1 Corinthians 12:12

1 Corinthians 12:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
• New International Version (NIV)Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.

Context of 1 Corinthians 12:12

10and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 14For the body is not one part, but many.

1 Corinthians 12:12 word by word

Καθάπερ γὰρ τὸ σῶμα ἕν ἐστιν καὶ μέλη πολλὰ ἔχει, πάντα δὲ τὰ μέλη τοῦ σώματος πολλὰ ὄντα ἕν ἐστιν σῶμα, οὕτως καὶ ὁ Χριστός.Read the interlinear

• For justκαθάπερkathaper · just asG2509
• the bodyσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983
• is oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
• hasἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• manyπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• partsμέλοςmelos · memberG3196
• and allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• alsoκαίkai · andG2532
• is ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 12:12

• 1 Corinthians 10:17Since there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.
• Romans 12:4For just as we have many parts in one body and all the body’s parts do not have the same function,
• Ephesians 1:23which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
• Ephesians 4:4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling;
• Ephesians 5:23For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.
• Colossians 1:18He is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
• Colossians 2:19and not holding firmly to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.
• Colossians 3:15Let the peace of Christ, to which you were indeed called in one body, rule in your hearts; and be thankful.
• 1 Corinthians 12:27Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.
• Galatians 3:16Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as one would in referring to many, but rather as in referring to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 12:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12For as the body is one - Though the human body have many members, and though it be composed of a great variety of parts, yet it is but one entire system; every part and member being necessary to the integrity or completeness of the whole. So also is Christ - That is, So is the Church the body of Christ, being composed of the different officers already mentioned, and especially those enumerated, 1 Corinthians 12:28, apostles, prophets, teachers, etc. It…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12For as the body is one - The general sentiment which the apostle had been illustrating and enforcing was, that all the endowments which were possessed in the church were the work of the same Holy Spirit, and that they ought to be appropriately cherished and prized, as being all useful and valuable in their places. This sentiment he now illustrates 1 Corinthians 12:27, meaning that it is one, and that he sustains to it the relation of Head; compare…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-26Verses 12-26 Christ and his church form one body, as Head and members. Christians become members of this body by baptism. The outward rite is of Divine institution; it is a sign of the new birth, and is called therefore the washing of regeneration, Tit 3:5. But it is by the Spirit, only by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that we are made members of Christ's body. And by communion with Christ at the Lord's supper, we are strengthened, not by drinking the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-31The church is like a body (see 12:27) made up of many different parts. Each part has its own role, as determined by God (see 12:11, 18, 28; Romans 12:4–5).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 12-1312-13. Unity, not unvarying uniformity, is the law of God in the world of grace, as in that of nature. As the many members of the body compose an organic whole and none can be dispensed with as needless, so those variously gifted by the Spirit, compose a spiritual organic whole, the body of Christ, into which all are baptized by the one Spirit. of that one body--Most of the oldest manuscripts omit "one." so also is Christ--that is, the whole Christ, the…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 12:12

• Church
• Communion
• Fellowship
• Righteous

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Christ, Messiah
• Administration
• Bond
• Covet
• Temper
• Tongues, Gift of
• Church Government
• Communion; (fellowship)
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings