1 Corinthians 12:18 kjv
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
1 Corinthians 12:18 nkjv
But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
1 Corinthians 12:18 niv
But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
1 Corinthians 12:18 esv
But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
1 Corinthians 12:18 nlt
But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.
1 Corinthians 12 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Corinthians 12:11 | God distributes all these gifts, deciding what each should give. | All gifts are sovereignly given |
| Romans 12:3 | God has assigned to each of you the measure of faith. | Measure of faith |
| Ephesians 4:11 | Christ gave some as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers | Church gifted ministries |
| Ephesians 2:20 | built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets | Apostolic foundation |
| 1 Peter 4:10 | Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others. | Stewardship of gifts |
| Genesis 1:26 | God made humankind in His image, reflecting His nature. | Image of God |
| Psalm 139:13-16 | God knit us together in our mother's womb, knowing our frame. | God's intimate knowledge |
| Jeremiah 1:5 | "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you." | Predestination |
| Acts 16:6-10 | The Holy Spirit prevented Paul from going to Bithynia. | Directed by the Spirit |
| Colossians 1:17 | Christ holds all things together in him. | Christ's preeminence |
| 1 Corinthians 1:10 | Paul appeals for unity in the church. | Unity in the church |
| Romans 12:4-5 | The body has many parts, but all are not the same. So in Christ we who are many form one body. | Body of Christ metaphor |
| Ephesians 4:1-3 | Urging unity and peace among believers. | Exhortation to unity |
| Genesis 2:18 | "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make a helper suitable for him." | God's design for relationship |
| John 15:5 | "I am the vine; you are the branches." | Believers connected to Christ |
| Galatians 3:28 | "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." | Unity in Christ |
| 1 Corinthians 3:5 | Who then is Paul? Who is Apollos? Merely servants. | Servants, not masters |
| 1 Corinthians 12:27 | "Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it." | Identity as Christ's body |
| Hebrews 2:11 | Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. | Christ and believers |
| Romans 9:16 | "It does not, therefore, depend on man’s willing or running, but on God’s mercy." | God's sovereign choice |
1 Corinthians 12 verses
1 Corinthians 12 18 Meaning
God has arranged each part of the body and placed them as He willed, establishing their specific function and importance. This divine arrangement ensures the body functions as a unified whole, with each member dependent on the others.
1 Corinthians 12 18 Context
1 Corinthians 12 is addressing divisions and misunderstandings within the Corinthian church, particularly regarding spiritual gifts. Paul uses the analogy of the human body to illustrate how different gifts, though diverse, are all necessary and coordinated by God for the proper functioning of the church, which is Christ's body. Verse 18, in particular, serves as a bridge, explaining why each part (gift/person) is where it is – it's by God's deliberate design. This concept helps to temper pride in those with more visible gifts and encourage those with less obvious ones, fostering unity and mutual dependence.
1 Corinthians 12 18 Word Analysis
δὲ (de): A particle, meaning "but," "and," "also." It functions here to connect this verse logically to the preceding one, transitioning to an explanation of the divine order.
ἔθετο (etheto): Aorist indicative active, from the verb θέμα (thema), meaning "to put," "to place," "to set." In this context, it signifies God's deliberate placement of each individual and their spiritual endowment. This implies intention and purpose, not accident.
ὁ θεὸς (ho theos): "God." The subject of the sentence, emphasizing divine agency. All arrangement and gifting originates from God.
ἐν (en): Preposition, meaning "in," "by," "with." Here, it indicates the manner or sphere within which God placed the members – "in the body."
τῇ (tē): Definite article, feminine dative singular, modifying "body."
σώματι (sōmati): Dative singular of σῶμα (sōma), meaning "body." It refers to the unified organism of believers, the Church. The dative case indicates "in" or "into" the body.
ἓν ἑκάστου (hen hekastou): "one of each." ἑν (hen) is the accusative singular neuter of εἷς (heis), meaning "one." ἑκάστου (hekastou) is the genitive singular of ἕκαστος (hekastos), meaning "each one." This signifies that God has appointed and assigned a specific place or function for each individual member.
ἐν (en): Another instance of the preposition, emphasizing placement.
αὐτῷ (autō): Dative singular masculine of αὐτός (autos), meaning "himself" or "it." It refers back to "God," indicating God placed them in Himself, or as part of His own counsel.
Words Group Analysis:
- "God placed in the body": Highlights God's sovereign authority and purposeful action in assigning roles within the Church community.
- "one of each": Stresses the particularity and individual allocation of function by God, ensuring no one is without purpose or place.
1 Corinthians 12 18 Bonus Section
The concept of God "placing" members is deeply rooted in Old Testament imagery, such as the intimate formation of individuals in the womb (Psalm 139). This theological understanding of God's providential arrangement of people and their gifts underscores the unity and order of the Church as His intentional creation. It mirrors the intricate design of the physical body, where each organ is essential and works in harmony. This teaching calls believers to embrace their assigned roles with humility and gratitude, recognizing that their unique function contributes to the perfect working of the entire body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12 18 Commentary
Paul asserts that the diversity of gifts and members in the church is not haphazard but divinely ordained. God Himself strategically positions each believer within the corporate body of Christ. This positioning is not arbitrary but intended for the overall health and functioning of the whole. This divine ordering ensures that every part, no matter how seemingly small or insignificant, has a vital role assigned by God. It reinforces the interdependence of believers, preventing pride and despair, and calling for submission to God's sovereign plan for His Church.