1 Corinthians 12:19
New International Version
If they were all one part, where would the body be?

New Living Translation
How strange a body would be if it had only one part!

English Standard Version
If all were a single member, where would the body be?

Berean Standard Bible
If they were all one part, where would the body be?

Berean Literal Bible
And if all were one member, where would be the body?

King James Bible
And if they were all one member, where were the body?

New King James Version
And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

New American Standard Bible
If they were all one part, where would the body be?

NASB 1995
If they were all one member, where would the body be?

NASB 1977
And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

Legacy Standard Bible
And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

Amplified Bible
If they all were a single organ, where would [the rest of] the body be?

Christian Standard Bible
And if they were all the same part, where would the body be?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And if they were all the same part, where would the body be?

American Standard Version
And if they were all one member, where were the body?

Contemporary English Version
A body isn't really a body, unless there is more than one part.

English Revised Version
And if they were all one member, where were the body?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
How could it be a body if it only had one part?

Good News Translation
There would not be a body if it were all only one part!

International Standard Version
Now if all of it were one part, there wouldn't be a body, would there?

Majority Standard Bible
If they were all one part, where would the body be?

NET Bible
If they were all the same member, where would the body be?

New Heart English Bible
If they were all the same member, where would the body be?

Webster's Bible Translation
And if they were all one member, where were the body?

Weymouth New Testament
If they were all one part, where would the body be?

World English Bible
If they were all one member, where would the body be?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and if all were one member, where [is] the body?

Berean Literal Bible
And if all were one member, where would be the body?

Young's Literal Translation
and if all were one member, where the body?

Smith's Literal Translation
And if all were one member, where the body.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And if they all were one member, where would be the body?

Catholic Public Domain Version
So if they were all one part, how would it be a body?

New American Bible
If they were all one part, where would the body be?

New Revised Standard Version
If all were a single member, where would the body be?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
If they were all one member, where would the body be?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But if they were all one member, where is the body?
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And if they were all one member, where were the body?

Godbey New Testament
And if all were one member, where is the body?

Haweis New Testament
But if the whole were one member, where were the body?

Mace New Testament
but if they were all one member, where would be the body?

Weymouth New Testament
If they were all one part, where would the body be?

Worrell New Testament
And, if they were all one member, where were the body?

Worsley New Testament
And if they were all one member, where were the body?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Body of Christ
18But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.…

Cross References
Romans 12:4-5
Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function, / so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.

Ephesians 4:16
From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.

Ephesians 4:11-13
And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, / to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ, / until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.

Colossians 2:19
He has lost connection to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow.

1 Corinthians 10:17
Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.

Ephesians 2:21-22
In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. / And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.

1 Peter 4:10-11
As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another. / If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Romans 12:6-8
We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith; / if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; / if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Ephesians 4:4-6
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; / one Lord, one faith, one baptism; / one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.

1 Corinthians 1:10
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction.

1 Corinthians 3:6-9
I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. / So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. / He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. ...

1 Corinthians 14:12
It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church.

1 Corinthians 14:26
What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church.

John 17:21-23
that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. / I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one— / I in them and You in Me—that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me.


Treasury of Scripture

And if they were all one member, where were the body?

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1 Corinthians 12
1. Spiritual gifts,
4. are diverse,
7. yet to profit all.
8. And to that end are diversely bestowed;
12. as the members of a natural body tend all to the mutual decency,
22. service,
26. and helpfulness of the same body;
27. so we should do for one another, to make up the body of Christ.














If they were all one part
This phrase emphasizes the diversity within the body of Christ, the Church. The metaphor of the body is used to illustrate the importance of different roles and gifts among believers. In the context of 1 Corinthians 12, Paul addresses the Corinthian church's issues with spiritual gifts and divisions. The church in Corinth was known for its diversity, being a major trade city with a mix of cultures and religions. This diversity sometimes led to conflicts and misunderstandings about the value of different spiritual gifts. Paul uses the body metaphor to teach that no single gift or role is superior to another, and that each is necessary for the Church's function and health. This concept is echoed in Romans 12:4-5, where Paul similarly discusses the variety of gifts and roles within the body of Christ.

where would the body be?
This rhetorical question underscores the necessity of diversity within the Church. If all members were the same, the Church would lack the fullness and functionality that comes from a variety of gifts and roles. Historically, the early Church faced challenges in integrating diverse groups, including Jews and Gentiles, slaves and free, men and women. This diversity was a strength, allowing the Church to reach different communities and address various needs. The body metaphor also reflects the unity and interdependence that should characterize the Church, as seen in Ephesians 4:16, where Paul describes the body as being "joined and held together by every supporting ligament." This unity in diversity is a reflection of the Trinity, where distinct persons work in harmony. The question invites believers to appreciate and embrace their unique contributions to the Church's mission.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Apostle Paul
The author of 1 Corinthians, Paul was addressing the church in Corinth, a diverse and often divided congregation, to teach them about unity and diversity within the body of Christ.

2. Corinth
A major city in ancient Greece, known for its wealth and diversity, but also for its moral and spiritual challenges. The church in Corinth faced issues of division and misunderstanding of spiritual gifts.

3. The Body of Christ
A metaphor used by Paul to describe the church, emphasizing the importance of each member and their unique contributions to the whole.
Teaching Points
Unity in Diversity
The church is made up of diverse individuals, each with unique gifts and roles. This diversity is essential for the church to function effectively as the body of Christ.

Value of Every Member
Every member of the church is important, regardless of their role or gift. Just as a body cannot function properly if it were all one part, the church needs each member to contribute their unique gifts.

Interdependence
Members of the church are interdependent, relying on each other to fulfill their roles. This interdependence fosters unity and strengthens the body of Christ.

Avoiding Comparison
Believers should avoid comparing their gifts or roles with others. Instead, they should focus on how they can best serve the body with the gifts God has given them.

Encouragement and Support
Encourage and support one another in using their gifts. Recognize and affirm the contributions of others to promote a healthy and unified church community.Verse 19. - And if they were all one member, where were the body? The interests of the individual must never overshadow those of the Church. In the Church, as in the body, the hypertrophy or the atrophy of any one member is injurious, not only to itself, but to the whole.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
If
εἰ (ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

they were
ἦν (ēn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

all
πάντα (panta)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

one
ἓν (hen)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1520: One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.

part,
μέλος (melos)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3196: A bodily organ, limb, member. Of uncertain affinity; a limb or part of the body.

where
ποῦ (pou)
Adverb
Strong's 4226: Genitive case of an interrogative pronoun pos otherwise obsolete; as adverb of place; at what locality.

[would] the
τὸ (to)
Article - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

body [be]?
σῶμα (sōma)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4983: Body, flesh; the body of the Church. From sozo; the body, used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively.


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NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 12:19 If they were all one member where (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor)
1 Corinthians 12:18
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