1 Corinthians 12:14-26

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

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 12:14

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:19

And if they were all one member ,.... As all eye, or all ear, or all hand, or all foot: where were the body ? where would be the body? it would not be a body consisting of such proper and suitable members, as now it is: so if the community of the saints were either all ministers, or all hearers, &c.; there would be no body, consisting of different persons, to receive any benefit or usefulness from either; the church of Christ would not be that uniform, useful, and consistent... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:20

But now are they many members ,.... Of different make and shape, in different parts and places, and of different use and service: yet but one body ; all are united together, and make up one complete body, and which without each of them would not be perfect: so there are many members in the body of Christ, the church; some are teachers, others are hearers; some give, and others receive; but all make up but one church, of which Christ is the head; nor can anyone of them be spared; was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:21

And the eye cannot say unto the hand ,.... Every member of the natural body is useful and necessary. The eye, the seat of the sense of seeing, cannot say to the communicating and working hand, I have no need of thee : I can do without thee: so the seers and overseers of the church, the ministers of the Gospel, cannot say to the liberal and munificent hands, we have no need of you; for as the one stand in need of the light, instruction, comfort, advice, and direction of the other, so the... read more

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