1 Corinthians 12:26

Contextual Overview

¹²The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. ¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹²Your body is made up of a bunch of different parts that do different things. The same thing applies to the church, or what we like to call, "The Body of Christ." ¹² For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. ¹²For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. ¹² For as the body is one, and has a number of parts, and all the parts make one body, so is Christ. ¹² For even as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of the body, being many, are one body, so also [is] the Christ. ¹² For as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ. ¹² For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. ¹² For as the body is one, and yet hath many members, but all the members of the body, many as they are, are one body, so is Christ.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Romans 12:15, 2 Corinthians 11:28, 2 Corinthians 11:29, Galatians 6:2, Hebrews 13:3, 1 Peter 3:8,*Gr.

Reciprocal: Genesis 42:24 - wept Exodus 18:9 - General Joshua 1:15 - then ye shall Ruth 4:14 - the women 1 Samuel 11:4 - lifted up 2 Samuel 15:30 - weeping Esther 4:5 - to know Job 2:11 - to come Job 6:14 - To him Job 16:4 - if your soul Job 19:21 - have pity Job 42:11 - they bemoaned Psalms 35:27 - shout Amos 6:6 - but Luke 1:58 - they Luke 15:24 - they John 13:34 - That ye love Acts 12:5 - prayer was made without ceasing Acts 22:8 - whom 2 Corinthians 2:2 - General 2 Corinthians 7:13 - we were Philippians 2:26 - ye had

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And whether one member suffer,.... Pain; even the meanest, lowest, and most distant, as the foot or hand, toe or finger:

all the members suffer with it; are more or less affected therewith, and bear part of the distress; as is easily discerned, by their different forms and motions on such an occasion: so when anyone member of the mystical body is in affliction, whether inward or outward, of body or mind, the rest are, or should be, affected with it, condole, sympathize, help, and assist; and remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them, as if they themselves were in bonds, and them that suffer adversity, whether spiritual or temporal, as being in the body, not only in the flesh, but as being part of the body, the church; and therefore should weep with them that weep, and bear a part with them in their sorrows. The Jews have a saying f, that

"if one brother dies, all the brethren grieve; and if one of a society dies, תדאג כל ההבורה כולה, "the whole society grieves";''

and also another g,

"that everyone that afflicts himself, עם הציבור, "with the congregations", is worthy to see or enjoy the comfort of the congregation or church;''

or one member be honoured; by being set in the highest place, and employed to the greatest usefulness, or by being most richly and beautifully clothed and adorned:

all the members rejoice with it; as sharing in the honour, Or benefit of it: so if one member of the church of Christ is honoured with an high office, with great gifts, with a large measure of grace, spiritual light, knowledge, and experience, with great discoveries of the love of God, with the presence of Christ, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, or with the good things of this life, and an heart to make use of them for the interest of religion, the other members rejoice at it; for so it becomes the saints to rejoice with them that rejoice, and be glad, both at the temporal and spiritual prosperity of each other: and upon the whole it is clear, that the meanest have no reason to be discouraged, nor the highest and greatest to be proud and elated.

f T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 105. 2. & 106. 1. Vid. Maimon. Hilch. Ebel, c. 13. sect. 12. & Seder Olam Rabba, p. 9. g T. Bab. Taanith. fol. 11. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And whether one member suffer - One member, or part of the body.

All the members suffer with it - This, we all know, is the case with the body. A pain in the foot, the hand, or the head excites deep solicitude. The interest is not confined to the part affected; but we feel that we ourselves are affected, and that our body, as a whole, demands our care. The word “suffer” here refers to disease, or sickness. It is true also that not only we feel an “interest” in the part that is affected, but that disease in any one part tends to diffuse itself through, and to affect the whole frame. If not arrested, it is conveyed by the blood through all the members until life itself is destroyed. It is not by mere interest, then, or sympathy, but it is by the natural connection and the inevitable result that a diseased member tends to affect the whole frame. There is not, indeed, in the church the same “physical” connection and “physical” effect, but the union is really not less close and important, nor is it the less certain that the conduct of one member will affect all. It is implied here also, that we should feel a deep interest in the welfare of all the members of the body of Christ. If one is tempted or afflicted, the other members of the church should feel it, and “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil his law.” If one is poor, the others should aid him, and supply his needs; if one is persecuted and opposed for righteousness’ sake, the others should sympathize with him, and make common cause with him. In all things pertaining to religion and to their mutual welfare, they should feel that they have a common cause, and regard it as a privilege to aid one another. Nor should a man regard it as any more a burden and hardship to aid a poor or afflicted brother in the church, than it should be deemed a hardship that the head, and the heart, and the hands should sympathize when any other member of the body is diseased.

Or one member be honoured - If applied to the body, this means, if one member or part be regarded and treated with special care; be deemed honorable; or be in a sound, healthy, and vigorous condition. If applied to the church, it means, if one of its members should be favored with extraordinary endowments; or be raised to a station of honor and influence above his brethren.

All the members rejoice with it - That is, in the body, all the other members partake of the benefit and honor. If one member be sound and healthy, the benefit extends to all. If the hands, the feet, the heart, the lungs, the brain be in a healthy condition, the advantage is felt by all the members, and all derive advantage from it. So in the church. If one member is favored with remarkable talent, or is raised to a station of influence, and exerts his influence in the cause of Christ, all the members of the church partake of the benefit. It is for the common good; and all should rejoice in it. This consideration should repress envy at the elevation of others, and should lead all the members of a church to rejoice when God, by his direct agency, or by the arrangements of his providence, confers extraordinary endowments, or gives opportunity for extended usefulness to others.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 26. And whether one member suffer — As there is a mutual exertion for the general defence, so there is a mutual sympathy. If the eye, the hand, the foot, c., be injured, the whole man grieves and if by clothing, or any thing else, any particular member or part is adorned, strengthened, or better secured, it gives a general pleasure to the whole man.