1 Corinthians 12

Verse 12

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.

— 1 Corinthians 12:12, New King James Version

Paul refers to the image of unity in one body in several letters: Romans 12:4–5, Ephesians 4:11–16 and Colossians 2:19. There is a possibility that Paul was familiar with the fable of Menenius Agrippa (died 493 BC), who used the allegory of human body as a plea for civil unity.

• "As the body is one": using a simile of a human body which is one unit, Paul speaks of the unity among the believers, and their mutual participation of the various gifts of the Spirit.
• "Being many, are one body": as numerous and various as the body parts may be, such as eyes, ears, hands, feet, etc., they all make up but one body, even as they perform different functions, for which they are naturally fitted for the good of the whole.
• "So also is Christ" (KJV: "so also to Christ"): The church as one body, in union with Christ, the head, is one general assembly, which members are closely united one to another, denominated from Christ, as their head, and called by Christ's name (Romans 9:3; Jeremiah 33:16).

Verses 28-30

²⁸ And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?

Scottish writer William Robertson Nicoll raises a concern that Paul's audience might suppose that "God's sovereign ordination" in making such appointments "supersedes man’s effort".

Verse 31

The final verse in this chapter (verse 31) refers to "striv[ing] for the greater gifts", and "a still more excellent way", the way of love, which Paul sets out in the next chapter. Nicoll sees the expression "but strive" (Greek: ζηλουτε δε, zēloute de) as Paul's counter to the idea that human effort has no part to play in Christian life.