1 Corinthians 12:24

24 whereas our comely [parts] have no need: but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to that [part] which lacked;

1 Corinthians 12:24 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 12:24

For our comely parts have no need
As the face, eyes, nose, lips, cheeks which stand in no need of an external covering, of any outward ornament: so such as are blessed with the bounties of nature and providence, with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and are eminent for grace and holiness, and are enabled to walk worthy of their calling, and to have their conversations as become the Gospel of Christ, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience, these have no need of such a covering, as the former have, to hide and conceal them from the world: but God hath tempered the body together;
he hath composed it in such a forth, constituted it in such an order, mixed and united all its parts in such a manner, as that they are all beneficial to each other; and such is the harmonious contexture of the whole, that it is a most beautiful structure: having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked;
or, as the Syriac version renders it, "which is the least"; and such is the temperament and constitution of the church, having mixed rich and poor persons, of greater and lesser gifts, together, for mutual good.

1 Corinthians 12:24 In-Context

22 Nay, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary:
23 and those [parts] of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely [parts] have more abundant comeliness;
24 whereas our comely [parts] have no need: but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to that [part] which lacked;
25 that there should be no schism in the body; but [that] the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffereth, all the members suffer with it; or [one] member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
The American Standard Version is in the public domain.