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(4) And there are diversities of gifts, and the same Spirit; (5) and there are diversities of ministrations, and the same Lord; (6) and there are diversities of workings, and it is the same God -- who is working the all in all. (7) And to each hath been given the manifestation of the Spirit for profit; (8) for to one through the Spirit hath been given a word of wisdom, and to another a word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; (9) and to another faith in the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healings in the same Spirit; (10) and to another in-workings of mighty deeds; and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits; and to another `divers' kinds of tongues; and to another interpretation of tongues: (11) and all these doth work the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each severally as he intendeth. (12) For, even as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the one body, being many, are one body, so also `is' the Christ, (13) for also in one Spirit we all to one body were baptized, whether Jews or Greeks, whether servants or freemen, and all into one Spirit were made to drink, (14) for also the body is not one member, but many; (15) if the foot may say, `Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body;' it is not, because of this, not of the body; (16) and if the ear may say, `Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body;' it is not, because of this, not of the body? (17) If the whole body `were' an eye, where the hearing? if the whole hearing, where the smelling? (18) and now, God did set the members each one of them in the body, according as He willed, (19) and if all were one member, where the body? (20) and now, indeed, `are' many members, and one body; (21) and an eye is not able to say to the hand, `I have no need of thee;' nor again the head to the feet, `I have no need of you.' (22) But much more the members of the body which seem to be more infirm are necessary, (23) and those that we think to be less honourable of the body, around these we put more abundant honour, and our unseemly things have seemliness more abundant, (24) and our seemly things have no need; but God did temper the body together, to the lacking part having given more abundant honour, (25) that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same anxiety for one another, (26) and whether one member doth suffer, suffer with `it' do all the members, or one member is glorified, rejoice with `it' do all the members;
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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