Romans 12:5
in Romans 12so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another.
KJV
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
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This verse in Romans 12
Commentary
14 notes on this verseBut that the Apostle might designate these matters still more evidently, he introduces an example and says: For as in one body we have many members, but all the members have not the same function: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another: composing through these words the whole body of the Church in the most orderly fashion; so that just as the several members of the body have their own proper functions, and each one serves its own offices, and yet it is not possible that they should not yield to one another by mutual consent: so, he says, also in the Church, which is the body of Christ, we severally have diverse functions.
This site's exposition
one body with many members
on Romans 12:4-5
One body has many members, and the members differ in function. Paul uses the same figure at 1 Corinthians 12. In Christ the many are one body, and each belongs to the others, which is the frame the gift list needs.
This site's exposition
each member belongs to one another
Clement of Rome told the church at Corinth that its members tear apart the body of Christ when they forget they belong to one another. Leo the Great calls love the bond of the one body. Barnes reads each member as needing the rest.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
The bond of our unity cannot be firm unless the bond of charity has tied us together in indivisible solidarity.… It is the connection of the entire body which makes for one health, one beauty. And this connection requires the unanimity of the entire body, but especially it demands harmony among the bishops.
Why do we divide and tear to pieces the members of Christ and raise up strife against our own body, and why have we reached such a height of madness as to forget that "we are members one of another?"
"For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office; so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." Again he uses the same ensample as he does to the Corinthians, and that to allay the same passion. For great is the power of the medicine, and the force of this illustration for the correcting of this disease of haughtiness. Why (he means) dost thou think highly of thyself? Or why again does another utterly despise himself? Are we not all one body, both great and small? When then we are in the total number but one, and members one of another, why dost thou by thy haughtiness separate thyself? Why dost thou put thy brother to shame? For as he is a member of thee, so art thou also of him. And it is on this score that your claims to honor are so equal. For he has stated two things that might take down their haughty spirit: one that we are members one of another, not the small of the great only, but also the great of the small; and another, that we are all one body. Or rather there are three points, since he shows that the gift was one of grace. "Therefore be not high-minded." For it was given thee of God; thou didst not take it, nor find it even. Hence too, when he touches upon the gifts, he does not say that one received more, and another less, but what? different. For his words are, "having then gifts," not less and greater, but, "differing." And what if thou art not appointed to the same office, still the body is the same. And beginning with gifts, he ends with a good deed; and so after mentioning prophecy, and ministry, and the like, he concludes with mercy, diligence, and succor. […]
This is what it means to love Christ, that we should encourage one another to live in a way which corresponds to the way in which the body is made perfect in Christ.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Then he likens these three aspects to the mystical body of Christ, which is the Church: he made him the head over all things for the Church, which is his body (Eph 1:22). Concerning which he touches on three things. First, he touches on the …
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
By the example of the body and its members, he overthrows the great exaltation of pride. The body is one, but it has various members performing various functions. In exactly the same way, we who believe comprise one body in Christ as the head, while …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
According to the grace, charismata kata ten charin. The free grace of God is the spring and original of all the gifts that are given to men. It is grace that appoints the office, qualifies and inclines the person, works both to will and to do.
Believers lie not in the world as a confused disorderly heap, but are organized and knit together, as they are united to one common head, and actuated and animated by one common Spirit. [2.] Particular believers are members of this body, constituent parts, which speak them less than the whole, and in relation to the whole, deriving life and spirits from the head.
So we being many are one body in Christ,.... This is the application of the above simile.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
So we, being many - We who are Christians, and who are numerous as individuals. Are one body - Are united together, constituting one society, or one people, mutually dependent, and having the same great interests at heart, though to be promoted by us according to our special talents and opportunities. As the welfare of the same body is to be promoted in one manner by the feet, in another by the eye, etc.; so the welfare of the body of Christ is to be promoted by discharging our duties in our appropriate sphere, as God has appointed us.
So we, being many - We who are members of the Church of Christ, which is considered the body of which he is the head, have various offices assigned to us, according to the measure of grace, faith and religious knowledge which we possess; and although each has a different office, and qualifications suitable to that office, yet all belong to the same body; and each has as much need of the help of another as that other has of his; therefore, let there be neither pride on the one hand, nor envy on the other. The same metaphor, in nearly the same words, is used in Synopsis Sohar, page 13. “As man is divided into various members and joints, united among themselves, and raised by gradations above each other, and collectively compose one body; so all created things are members orderly disposed, and altogether constitute one body. In like manner the law, distributed into various articulations, constitutes but one body.” See Schoettgen.
The words behind it
14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὕτως | houtos | so | G3779 → | 208 times |
| οἱ | hoi | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πολλοὶ | polloi | many | G4183 → | 367 times |
| ἓν | hen | one | G1520 → | 343 times |
| σῶμά | soma | body | G4983 → | 142 times |
| ἐσμεν | esmen | we are | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| Χριστῷ, | christo | Christ, | G5547 → | 523 times |
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δὲ | de | and | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| καθ᾽ | kath᾽ | individually | G2596 → | 468 times |
| εἷς | heis | one | G1520 → | 343 times |
| ἀλλήλων | allelon | of another | G240 → | 100 times |
| μέλη.¶ | mele | members. | G3196 → | 34 times |
οὕτωςso
houtosG3779 →208 times
οἱthe
hoiG3588 →19766 times
πολλοὶmany
polloiG4183 →367 times
ἓνone
henG1520 →343 times
σῶμάbody
somaG4983 →142 times
ἐσμενwe are
esmenG1510 →2333 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
Χριστῷ,Christ,
christoG5547 →523 times
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
δὲand
deG1161 →2765 times
καθ᾽individually
kath᾽G2596 →468 times
εἷςone
heisG1520 →343 times
ἀλλήλωνof another
allelonG240 →100 times
μέλη.¶members.
meleG3196 →34 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
Ephesians 4:25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another.
it leads to
- Colossians 3:9
Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices,
- Zechariah 8:16
These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another, render true and sound judgments in your gates,
- Proverbs 12:22
Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.
- Ephesians 4:15
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.
- Proverbs 12:17
He who speaks the truth declares what is right, but a false witness speaks deceit.
- Colossians 3:9
Through
Ephesians 5:30For we are members of His body.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 6:15
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!
- 1 Corinthians 12:12–27
The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 6:15
Through
1 Corinthians 10:17Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 12:12
The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 12:12
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies20
On this verse
On this chapter
- An Eye for an Eye in the Law of Moses
- The Armor of God
- Hospitality in Israel and the Early Church
- Love Your Enemies
- The Gifts of the Spirit: 1 Corinthians 12-14
- Take Up Your Cross
Show the next 6 titles
About Romans
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Clement of Rome, THE FIRST EPISTLE OF CLEMENT 46; Frederic Godet, Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 21; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Leo the Great, LETTER 14; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Romans and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans.