1 Corinthians 12:26 kjv
And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
1 Corinthians 12:26 nkjv
And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
1 Corinthians 12:26 niv
If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
1 Corinthians 12:26 esv
If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
1 Corinthians 12:26 nlt
If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
1 Corinthians 12 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 12:13 | ...all of us were made to drink of one Spirit. | Unity in Christ's Spirit |
| Rom 12:5 | ...we are many, yet one body in Christ, and each member of one another. | Members of one another |
| Eph 4:4 | There is one body and one Spirit... | Oneness in the Spirit |
| Eph 4:15 | ...grow up in every way into him who is the head, that is, Christ. | Headship of Christ |
| Eph 5:30 | because we are members of his body. | Believers as Christ's body |
| Gal 3:28 | ...you are all one in Christ Jesus. | Unity in Christ |
| Col 1:18 | And he is the head of the body, the church. | Christ as Head of the Church |
| Col 3:15 | And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. | Peace through unity |
| Phil 2:4 | Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. | Concern for others |
| 1 Peter 4:8 | Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. | Importance of love |
| Gen 1:27 | So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. | Shared humanity |
| Ex 30:31-33 | ...This shall be my holy anointing oil. ...to anoint with it the tent of meeting and the ark of the testimony... | Sacred anointing |
| Ps 119:57 | You are my portion, O LORD... | Lord as portion |
| Isa 53:4 | Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows | Christ's suffering |
| Matt 25:37-40 | ...Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. | Serving Christ by serving others |
| Luke 10:27 | And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” | Greatest commandments |
| John 13:34-35 | A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. | Command to love |
| Acts 4:32 | Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. | Early church unity |
| 2 Cor 1:3-4 | Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may also comfort those who are in any trouble... | Comfort in affliction |
| Heb 4:15 | For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. | Christ's sympathy |
| Heb 12:1-3 | ...let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith... | Running the race with endurance |
1 Corinthians 12 verses
1 Corinthians 12 26 Meaning
When one member suffers, all members share in the suffering.
1 Corinthians 12 26 Context
This verse is found in Paul's first letter to the Corinthian church, specifically within chapter 12 which addresses spiritual gifts. Paul is likening the church to a human body, emphasizing the diversity of gifts and members, yet stressing their essential unity. The immediate context (verses 25-26) is about ensuring there is "no division in the body, but... the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice with it." The letter as a whole grapples with issues of division, pride, and the misuse of spiritual gifts within the Corinthian assembly.
1 Corinthians 12 26 Word Analysis
- Εἰ (ei): If. Conditional particle.
- δὲ (de): But. Connects the condition with the consequence.
- πάσχει (paschei): Suffers. Present active indicative, third person singular of πάσχω (paschō), meaning to undergo, experience, or suffer. It refers to experiencing pain, distress, or hardship.
- μέλος (melos): Member. Noun, nominative singular. Refers to a limb or part of a body. In this context, it symbolizes an individual believer within the larger body of Christ.
- συν (syn): With. Preposition. Indicates fellowship or association.
- πάσχει (paschei): Suffers. Same verb as before, emphasizing shared suffering.
- αὐτὸ (auto): It. Neuter accusative singular of αὐτός (autos), a reflexive pronoun. Refers back to the member that is suffering.
- συν (syn): With. Preposition again, reinforcing the shared experience.
- πάντα (panta): All. Neuter accusative plural of πᾶς (pas), meaning all or every. Refers to all the other members of the body.
Group Analysis:
- "If one member suffers, all members suffer with it": This phrase highlights the profound interconnectedness and empathy within the spiritual body of Christ. The suffering of any individual believer affects the entire community. This isn't just a passive recognition, but an active shared experience. The use of the same verb "suffers" (πάσχει) in both instances underscores this shared reality.
1 Corinthians 12 26 Bonus Section
The analogy of the body is frequently used throughout scripture to describe the church's unity (e.g., Rom 12:4-5, Eph 4:15-16, Col 1:18). This specific verse builds on the previous verse which states, "If one member is honored, all rejoice with it." By pairing suffering and honor, Paul illustrates the full spectrum of shared experience that should characterize Christian fellowship. The inherent equality and interdependence of all members, regardless of their specific function or gift (as discussed in earlier verses of chapter 12), is fundamental to this mutual care. This emphasis on shared suffering is deeply rooted in the gospel itself, where Christ suffered for all humanity, making us all part of one redeemed body.
1 Corinthians 12 26 Commentary
This verse underscores the vital principle of Christian community: unity in shared experience. The church is depicted not as a collection of independent individuals, but as an organism, a single body with many parts, where the well-being of each is intrinsically linked to the well-being of all. When one believer experiences hardship, spiritual affliction, persecution, or grief, the other members are meant to feel that pain and respond with compassion and support. This is a divine mandate for mutual care and sensitivity within the Body of Christ. It's an extension of Christ's own sympathy for our weaknesses, as He too experienced suffering for us. The principle demands a sacrificial love that prioritizes the welfare of others as much as, if not more than, our own.
- Practical Implication: When a fellow Christian faces financial crisis, illness, loss of a loved one, or spiritual doubt, the rest of the body should mourn with them, pray for them, and offer practical assistance, rather than being indifferent.
- Example: If one church member is under severe spiritual attack, other mature believers should intercede and stand in the gap for them, rather than gossiping or isolating them.