The Body of Christ

12 The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And [although] [its] parts are many, they all form one body. So [it is] with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit {to drink}.

14 For the body does not consist of one part, but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not [ make it any less ] a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not [ make it any less ] a part of the body. 17 If the whole body [were] an eye, where [would] the sense of hearing [be]? If [the] whole [body] [were] an ear, where [would] the sense of smell [be]?

18 But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design. 19 If they were all one part, where [would] the body [be]? 20 As it is [there are] many parts, but one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you.” [Nor can] the head [say] to the feet, “I do not need you.” 22 On the contrary the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the [parts] we consider less honorable, we treat with greater honor. And our unpresentable [parts] are treated with special modesty,

24 whereas our presentable [parts] have no [such] need. But God has composed the body [and] has given greater honor to the [parts] that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that [its] members {should have} mutual concern for one another. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with [it]; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with [it].