Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Corinthians 12:13

"For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit." — 1 Corinthians 12:13 (ASV)

Paul now illustrates the diversity and unity of the spiritual gifts by the example of the human body. It is made up of many parts, all of them important, and yet the whole body functions as a unit. By the words “So it is with Christ,” he means so it is with Christ’s “body” (GK 5393), the church. That the invisible church is an organic whole is seen in that every believer, regardless of racial and religious connection (Jew or Greek) or social standing (slave or freedman), has been united by the one Spirit into one spiritual body in baptism. The figure is now reversed—all the believers have drunk one Spirit; i.e., each one has received the same Holy Spirit (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 5:18–20). Paul is here emphasizing spiritual baptism and the communion of spiritual food and drink (cf. Jn 7:37-39; Romans 6:4; 1 Corinthians 10:3–4). It is not the local church alone that Paul is speaking of here, but the church universal.