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1 Corinthians 12:14-26

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

14. For the body is not one member, but many. 15. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16. And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17. If the whole body [were] an eye, where [were] the hearing? If the whole [were] hearing, where [were] the smelling? 18. But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19. And if they were all one member, where [were] the body? 20. But now [are they] many members, yet but one body. 21. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23. And those [members] of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely [parts] have more abundant comeliness. 24. For our comely [parts] have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that [part] which lacked: 25. That there should be no schism in the body; but [that] the members should have the same care one for another. 26. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

1 Corinthians 12:14-26 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on 1 Corinthians 12:14

Theological / Devotional

Body. In vs. 14-26 Paul presents the idea that the unity of organization includes rather than excludes, a plurality of membership. He illustrates this by the organization of the human body, a system in which every part has its necessary duty. No part of the body can be satisfactorily dispensed with if the body is to continue to function efficiently. The different members are introduced as holding a discussion of this problem in a very dramatic style.

One member. The body is composed of various members, which have many offices to perform. A similar variety is to be expected in the church, and it is not to be presumed that all will be alike, or that any member God has placed there will be useless. It is not merely a multiplicity of parts that the body needs, nor a mere multiplicity of persons that a church requires. In both cases that which is required is a full complement of members unitedly performing all necessary functions for the good of the whole. The human body has no place or need for inactive members that do not make a contribution to the general efficiency of the whole organism; similarly the church needs consecrated, active members who continually make their contribution to the efficient performance of the work of the church in winning souls for the kingdom of God (see 4T 590; 5T 456, 457; 6T 434, 435).

By SdaBc