One Body with Many Members

1 Corinthians 12

12 For just as i the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, j so it is with Christ. 13 For k in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - l Jews or Greeks, slaves 1 or free - and m all were made to drink of one Spirit.

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 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. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, n God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, o as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, 2 yet one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, p all rejoice together.

27 Now q you are the body of Christ and individually r members of it. 28 And s God has appointed in the church first t apostles, second u prophets, third teachers, then v miracles, then w gifts of healing, x helping, y administrating, and v various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

31 But z earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

  1. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 10:17
    Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
  2. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 12:27
    Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
  3. Cross References
    Romans 6:5
    For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
    Ephesians 2:18
    For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
  4. Cross References
    Galatians 3:28
    There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
    Colossians 3:11
    Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
    Ephesians 2:13 - 17
    But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
  5. Cross References
    John 7:37 - 39
    On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
  6. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 12:28
    And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.
  7. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 12:11
    All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
    1 Corinthians 3:5
    What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.
    Romans 12:3
    For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
  8. Cross References
    Romans 12:15
    Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
  9. Cross References
    Ephesians 1:23
    Which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
    Ephesians 4:12
    To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.
    Ephesians 5:30
    Because we are members of his body.
    Colossians 1:24
    Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.
  10. Cross References
    Romans 12:5
    So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
  11. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 12:18
    But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
  12. Cross References
    Ephesians 4:11
    And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers.
  13. Cross References
    Ephesians 2:20
    Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.
    Ephesians 3:5
    Which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.
  14. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 12:10
    To another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
  15. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 12:10
    To another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
  16. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 12:9
    To another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit.
  17. Cross References
    Acts 20:35
    In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
  18. Cross References
    Romans 12:8
    The one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
    1 Timothy 5:17
    Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
    Hebrews 13:7
    Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
    Hebrews 13:17
    Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
    Hebrews 13:24
    Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings.
  19. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 14:1
    Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
    1 Corinthians 14:39
    So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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