1 Corinthians 12:19 kjv
And if they were all one member, where were the body?
1 Corinthians 12:19 nkjv
And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
1 Corinthians 12:19 niv
If they were all one part, where would the body be?
1 Corinthians 12:19 esv
If all were a single member, where would the body be?
1 Corinthians 12:19 nlt
How strange a body would be if it had only one part!
1 Corinthians 12 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 12:12 | For as the body is one, and hath many members... | Unity in Christ's Body |
| 1 Cor 12:14 | For the body is not one member, but many. | Diversity of gifts, unity of body |
| 1 Cor 12:18 | But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. | Divine appointment of gifts |
| 1 Cor 12:20 | Now are there many members, yet but one body. | Essential unity of believers |
| 1 Cor 12:25 | That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. | Mutual care within the body |
| Rom 12:4 | For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: | Analogy of the human body |
| Gal 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. | Spiritual equality in Christ |
| Eph 4:4 | There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; | Basis of church unity |
| Eph 4:16 | From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. | Interdependence and growth |
| 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 |
| Ps 139:14 | I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth it right well. | Divine creation of the body |
| Eccl 4:9 | Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. | Value of companionship and unity |
| Prov 17:17 | A friend loveth at all times, and a thou ght is born of a brother inadversity. | Strength in fellowship |
| Matt 18:20 | For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. | Christ's presence in unity |
| John 13:34-35 | A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. | The mark of discipleship |
| Acts 2:42 | And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. | Early church unity and practice |
| Heb 10:25 | Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. | Importance of meeting together |
| 1 Pet 4:8 | And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. | Love as a unifying force |
| 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. | Created in God's image, unity and diversity |
1 Corinthians 12 verses
1 Corinthians 12 19 Meaning
If all members were the same, the body would be one.
1 Corinthians 12 19 Context
First Corinthians chapter 12 addresses spiritual gifts. Paul is instructing the Corinthian church on the proper use and understanding of these gifts. He emphasizes that while gifts are diverse, they originate from the same Spirit and are intended to build up the body of Christ. This verse highlights the importance of unity within the diverse functioning of the church. The Corinthians had a problem with divisions and with valuing certain gifts over others, leading to pride and disunity. Paul uses the analogy of the human body to illustrate that just as a body needs all its different parts to function as a whole, the church needs all its diverse gifts and members. If every part were the same, the body would be singular, lacking the necessary functions and wholeness. This verse serves as a foundation for the subsequent verses that further explain the interdependence and equality of members within the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12 19 Word Analysis
- Εἰ (ei): If.
- A conditional particle. It introduces a hypothesis or possibility.
- μὲν (men): Indeed, on the one hand.
- A particle used for emphasis or to mark a division or contrast, often balanced by another particle (like de) later. Here it introduces the first part of a conditional statement.
- γὰρ (gar): For.
- A conjunction, usually causal or explanatory. It explains or provides a reason for what precedes.
- τὰ (ta): The.
- The definite article, neuter plural.
- μέλη (mele): Members.
- From melos, meaning a limb, an organ, or a part of the body. In a spiritual sense, it refers to individual believers within the church.
- ἕν (hen): One.
- The numeral "one."
- τὸ (to): The.
- The definite article, neuter singular.
- σῶμα (sōma): Body.
- The human body. Here used metaphorically for the body of Christ, the church.
- ᾢ (hō): Where, in which.
- A relative pronoun, dative case, masculine singular, referring to sōma.
- οὐκ (ouk): Not.
- The negative particle.
- ἔστιν (estin): Is.
- Third person singular present indicative of the verb eimi, "to be."
- εἴ (ei): If.
- Same as the first ei, repeating the conditional particle.
- τὰ (ta): The.
- The definite article, neuter plural.
- ἄν (an): Would.
- A particle used with the subjunctive to indicate potential or hypothetical action; softens the assertion.
- πάντα (panta): All.
- The neuter plural of pas, "all."
- εἰσὶν (eisin): They are.
- Third person plural present indicative of the verb eimi, "to be."
Words-group analysis:
- "εἰ μὲν γὰρ τὰ μέλη ἓν τὸ σῶμα" (ei men gar ta mele hen to sōma): "If indeed the members were one body." This phrasing sets up a hypothetical scenario. Paul is presenting a stark contrast to the reality of the body's many parts. If all the members were one, then the result would be a singular entity, not a functioning whole. The use of "μὲν... γὰρ" (men... gar) emphasizes the explanatory nature of this conditional statement as Paul moves from illustrating diversity to explaining its necessary outcome.
1 Corinthians 12 19 Bonus Section
This verse, while seemingly simple, is crucial for understanding the Pauline concept of the church as the body of Christ. It acts as a foundational argument for why diversity is not a threat to unity, but rather the very basis for its existence and proper functioning. The logical consequence presented—that the body would simply "be one" if all members were the same—implies a lack of purpose or definition. The inherent value of a body lies in its composition of different parts, each essential for its holistic identity and operation. This concept contrasts sharply with ideas of imposed uniformity or a desire to eliminate differences for the sake of perceived peace, a tendency that sometimes arose in the Corinthian church.
1 Corinthians 12 19 Commentary
Paul asserts that if all the parts of the body were identical, there would be only a single member. This underscores the vital necessity of diversity within the body of Christ. Each member, with its unique gifts and functions, contributes to the complete functioning of the church. A body composed of only one type of cell or limb would be non-viable and dysfunctional. Similarly, a church where all believers had the same gifts would be severely limited and incomplete. This statement reinforces the principle that God sovereignly designed the church with a diversity of gifts, enabling each part to fulfill its role in unity and mutual dependence.