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But now they are many members, but one body.
Verse Takeaways
1
The Paradox of Unity
Commentators describe this verse as the core principle of the entire chapter, stated as a concise and powerful summary. John Calvin notes that Paul repeats this idea because the church's unity is not found in uniformity, but is paradoxically maintained through the diversity of its members. The body's very existence depends on many different parts working together.
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1 Corinthians
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8
Many members, but one body (πολλα μελη, εν δε σωμα). The argument in a nutshell, in one epigram.
19th Century
Anglican
But now are they.—From the reductio ad absurdum of the previous verses the Apostle turns to the fact as it is, a…
Baptist
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? B…
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Paul now emphasizes the necessity of having diversity in a body for it to operate as one. Each part (such as the eye or the ear) must be willing to…
16th Century
Protestant
Many members — one body. He repeats this more often because the emphasis of the whole question lies here — that the unity of the …
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
But now are they many members Of different make and shape, in different parts and places, and of different use and s…
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Presbyterian
Christ and His church form one body, as Head and members. Christians become members of this body by baptism. The outward rite is of divine institut…
13th Century
Catholic
Having laid out the distinction among spiritual gifts, the Apostle now explains it using the analogy of a natural body. He first presents the analo…
