Romans 12:5 BSB — MannaFest

Romans 12:5

so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

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.

⋯

Commentary

5 voices

Leo the Great

LETTER 14 (461)

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.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

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 Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

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.

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.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

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.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

14 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
οὕτως	houtōs	so	G3779 →
οἱ	hoi	the	G3588 →
πολλοὶ	polloi	many	G4183 →
ἓν	hen	one	G1520 →
σῶμά	sōma	body	G4983 →
ἐσμεν	esmen	we are	G1510 →
ἐν	en	in	G1722 →
Χριστῷ,	Christō	Christ,	G5547 →
τὸ	to	<the>	G3588 →
δὲ	de	and	G1161 →
καθ᾽	kath᾽	individually	G2596 →
εἷς	heis	one	G1520 →
ἀλλήλων	allēlōn	of another	G240 →
μέλη.¶	melē	members.	G3196 →

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 4:25
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another.
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.
Through
Ephesians 5:30
For we are members of His body.
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.
Through
1 Corinthians 10:17
Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.
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 independent paths from here.

Featured studies on this passage

On Romans 12:5

Israel and the Olive Tree: Romans 9–11, MannaFest

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The Armor of God

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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Walks through Romans 12

The Gifts of the Spirit — 1 Corinthians 12–14

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The Altar

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The Sermon on the Mount. Carl Bloch, 1877

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The Golden Rule

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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

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About Romans