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1 Corinthians 12:1-31

Many Members, One Body

Lyrics · 1 Corinthians

Many Members, One Body

1 Corinthians 12:1-31

Lyrics

About this song

About this song

This song belongs to the 1 Corinthians collection. One recording is available to play here, with the complete lyrics below.

Bible book
1 Corinthians
Collection
1 Corinthians
Musical styles
Alternative Pop
[Gifts] Concerning the spiritual, do not remain blind, No one calls Jesus Lord but by Spirit divine. Different gifts and services move, Yet one Lord and one God works through. [Refrain] The Spirit divides to every one, Wisdom and healing, faith and tongues. Not for a throne or a private display, But profit together in one living way. [Chorus] Many members, one body, One Spirit has baptized us all. The eye cannot say to the hand, I need thee not, Nor the head make the feet feel small. Many members, one body, When one suffers, the whole body knows. When one is honored, the whole body rejoices, And love through the members grows. [Verse II] If the foot says it is not of the body, Its sorrow does not make the joining untrue. If all were an eye, where would hearing be found? God set every member where wisdom has bound. [Bridge] The less honorable receive greater care, No schism can flourish when burdens are shared. Apostles and prophets, teachers and aid, Not all have one function, not all are the same. [Final Chorus] Many members, one body, One Spirit has gathered the small and the strong. Covet the gifts that build up the people, Then seek the more excellent way beyond. [Outro] The body was not uniform, It was joined by the Spirit.

Named in this songJesus

About the passage

1 Corinthians 12: The Spirit does not distribute a hierarchy of human worth

Paul turns to spiritual gifts by refusing two opposite mistakes at once. Variety does not mean rival divine sources, and unity does not require identical gifts. The same Spirit, Lord, and God stand behind different manifestations, all given for common benefit rather than private rank. The body then becomes Paul's controlling image. Jews and Gentiles, enslaved and free, are brought into one body by one Spirit, and no member can cancel its belonging because it envies another role. Paul then reverses the pressure: prominent members cannot declare weaker ones unnecessary. God gives particular honor where human ranking withholds it so that the body may share both suffering and honor. The final list of ministries and gifts ends with questions expecting a simple no. Not everyone is an apostle, prophet, teacher, healer, tongue-speaker, or interpreter. Difference is not a defect in the body. It is how the body works.

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