1 Corinthians 12:25

25 that debate be not in the body, but that the members be busy into the same thing each for other [but that the members be busy into the same thing for each other].

1 Corinthians 12:25 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 12:25

That there should be no schism in the body.
&c.] No complaint of one member against another, as useless and unnecessary; no murmuring on that account; no tumults and rioting; no rebellion and insurrection of one against another; no dissension, no division. The use Menenius F5 Agrippa made of this simile, applying it to the body politic, as the apostle here does to the spiritual body, for the appeasing of a sedition among the people; is well known, and usually mentioned by interpreters on this place: but that the members should have the same care one for another;
that is, they are so tempered and mixed together, are in such close union with, and have such a dependence on each other, that they are necessarily obliged to take care of each other's good and welfare, because they cannot do one without another; and so God has ordered it in the church, that persons should be so placed in it, and gifts disposed of among them in such a manner, that every man is obliged, not only to look on, and be concerned for his own things, that he takes care of himself, and performs his office, but that he looks every man on the things of others, his good and safety being involved in theirs.


FOOTNOTES:

F5 Liv. Hist. l. p. 43.

1 Corinthians 12:25 In-Context

23 and those that we guess to be the unworthier members of the body, to them we give more honour; and those members that be unseemly, have more seemliness. [+and to them that we guess to be unnobler members of the body, we give more honour about; and those members that be unhonest, have more honesty.]
24 For our seemly members have need of none; but God tempered the body, giving more honour to it, to whom it failed, [Forsooth our honest members of none have need; but God tempered the body, giving more worship to it, to whom it failed,]
25 that debate be not in the body, but that the members be busy into the same thing each for other [but that the members be busy into the same thing for each other].
26 And if one member suffereth any thing [And if one member suffer any thing], all members suffer therewith; either if one member joyeth [either if one member glorieth], all members joy together.
27 And ye be the body of Christ, and members of member. [Forsooth ye be the body of Christ, and members of members.]
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.