1 Corinthians 12:25

25 that there should be no schism in the body; but [that] the members should have the same care one for another.

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 [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.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof.
The American Standard Version is in the public domain.