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 Living Translation (NLT)The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.

Context of 1 Corinthians 12:12

10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 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. 13For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14For in fact the body is not one member 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• asκαθάπερkathaper · just asG2509
• the bodyσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• hathἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• manyπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• membersμέλοςmelos · memberG3196
• andδέde · thenG1161
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 12:12

• 1 Corinthians 10:17For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.
• Romans 12:4For as we have many members in one body, but all the members 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 were called in one hope of your calling;
• Ephesians 5:23For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
• Colossians 1:18And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
• Colossians 2:19and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
• Colossians 3:15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
• 1 Corinthians 12:27Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
• Galatians 3:16Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who 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
• Administration
• Bond
• Covet
• Temper
• Tongues, Gift of
• Church Government
• Communion; (fellowship)
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Ephesians, 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