1 Corinthians 12:18-20 KJV

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 12:18

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 Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 12:18

Verse 18 18.But now God hath placed. Here we have another argument, taken from the appointment of God. “It has pleased God, that the body should consist of various members, and that the members should be endowed with various offices and gifts. That member, therefore, which will not rest satisfied with its own station, will wage war with God after the manner of the giants. (756) Let us, therefore, be subject to the arrangement which God has appointed, that we may not, to no purpose, resist his... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 12:19

Verse 19 19.If all were one member He means, that God has not acted at random, or without good reason, in assigning different gifts to the members of the body; but because it was necessary that it should be so, for the preservation of the body; for if this symmetry were taken away, there would be utter confusion and derangement. Hence we ought to submit ourselves the more carefully to the providence of God, which has so suitably arranged everything for our common advantage. One member is taken... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 12:20

Verse 20 20.Many members —one body He repeats this the oftener, because the stress of the whole question lies here — that the unity of the body is of such a nature as cannot be maintained but by a diversity of members; and that, while the members differ from each other in offices and functions, it is in such a way as to have a mutual connection with each other for the preservation of the one body. Hence no body can retain its standing without a diversified symmetry of the members, that we may... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

The Christly assembly. "Now concerning spiritual gifts," etc. All throughout this chapter refers to the Christly assembly. I use this word in preference to the word "Church," for what are now called Churches are not always assemblages of genuine Christians. Overlooking the more minute parts of this remarkable chapter, and taking a broad glance at the whole, there are three important subjects very suggestive and capable of amplification, which are discoverable. These are that every member... read more

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

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

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

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

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

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 12:18

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 12:19

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 12:20

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

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