1 Corinthians 12:12-27 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:12-26

The apostle here makes out the truth of what was above asserted, and puts the gifted men among the Corinthians in mind of their duty, by comparing the church of Christ to a human body. I. By telling us that one body may have many members, and that the many members of the same body make but one body (1 Cor. 12:12): As the body is one, and hath many members, and all members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ; that is, Christ mystical, as divines commonly speak. Christ... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:27-31

I. Here the apostle sums up the argument, and applies this similitude to the church of Christ, concerning which observe, 1. The relation wherein Christians stand to Christ and one another. The church, or whole collective body of Christians, in all ages, is his body. Every Christian is a member of his body, and every other Christian stands related to him as a fellow-member (12:27): Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular, or particular members. Each is a member of the body,... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

12:12-31 Just as the body is one, although it has many members, and just as all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by the one Spirit we have all been baptized in such a way as to become one body, whether we be Jews or Greeks, whether we be slaves or free men; and we have all been watered by the one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot were to say, "Because I am not the hand I am not of the body," it is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:12

For as the body is one ,.... That is, an human body; for of this the apostle speaks, and takes a simile, and forms a comparison from, showing the union among saints, and their mutual participation of the various gifts of the Spirit; for an human body is but one body, and not more. And hath many members ; as eyes, ears, hands, feet, &c.; And all the members of that one body being many are one body ; as numerous as they may be, they all belong to, and make up but one body;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:13

For by one Spirit are we all baptized ,.... This is to be understood not of water baptism; for the apostle says not in one, and the same water, but "by", or "in" one Spirit, are we all baptized; the baptism of water, and of the Spirit, are two different things; see Matthew 3:11 . Besides, all that are baptized in water, are not baptized in or by the Spirit, as the case of Simon Magus, and that of others, show; nor does water baptism incorporate persons into the church of Christ; neither... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:14

For the body is not one member ,.... Not only one; nor is anyone member the body, though ever so eminent, as the head or eye: thus the church of Christ is not one person only, or does not consist of one sort of persons; as only of Jews, or only of Gentiles, or only of rich and freemen, or only of men of extraordinary gifts and abilities, or greatly eminent for grace and spiritual knowledge: but many ; members, as the Arabic version adds; as eyes, ears, hands, feet, &c.; so in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:15

If the foot shall say ,.... The lowest member of the body, which is nearest the earth, treads upon it, sustains the whole weight of the body, and performs the more drudging and fatiguing exercises of standing and walking; and may represent one that is in the lowest station in the church, a doorkeeper in the house of God; one that is really the least of saints, as well as thinks himself so; and has the smallest degree of heavenly affection, and knowledge of spiritual light and understanding; ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:16

And if the ear shall say ,.... The organ that receives sounds, and can distinguish them, and in which member is placed the sense of hearing; and may design such as are hearers of the word of God, not merely externally, but internally; who hear so as to love, savour, and relish it; so as to understand and believe it, and to act in compliance with it; and distinguish it for themselves, though they may not be able to give a distinct account of it to others, or instruct others in it: because... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:17

If the whole body were an eye ,.... And nothing else, where were the hearing ? there would be no ear, and so no sense of hearing: and if the whole were hearing: or only consisted of a member capable of the sense of hearing, where were the smelling ? there would be no nose, the organ of smelling, and that sense would be wanting: thus if the church only consisted of ministers of the Gospel, of men of eminent light and knowledge, qualified for the preaching of the word to others, there... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:18

But now hath God set the members ,.... The members of a natural body, as they are all made and fashioned by God in the form they be, so they are each of them set by him in the place they are: everyone of them in the body as it hath pleased him ; according to his sovereign will, without consulting any; and each stands in the best situation and position they could be put, and for the greatest service and usefulness to the whole: so God, and not man, hath set every member in the mystical... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:12-26

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:27-31

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:18

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