1 Corinthians 12:12-26: a reflection

12For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. 13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit. 14For the body is not one member, but many. 15If the foot would say, “Because I’m not the hand, I’m not part of the body,” it is not therefore not part of the body. 16If the ear would say, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not therefore not part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be? 18But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired. 19If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20But now they are many members, but one body. 21The eye can’t tell the hand, “I have no need for you,” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need for you.” 22No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant modesty, 24while our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part, 25that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. When one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Paul compares the church to a body with many members, each one necessary, so that no member can say it does not belong, and none can say to another, I have no need of you. The body is one and has many members, Paul says; and if the foot says, because I am not the hand, I am not part of the body, it is still part of the body. The eye can't tell the hand, I have no need of you. Just as a body needs all its parts, each with its own function, so the church needs every member; no one is dispensable, and no one who feels lesser is any less a part. Every member belongs and is needed; even the parts that seem weaker are indispensable. This shows that every member of the body matters and belongs; none is dispensable. Every member of the body is needed and belongs. No one can say they do not belong, or that others are not needed. Even the weaker parts are indispensable. Each member matters; none is dispensable.

Notice the two errors Paul corrects. First, the error of thinking we do not belong: the foot might say, because I am not the hand, I am not part of the body. But Paul says it belongs no less for being a foot and not a hand; we do not cease to belong because we are not some other, more prominent part. Second, the error of thinking we do not need others: the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you. Every part is needed; and Paul goes further, saying the parts that seem weaker are actually indispensable, and the less honorable are given greater honor. This speaks to us in the body of Christ. We can feel we do not really belong, that because we are not some more prominent or gifted member, we are not truly part; but we belong no less. And we can look down on others as unnecessary, or be looked down on ourselves; but every member is needed, and the seemingly weaker are indispensable. No one is dispensable in the body; each belongs and is needed, and each should care for the others. You belong and are needed in the body, whatever your part. Do not think you do not belong, nor that others are not needed. Every member is necessary; the weaker are indispensable. Each belongs and is needed; none is dispensable.

That is worth taking to heart, for every member of the body belongs and is needed, none dispensable, and we should neither think we do not belong nor treat others as unnecessary. We can feel we do not really belong because we are not some more prominent member, or look down on others as unneeded; but Paul says the foot belongs no less than the hand, the eye cannot tell the hand it has no need of it, and the weaker parts are indispensable. Everyone belongs and is needed. Do not think yourself dispensable or another unneeded; each member belongs and is necessary in the body. Know that every member of the body belongs and is needed, none dispensable, so that you neither think you do not belong nor treat others as unnecessary, as Paul compared the church to a body with many members, saying that the foot does not cease to belong because it is not the hand, that the eye cannot tell the hand, I have no need of you, and that the parts which seem weaker are actually indispensable and the less honorable given greater honor; for we can feel we do not really belong because we are not some more prominent or gifted member, and can look down on others as unnecessary or be looked down on ourselves, but just as a body needs all its parts, each with its own function, so the church needs every member, no one dispensable and no one who feels lesser any less a part, so that each of us belongs and is needed, the seemingly weaker are indispensable, and we should have the same care for one another, suffering and rejoicing together as members of one body.

Lord, Paul compares the church to a body with many members, each one necessary, so that no member can say it does not belong, and none can say to another, I have no need of you. The body is one and has many members, Paul says; and if the foot says, because I am not the hand, I am not part of the body, it is still part of the body. The eye can't tell the hand, I have no need of you. Just as a body needs all its parts, so the church needs every member; no one is dispensable, and no one who feels lesser is any less a part. Show me the two errors Paul corrects. First, the error of thinking I do not belong: the foot might say, because I am not the hand, I am not part of the body. But it belongs no less for being a foot; I do not cease to belong because I am not some other, more prominent part. Second, the error of thinking I do not need others: the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you. Every part is needed; and the parts that seem weaker are actually indispensable. This speaks to me in the body of Christ. I can feel I do not really belong, that because I am not some more prominent member, I am not truly part; but I belong no less. And I can look down on others as unnecessary, or be looked down on myself; but every member is needed. Take that to my heart, for every member belongs and is needed, none dispensable. Keep me from thinking I do not belong, or that others are not needed; help me know that each of us belongs and is necessary in your body, Lord, the weaker parts indispensable, and give me the same care for the other members, suffering and rejoicing with them as part of one body.