1 Corinthians 12:12–14
Many members, one body, one Spirit
Study it word by word12For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is the Messiah.
13For indeed in one Spirit we all were immersed into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and all were given one Spirit to drink.
14For indeed the body is not one member but many.
In its context
10to another workings of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discernment of spirits, to another kinds of tongues, to another interpretation of tongues.
11But all these things the one and the same Spirit works, distributing to each one individually just as he wills.
…
15If the foot says, Because I am not a hand, I am not part of the body, it is not for this reason any less part of the body.
16And if the ear says, Because I am not an eye, I am not part of the body, it is not for this reason any less part of the body.
Its words in the original
- ΚαθάπερKathaper· just as
"Just as", "even as".
- σῶμαsōma· body
Body.
- ἕνhen· one
One.
- ἐστινestin· be
Be, exist.
- μέληmelē· member, part
Member, limb, a part of the body; figuratively, each person as a part of a whole.
- πολλὰpolla· much, many
Much, great; in the plural, many.
- ἔχειechei· have
Have, possess, hold.
- ΧριστόςChristos· Messiah
Messiah: literally "anointed", the king or envoy God consecrates with oil. It is a title, not a surname; in Hebrew, mashiach.
- πνεύματιpneumati· spirit, Spirit
Spirit; also wind and breath. With "holy", the Holy Spirit of God.
- ἐβαπτίσθημενebaptisthēmen· immerse
Immerse: plunge into water, wash by dipping. The word "baptize" comes from it.
- εἴτεeite· whether, or
"Whether ... or", "if".
- ἸουδαῖοιIoudaioi· Jew, Judean
Jew, Judean: one of the people of Judah; in the New Testament it often means the leaders of the people.
- ἝλληνεςHellēnes· Greek
Greek; in the New Testament, often anyone who is not a Jew.
- δοῦλοιdouloi· slave
Slave: someone who belongs to a master and serves him.
- ἐλεύθεροιeleutheroi· free
Free.
- ἐποτίσθημενepotisthēmen· give to drink
Give to drink; water plants.