C. One Body with Many Members
1. The Constitution of the Body
1. The Constitution of the Body
- For even as the body is one and has many members, yet all the members of the body, being many, are one body, so also is the Christ.
- For also in one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and were all given to drink one Spirit.
- For the body is not one member but many.
- If the foot should say, Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body, it is not that because of this it is not of the body.
- And if the ear should say, Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body, it is not that because of this it is not of the body.
- If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were the hearing, where would the smelling be?
- But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, even as He willed.
- And if all were one member, where would the body be?
- But now the members are many, but the body one.
- And 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.
- But much rather the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
- And those members of the body which we consider to be less honorable, these we clothe with more abundant honor; and our uncomely members come to have more abundant comeliness,
- But our comely members have no need. But God has blended the body together, giving more abundant honor to the member that lacked,
- That there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same care for one another.
- And whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or one member is glorified, all the members rejoice with it.
- Now you are the Body of Christ, and members individually.
- And God has placed some in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then works of power, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
- Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all have works of power?
- Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret tongues?
- But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And moreover I show to you a most excellent way.
