Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Corinthians 12:20

"But now they are many members, but one body." — 1 Corinthians 12:20 (ASV)

But now are they.—From the reductio ad absurdum of the previous verses the Apostle turns to the fact as it is, and proceeds (in 1 Corinthians 12:21) to state that there is a mutual interdependence among the members of the body. The eye is dependent on the hand, the head on the feet. Here, no doubt, the illustration is drawn out in this particular direction to rebuke those who being themselves possessed of what were considered important spiritual gifts despised the gifts which the Spirit had bestowed on others.