," indicating the consequence of the hypothetical condition.
- ἡ: (hē) "the." Definite article.
- ἀκοή: (akoē) "hearing." The sense of hearing, or the act of listening.
- ὁ: (ho) "the." Definite article.
- Θεός: (Theos) "God." The supreme Being, Creator.
- ἔθετο: (etheto) "has placed," "set," "appointed." Aorist middle indicative of "tithemi" (to place, set). Implies an active and decisive placement.
- τὰ: (ta) "the." Definite article.
- μέλη: (melē) "members." Parts of a body or components of a group.
- ἑκαστον: (hekaston) "each one." Distributive pronoun, emphasizing individual components.
- ἐν: (en) "in," "among." Preposition indicating location or inclusion.
- τῷ: (tō) "the." Dative masculine singular of the definite article.
- σώματι: (sōmati) "body." Dative case, showing relation to "placed."
- καθώς: (kathōs) "as," "just as," "according to." Conjunction indicating manner or accordance.
- ἤθελεν: (ēthelen) "willed," "desired," "pleased." Imperfect active indicative of "thelo" (to will, desire). Continually expresses God's continuous act of willing or pleasure.
Words Group Analysis:
- "If the whole body were an eye...": This entire clause ("εἰ ὅλον τὸ σῶμα ἦν ὀφθαλμός") poses an absurdity. It highlights the impossibility and dysfunction of a singular, undifferentiated composition for a complex organism.
- "...where would be the hearing?": ("ποῦ ἂν ἦν ἡ ἀκοή") This is the consequence of the hypothetical. It points out the inherent deficiency that would result from such a singular makeup, rendering essential functions impossible.
- "God has placed each of the members in the body as He pleased.": ("ὁ Θεὸς ἔθετο τὰ μέλη ἑκαστον ἐν τῷ σώματι καθὼς ἤθελεν") This statement affirms God's deliberate and sovereign authority in assigning roles and gifts. "Placed" (ἔθετο) conveys divine appointment, and "as He pleased" (καθὼς ἤθελεν) underscores His perfect wisdom and will in this distribution.
1 Corinthians 12 15 Bonus Section
The concept of the body with its diverse members mirrors the creation narrative where God made humanity "in our image, after our likeness," implying a corporate yet diversified being (Gen 1:26). This principle of diverse parts working for a common whole is also seen in the Old Testament law, where different individuals had distinct roles in the Tabernacle service, each vital to the sanctuary's functioning. The "pleasure" of God mentioned here (καθὼς ἤθελεν) speaks to His benevolent and purposeful will, not arbitrary whim. His distribution of gifts is for the common good of the church (1 Cor 12:7), reflecting His nature and kingdom purposes. This divine appointment of gifts is consistent with God's sovereign choice throughout Scripture, such as His election of individuals and His ordering of all things according to His plan (Eph 1:5, 11).
1 Corinthians 12 15 Commentary
This verse emphasizes that diversity is not a weakness but an essential component of God’s design for the church, functioning as the body of Christ. The absurdity of the body being solely an eye illustrates the practical necessity of various functions and members working together. God’s deliberate placement of each member, according to His pleasure, underlines His perfect sovereignty in gifting and assigning roles. This should foster humility and appreciation for every member’s contribution, as each part is divinely ordained and indispensable for the whole. The goal is not uniformity but harmonious unity, where distinct functions contribute to the overall health and purpose of the body, preventing pride or the feeling of being unnecessary.
Practical Usage Example:
When a church member feels their spiritual gift is less significant than another's, this verse reminds them that God intentionally designed them with their unique ability, and the church needs that specific function, just as the body needs more than just eyes.