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(4) Now there are differences of gifts, but the same Spirit; (5) And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. (6) And there are differences of operations, but it is the same God Who is working all things in all. (7) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the benefit of all. (8) For to one, a word of wisdom is given by the Spirit; and to another, a word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; (9) And to a different one, faith by the same Spirit; and to another, gifts of healing by the same Spirit; (10) And to another, the working of miracles; and to another, prophecy; and to another, discerning of spirits; and to a different one, various languages; and to another, the interpretation of languages. (11) But the one and the same Spirit is operating in all these things, dividing separately to each one as God Himself desires. (12) For even as the body is one and has many members, yet all the members of the one body, though many, are one body; so also is Christ. (13) For indeed, by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether bondmen or free—and we were all made to drink into one Spirit. (14) For the body of Christ is not one member, but many. (15) If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," would this then cause it not to be part of the body? (16) And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," would this then cause it not to be part of the body? (17) If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be? (18) But now has God Himself placed each one of the members in the body according to His own will. (19) For if all were one member, where would the body be? (20) But now are there many members, yet they are one body. (21) And the eye is not able to say to the hand, "I have no need of you." Or again, the head is not able to say to the feet, "I have no need of you." (22) But much to the contrary, the members of the body that appear to be weaker are necessary; (23) And those members that we regard as less honorable to the body, upon these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable parts are treated with greater modesty. (24) But our more presentable parts do not have this need. Rather, God has tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to those members that are deficient, (25) So that there might not be any division in the body, but that the members might have the same concern for one another. (26) And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with him; and if one member is glorified, all the members rejoice with him.
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In verses 4-11, Paul shows that each person God places in the body receives gifts for the benefit of the entire body. In verses 14-20, he explains that diversity in the body is necessary because, if the entire body was just one part, it could not function. The diversity in this context is in terms of gifts, not doctrine, nationality, sex, or race. Diversity enables the body to be much more effective, efficient, and versatile in performing its intended purpose. Each person has a specific function necessary to the whole.
In verses 21-25, Paul makes a veiled warning that we need to guard against both pride in our abilities and its opposite—equally vain—that we have nothing to give. We become useful members when we choose to set aside these vanities and begin doing what we should.
Verse 18, combined with verses 22-26, teaches us that God Himself has organized the body. We need to understand that the greatest Authority in all of creation has specifically placed us within it and given us gifts. If the body is to function as He has purposed, each part must recognize his individual dependence upon and concern for the whole. In addition, each must understand what the body is designed to accomplish. It is the responsibility of each part to subordinate himself to God to produce the unity that will enable the whole body to do its work.
God expresses these concerns for the body because He wants it to function efficiently and effectively in unity. Therefore, what happens to one part, or what one part does, affects the whole. What we do does indeed make a difference because we are individual parts of a living, spiritual organism. Our actions will produce an increase of good or evil, efficiency or inefficiency in the use of spiritual resources, effectiveness or ineffectiveness of our witness, and growth or backsliding in the grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
— John W. Ritenbaugh