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(4) Now there are distinctive varieties {and} distributions of endowments (gifts, extraordinary powers distinguishing certain Christians, due to the power of divine grace operating in their souls by the Holy Spirit) and they vary, but the [Holy] Spirit remains the same. (5) And there are distinctive varieties of service {and} ministration, but it is the same Lord [Who is served]. (6) And there are distinctive varieties of operation [of working to accomplish things], but it is the same God Who inspires {and} energizes them all in all. (7) But to each one is given the manifestation of the [Holy] Spirit [the evidence, the spiritual illumination of the Spirit] for good {and} profit. (8) To one is given in {and} through the [Holy] Spirit [the power to speak] a message of wisdom, and to another [the power to express] a word of knowledge {and} understanding according to the same [Holy] Spirit; (9) To another [wonder-working] faith by the same [Holy] Spirit, to another the extraordinary powers of healing by the one Spirit; (10) To another the working of miracles, to another prophetic insight (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose); to another the ability to discern {and} distinguish between [the utterances of true] spirits [and false ones], to another various kinds of [unknown] tongues, to another the ability to interpret [such] tongues. (11) All these [gifts, achievements, abilities] are inspired {and} brought to pass by one and the same [Holy] Spirit, Who apportions to each person individually [exactly] as He chooses. (12) For just as the body is a unity and yet has many parts, and all the parts, though many, form [only] one body, so it is with Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). (13) For by [means of the personal agency of] one [Holy] Spirit we were all, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, baptized [and by baptism united together] into one body, and all made to drink of one [Holy] Spirit. (14) For the body does not consist of one limb {or} organ but of many. (15) If the foot should say, Because I am not the hand, I do not belong to the body, would it be therefore not [a part] of the body? (16) If the ear should say, Because I am not the eye, I do not belong to the body, would it be therefore not [a part] of the body? (17) If the whole body were an eye, where [would be the sense of] hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where [would be the sense of] smell? (18) But as it is, God has placed {and} arranged the limbs {and} organs in the body, each [particular one] of them, just as He wished {and} saw fit {and} with the best adaptation. (19) But if [the whole] were all a single organ, where would the body be? (20) And now there are [certainly] many limbs {and} organs, but a single body. (21) And the eye is not able to say to the hand, I have no need of you, nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. (22) But instead, there is [absolute] necessity for the parts of the body that are considered the more weak. (23) And those [parts] of the body which we consider rather ignoble are [the very parts] which we invest with additional honor, and our unseemly parts {and} those unsuitable for exposure are treated with seemliness (modesty and decorum), (24) Which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so adjusted (mingled, harmonized, and subtly proportioned the parts of) the whole body, giving the greater honor {and} richer endowment to the inferior parts which lack [apparent importance], (25) So that there should be no division {or} discord {or} lack of adaptation [of the parts of the body to each other], but the members all alike should have a mutual interest in {and} care for one another. (26) And if one member suffers, all the parts [share] the suffering; if one member is honored, all the members [share in] the enjoyment of it.
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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