1 Corinthians – Chapter-12

Explanation of the diversity of the body:  (12:14-20):

Paul continuing the comparison of the human body gives several illustrations:

• Foot and hand of the body: If the foot declared or felt that, since it was not a hand, it does not belong to the body. Then it is grossly mistaken.  Diversity does not disqualify any one from the body.
• Ear and eye of the body: If the ear declared or felt that since, it was not the eye, it does not belong to the body.  Then it is mistaken.

Some people magnify their manifestation gifts, just like hands and eyes are more glamorous and seem more important than ears and legs.  Others who possess other gifts which are not of manifestation, they feel guilty and inferior. The latter feel as if they are excluded.

The same principle can be stated towards those who desire to exclude others from the body. Paul could have just as well said, “The hand cannot say the foot is not of the body because it is not a hand.” Paul also wants Christians who might exclude others because they don’t appreciate their place in the body to recognize the fact of unity.  The diversity of the body is absolutely essential because just as in a human body, if everything is eye, where is the sense of smelling or hearing.  Ears cannot function of eyes. Further the body cannot exist if all different parts do their own function.

Some would ask why God gave this gift instead of other more manifesting gift. The simple answer is God designed to make it so that the body would function properly. For example: the hand can take no pride in being a hand and the foot can take no shame in being a foot. Each is serving to please the body.  In a way  everybody has something, but nobody has everything. So the diversity does not suggest inferiority. Every part of the body has their fixed work and one part cannot duplicate other part’s work.

More explanation of the body:  (12:21-26):

The diverse body  parts are  mutually  depending on each other. A person with a seemingly greater gift  or a manifestation gift  should not imagine that he could function alone even if others are cut off from the body.  The eye and head cannot say that they don’t need hand and feet because we give less importance to hand and feet. But Paul gives special illustrations on three types of body parts.

• Weak and indispensable parts: Sometimes we consider a particular part of the body as unnecessary. We will know its importance when it is hurt. The lungs, intestine, heart  are covered up and they are indispensable.  We give utmost importance to them.  Without them, the body would not function.
• Less honourable parts: The uncovered parts of the body viz, hands, legs, feet are seemed to be less honourable parts of the body. But these parts are hurt we will know the importance and the difficulty that body faces. If our legs are hurt, the life would crumble.  If someone feels that they are hidden and unglamorous  member  of the body, God knows about us and would honour us in due time. So if one member suffers, all the members suffer and if one member rejoice, all the members would rejoice.
• The un presentable parts: The un-presentable parts have greater modesty.  Although they are covered, we give high importance to them. There would no division in the body.  The presentable parts are no need to be covered up.

All the members are given due care and honour in our physical body because every part is important, essential and honourable.  Similarly even in a church, every gift is important whether they are the manifesting gifts or ministries gift or the general gift.

The eyes and ears do not only serve themselves, but the whole body. The hands do not only feed and defend themselves, but the whole body. The heart does not only supply blood to itself, but also serves the whole body. If one member of the body suffers, all other members also go through the same suffering. So this should be the attitude of the body of the church.  Paul gives much emphasis on the people with diverse gifts to come together so that the body of Christ would grow richer and edified. Every person should have equal concern for others. But sometimes there is a part of our body which only lives to serve itself. It doesn’t contribute anything to the rest of the body, and everything it gets it uses to feed and grow itself. This we call it as Cancer.

The ingredients of the body of Christ:   (12:27-31)

The Apostle Paul says to the Corinthians that “you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it. ”  The hands and face do not need any adornment or covering, but the rest of the body is made beautiful with clothing.  If any part of the body lacks in beauty, the attention of the whole body is drawn to it to make it better.  Moreover, all the  parts suffer or rejoice as a whole. God wants  the church to be a whole entity, and must feel  concern for each other. It is God who assigned the gifts to members of the church.

Ex: When a thorn enters the heel, the whole body feels it, and is concerned about it. The back bends, the fore part of the body contracts itself, the hands come forward and draw out the thorn, the head stoops, the eyes regard the affected member with intense gaze.  When the head is crowned, the whole man feels honoured, the mouth expresses and the eyes look with gladness.