Which body?

360watt

Active Member
In 1 Corinthians 12.. it is often assumed the body in question is all redeemed.

But is that the body in question?

Because for one thing..Paul calls the church at Corinth...'ye are the body of Christ ' (KJB)

Then the language used to describe the body is in terms of all members suffering, while one member suffers.. the hand cannot say to the eye I can no need of you etc..

How is this describing all redeemed?

It is describing the church at Corinth though as a body in themselves.

So.. I know you may say .. it is about both the body at Corinth and all redeemed..but to that I ask where?

Where in 1 co 12 is it all redeemed?

All redeemed:

*all members do not suffer when one does
*it is not unified and it's near impossible to unify all redeemed.
* it has no doctrine
*it does not meet

How does that apply to 1 co 12?
 
I think there is an over all principle Paul is using to illustrate how we are all connected within the local assembly. The principle of a little leaven leavens the whole lump applies here as well. Think of Jesus sermon on the mount. Mourn with those who mourn, weep with those who weep, comfort those who need to be comforted etc........ Believers come alongside one another to build them up, grieve with them , support them, encourage them , pray with them, love them. provide for them, feed them, teach them etc...... We all have different giftings from God to be used for one another. That only happens within your church groups, weekly meetings, study groups, prayer meetings etc......
 
Singular standing for plural in grammar..

'The horse is a magnificent animal'

That's not Mr Ed down the road.. but is singular representing all horses 🐎

Same with 'the dog' 'the cat' etc..

So when in scripture you see 'the church'.
It's in this sense. It's about the local assembly of believers but not one in particular .

This is the sense in Jesus saying 'I will build my church' in Matt 16:18

Like if I said I will develop 'the fridge'

It's still the singular fridge . But meaning all fridges.

'The church in America'

That's the local assembly.
Singular standing for all churches.

This is where all redeemed becomes a separate entity to 'the church'
 
But is that the body in question? Because for one thing..Paul calls the church at Corinth...'ye are
the body of Christ'

"in Christ" is a common term used numerous times throughout the new testament
to designate folks unified with God's son, viz: Christianity is a joint venture, so to
speak. In other words: folks unified with Christ are on the books as having gone to
the cross with him not merely as observers, rather, as participants.

Rom 6:3 . . Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into his death?

In other words; folks unified with Christ are accounted crucified with him so that
they no longer need fear retribution because they already faced their fair measure
of justice on the cross.

Rom 6:6-7 . . For we know that our old self was crucified with him

Gal 2:20 . . I am crucified with Christ

Col 3:3-4 . . For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

In addition; seeing as how folks unified with Christ are accounted participants with
him when he was crucified, then they are also accounted participants with him
when his crucified dead body was restored to life.

Rom 6:4-5 . . For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death,
we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection

Eph 2:6 . . God raised us up with Christ

Col 2:12 . . Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him

Col 3:1-3 . . You have been raised with Christ,

Now, the thing is: Jesus' crucified dead body was restored to life with immortality.
(Rom 6:9, Rev 1:18, Rev 2:8) So then, folks unified with Christ in his death and
resurrection have perpetual youth in the bag, i.e. it's a done deal and it's
irrevocable.
_
 
In 1 Corinthians 12.. it is often assumed the body in question is all redeemed.

But is that the body in question?

Yes, because verse 13 applies to all Christians within that body.

1 Corinthians 12:13
For in one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free; and we have been all made to drink of one Spirit.
 
In 1 Corinthians 12.. it is often assumed the body in question is all redeemed.

But is that the body in question?

Because for one thing..Paul calls the church at Corinth...'ye are the body of Christ ' (KJB)

Then the language used to describe the body is in terms of all members suffering, while one member suffers.. the hand cannot say to the eye I can no need of you etc..

How is this describing all redeemed?

It is describing the church at Corinth though as a body in themselves.

So.. I know you may say .. it is about both the body at Corinth and all redeemed..but to that I ask where?

Where in 1 co 12 is it all redeemed?

All redeemed:

*all members do not suffer when one does
*it is not unified and it's near impossible to unify all redeemed.
* it has no doctrine
*it does not meet

How does that apply to 1 co 12?
The answer to your question is in verses 12 and 13. Christ is one, and so His Body (the Church) is one. Certainly this can be reduced to the Body that meets in one place (Corinth), but it also applies to the Body that is all over the place (Corinth, Ephesus, Rome, Athens, Atlanta, New York, London, etc.), And regardless of where the Body is, it is still one.

While the Body in Athens may not always be aware of suffering in Ephesus, it still hurts the body in Athens when they hear of Ephesus' suffering (and we should be aware that there is suffering in the Body somewhere in the world at all times).
 
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There are at least eleven verses in the epistles saying there is only one body.

Rom 12:4
Rom 12:5
1Cor 6:16
1Cor 10:17
1Cor 12:12
1Cor 12:13
1Cor 12:20
Eph 2:16
Eph 4:4
Col 3:5

It's probably best that when speaking of a local congregation to call it a church.
There are at least fifty-six examples of that practice in the epistles beginning with
Rom 16:1 and lastly at Rev 3:14.
_
 
.
There are at least eleven verses in the epistles saying there is only one body.

Rom 12:4
Rom 12:5
1Cor 6:16
1Cor 10:17
1Cor 12:12
1Cor 12:13
1Cor 12:20
Eph 2:16
Eph 4:4
Col 3:5

It's probably best that when speaking of a local congregation to call it a church.
There are at least fifty-six examples of that practice in the epistles beginning with
Rom 16:1 and lastly at Rev 3:14.
_
Well ..the 'there is one body' in Ephesians in referring to unity in the body at Ephesus. It doesn't exclude other local bodies from existing. But the context is of unity and togetherness at that church.
 
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