Romans 12:4 BSB — MannaFest

Romans 12:4

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function,

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office:

KJV

For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

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Commentary

4 voices

Origen of Alexandria

COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS (253)

But 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.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

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.

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Magistrates, ministers, people, in a Christian commonwealth, have their several offices, and must not intrude one upon another, nor clash in the discharge of their several offices. [4.] Each member hath its place and office, for the good and benefit of the whole, and of every other member. We are not only members of Christ, but we are members one of another,

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

For as we have many members - As the human body consists of many parts, each having its respective office, and all contributing to the perfection and support of the whole; each being indispensably necessary in the place which it occupies, and each equally useful though performing a different function;

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

17 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
καθάπερ	kathaper	Just as	G2509 →
γὰρ	gar	for	G1063 →
ἐν	en	in	G1722 →
ἑνὶ	heni	one	G1520 →
σώματι	sōmati	body	G4983 →
πολλὰ	polla	many	G4183 →
μέλη	melē	members	G3196 →
ἔχομεν,	echomen	we have,	G2192 →
τὰ	ta	<the>	G3588 →
δὲ	de	now	G1161 →
μέλη	melē	the members	G3196 →
πάντα	panta	all	G3956 →
οὐ	ou	not	G3756 →
τὴν	tēn	the	G3588 →
αὐτὴν	autēn	same	G846 →
ἔχει	echei	have	G2192 →
πρᾶξιν,	praxin	function,	G4234 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Ephesians 4:4
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
leads to
- Ephesians 2:18
  For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
- Romans 12:4–5
  Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function,
- 1 Corinthians 12:4–13
  There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.
Through
1 Corinthians 12:4
There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.
leads to
- 1 Peter 4:10
  As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.
- 1 Corinthians 12:28
  And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.
Through
1 Corinthians 12:27
Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it.
leads to
- Ephesians 4:12
  to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ,
- Ephesians 5:30
  For we are members of His body.
- Colossians 1:24
  Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church.

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Roman legionary equipment surveyed by Paul as Christian discipline (Eph 6:10–18). Six pieces of armor and a seventh element — prayer — that is posture, not armor. Every piece carries an OT echo.

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The Gifts of the Spirit — 1 Corinthians 12–14

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The Sermon on the Mount. Carl Bloch, 1877

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The Living Sacrifice, MannaFest

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About Romans

The Crucifixion — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

Romans: the study guide →Read chapter 12 →The featured study →

Continue: Romans 12 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About Romans

Where the connections lead

The record, by era

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About Romans