1 Corinthians 12:19

19 Now if they were all just one part, where would the body be?

1 Corinthians 12:19 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 12:19

And if they were all one member
As all eye, or all ear, or all hand, or all foot: where were the body?
where would be the body? it would not be a body consisting of such proper and suitable members, as now it is: so if the community of the saints were either all ministers, or all hearers there would be no body, consisting of different persons, to receive any benefit or usefulness from either; the church of Christ would not be that uniform, useful, and consistent community it is.

1 Corinthians 12:19 In-Context

17 If the whole body were an eye, how could it hear? If it were all hearing, how could it smell?
18 But as it is, God arranged each of the parts in the body exactly as he wanted them.
19 Now if they were all just one part, where would the body be?
20 But as it is, there are indeed many parts, yet just one body.
21 So the eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you"; or the head to the feet, "I don't need you."
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.