1 Corinthians 12:18
in 1 Corinthians 12But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But now hath God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him.
KJV
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 12
Commentary
8 notes on this verseWe may plainly perceive the divine wisdom in the distribution of the members; but it was made according to the counsel of his will; he distinguished and distributed them as he pleased. So is it also in the members of Christ's body: they are chosen out to such stations, and endued with such gifts, as God pleases.
This site's exposition
God has arranged the members
on 1 Corinthians 12:18-20
The complaint of the previous verses meets God's own act: God has arranged the members of the body according to His design. The verb is tithemi, the Septuagint's verb for planting and appointing, so a member's function is a deliberate gift of arrangement.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Then because after all they were yet disturbed: that which he had done above, the same he doth also now. For as there he first alleged the expediency to comfort them and afterwards stopped their mouths, vehemently saying, "But all these worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one man severally even as He will:" so also here having stated reasons for which he showed that it was profitable that all should so be, he refers the whole again to the counsel of God, saying, "But now God hath set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased Him." Even as he said of the Spirit, "as He will," so also here, "as it pleased Him." Now do not thou seek further into the cause, why it is thus and why not thus. For though we have ten thousand reasons to give, we shall not be so able to show them that it is well done, as when we say, that as the best Artificer pleased, so it came to pass. For as it is expedient, so He wills it. Now if in this body of ours we do not curiously enquire about the members, much more in the Church. And see his thoughtfulness in that he doth not state the difference which arises from their nature nor that from their operation, but that from their local situation. For "now," saith he, "God hath set the members each one of them in the body even as it pleased Him." And he said well, "each one," pointing out that the use extends to all. For thou canst not say, "This He hath Himself placed but not that: but every one according to His will, so it is situated." So that to the foot also it is profitable that it should be so stationed, and not to the head only: and if it should invert the order and leaving its own place, should go to another, though it might seem to have bettered its condition, it would be the undoing and ruin of the whole. For it both falls from its own, and reaches not the other station.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Secondly, he asserts the contrary truth, namely, that neither sight nor hearing should be lacking, saying: But as it is God arranged, i.e., put in order, the various members. For even if the distinction of the members is a work of nature, nevertheless nature did …
With great force he shuts their mouths when he says that God willed it, and appointed to each individual member its proper place (for this is what "arranged" means). Neither should the foot, which occupies the lower place, grieve, for so it pleased God, and …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But now hath God set the members,....
He tells us that the church is the body of Christ, and the members are variously gifted for the benefit of the whole body, and each particular member,
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Hath God set the members ... - God has formed the body, with its various members, as he saw would best conduce to the harmony and usefulness of all.
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| νυνὶ | nuni | now | G3570 → | 19 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεὸς | theos | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| ἔθετο | etheto | has arranged | G5087 → | 100 times |
| τὰ | ta | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μέλη, | mele | members, | G3196 → | 34 times |
| ἓν | hen | one | G1520 → | 343 times |
| ἕκαστον | hekaston | each | G1538 → | 81 times |
| αὐτῶν | auton | of them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σώματι | somati | body | G4983 → | 142 times |
| καθὼς | kathos | even as | G2531 → | 182 times |
| ἠθέλησεν. | ethelesen | He desired. | G2309 → | 208 times |
νυνὶnow
nuniG3570 →19 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
θεὸςGod
theosG2316 →1312 times
ἔθετοhas arranged
ethetoG5087 →100 times
τὰthe
taG3588 →19766 times
μέλη,members,
meleG3196 →34 times
ἓνone
henG1520 →343 times
ἕκαστονeach
hekastonG1538 →81 times
αὐτῶνof them
autonG846 →5565 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
σώματιbody
somatiG4983 →142 times
καθὼςeven as
kathosG2531 →182 times
ἠθέλησεν.He desired.
ethelesenG2309 →208 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 12:3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure…
it leads to
- Galatians 6:3
If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
- Philippians 2:3–8
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
- Proverbs 26:12
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
- Romans 12:16
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited.
- Galatians 6:3
Through
Luke 12:32Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
it leads to
- Hebrews 12:28
Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
- 1 Peter 1:3–5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
- Revelation 1:6
who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.
- Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
- Hebrews 12:28
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies10
On this verse
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 30; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.