The seventh usage of “but God” is found in I Corinthians 12:24. Seven denotes spiritual perfection. This occurrence speaks of the spiritually perfect body of Christ that God has tempered together, as well as, the nine manifestations that God energizes as each believer wills to operate them. This is the third time that alla is used showing contrast in the most emphatic way.

  Verses 12-27 paint a beautiful mind-picture of how God works all in all. In it, He uses the analogy of the members of the human body working together to illustrate two great realities: First, the human body is compared to the nine manifestations of the spirit, where each manifestation is an important and integral member of the whole body of manifestations. It illustrates that all nine manifestations are important to each individual believer. Second, the human body is also compared to the Body of Christ, where each believer is an important and integral member of the whole Body of Christ. It illustrates that all believers are important to entire Body of Christ.

  The first analogy is a function of the context. “For” sets these verses in correspondence with verses 7 and 11 progressively. Verse 7 gives the manifestation of the spirit (nine in number) as God’s will for every believer. Verses 8-10 lists the specific profits associated with each of the manifestations, each of which is significant and integral, none of which can be overlooked or discarded. Verse 11 then shows that the believer will only manifest as many of these available nine as he wills to manifest.

  The word “body” also relates back to the collective “manifestation of the spirit” in verse 7, and the members relate back to the individual manifestations in verses 8-10 with their specific profits. The purpose of the analogy is to establish the importance of how all nine manifestations work together and to encourage the believer “to will” to operate all of them. Then as the analogy continues in verses 12 to 27, the “members” continue to represent as many of the nine manifestations as the man wills to manifest.

  This parenthesis is added in order to make the second analogy. “Also” means in addition and correspondence. The context presents “the body” as the manifestation of the spirit. This parenthesis makes another application (corresponding to the first one) regarding the Body of Christ. It is introduced with the phrase “so also is Christ.” Verse 13 continues to explain where the phrases “baptized into one body” and “made to drink into one Spirit” refer to the new birth, which provided access and membership to the Body of Christ. Then as the analogy continues in verses 12 to 27, the “members” continue to represent the believers as vital parts of the Body of Christ.

  Following the double analogy through will help us see its two applications. The first application would be that the body represents the manifestation of the spirit, which has not just one member, but nine. Each individual manifestation with its own profit is incomplete without the other manifestations and is no more important than any of the other manifestations.

  Likewise, the second application would be that the body represents the Body of Christ as one unit with many members. Each individual believer has a function in the Body of Christ and is incomplete without the other members and has no greater importance than any other member.

  Can interpretation of tongues say, “Because I am not prophecy, I am not a manifestation?” Can word of knowledge say, “Because I am not word of wisdom, I am not a manifestation?” No! If all the manifestations were speaking in tongues how would one minister healing? If all of the manifestations were prophecy, how would one discern spirits? God has given nine manifestations, each with its own profit, working together as one unit in each believer as he wills. If a believer only operates one manifestation, he will not have the complete unit. No manifestation is insignificant or unprofitable. Each believer needs all nine manifestations in operation in his life to have the full blessing.

  Can one believer say, “Because I do not serve the same way this other believer does, I am not of the body?” No! If every believer served in the same way, where would the great diversity we read of earlier be? No believer is insignificant or worthless. Each believer has a function to perform and without him performing it, there is lack in the body. Each individual in the Body of Christ is important.

  Verses 15-17 show one extreme of thought regarding the importance of the members. Comparing ourselves among ourselves is not wise (II Corinthians 10:12). No member is insignificant or worthless or unprofitable. One member cannot look at another and think that because his function is different than another’s, that he is less important or unnecessary. Every member has something vital to contribute.

  God designed the manifestations to work together for the ultimate profit of the believer and the entire Body of Christ. No one of the manifestations could do the whole job. Similarly, God placed each member into the Body of Christ. No two are identical, and no one is independent of the others. Nestled between these two examples are these wonderful verses which show God’s Providence. He set the members in the body as it pleased Him. He knew without diversity within the members, there would be no body. Yet, although there are many members and much diversity, there is only one body, with a unity and majesty that declares the glory and manifold wisdom of God.

  Can a believer say, “I need gifts of healings, but I do not need speaking in tongues.”? Can a believer say he has no need for another believer? No! All the manifestations are necessary to the believer and all the believers are necessary to the Body of Christ.

  Verse 21 shows the opposite extreme of thought regarding the importance of the members. No member is so all-important that he does not need the others. No manifestation stands or functions on its own and neither does any believer. That would be the height of egotism to think that although God made a body, I am sufficient in myself. This “no one is as good as me attitude” separates the member from the blessing of the rest of the body.

  No one member is designed to be independent of the others. Otherwise, what is the purpose of the body? Just like one manifestation needs the others to function properly each believer needs others to help and contribute to their lives. Can one operate gifts of healing without revelation. No, it does not work that way. The manifestations work together, and so must the Body of Christ. No one should ever think, “I do not need help from anyone.” There are vital contributions others can make which are necessary to the proper functioning of each member.

  Those members, which “seem to be more feeble” and “less honourable” are just as important as others. Some may say that certain manifestations are less significant than others. In religious circles, speaking in tongues is often considered the least important of the manifestations, but God’s Word declares that it is the foundational manifestation and vital to the believer’s spiritual growth. Similarly, each believer and each ministry is as vital to the Body of Christ as any other. It is wrong to say one believer is more important than another.

  The word translated “uncomely” in verse 23 is used in profane Greek literature as a sexual term to mean the private parts. The “uncomely” members are those, which are unpresentable, personal, or private. (In public, we cover up our private parts.) Two manifestations are designed primarily for private use. They are speaking in tongues and believing. These are the two manifestations with which heteros is used in describing the profit. The profit is primarily for the believer operating the manifestation. The other seven manifestations are primarily for use in the Church. Similarly, some members of the Body of Christ serve a more public function. They speak and minister in public gatherings. These would include teachers and men and women with other ministries. Yet those, which are more private in the Body, are just as vital as others.

  Our comely parts have no need or lack. Other parts, which seem to lack, may be inferior in appearance, but not in power. God has tempered the body together. In Greek the word translated “tempered together” means “mixed together to form a new substance.” It implies an inseparable blend. The nine manifestations are an inseparable unit. A believer must operate all nine manifestations, or he will be lacking in his walk. Likewise, the believers in the Body of Christ are inseparable. We are going to live together for eternity. One believer cannot separate himself from the rest of the Body, or he and the Body will lack, and there will be division in the Body.

  If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. If a believer is weak in one of the manifestations, it will effect the other eight also. The body of the nine manifestations will not be effectual in the believer’s life. If a believer does not speak in tongues much, how will he bless the Body with interpretation of tongues or prophecy? If a believer does not operate the revelation manifestations, or the manifestation of believing, how will he operate gifts of healings or workings of miracles?

  Similarly, if one believer suffers, the whole Body of Christ suffers. Suppose, for example, a believer is hurt, not walking in fellowship with God. Since he is no longer walking in the power of holy spirit, the whole Body is weakened that one person’s worth. On the other hand, suppose a believer is dynamically walking on the Word. As he speaks boldly and ministers effectually, the whole Body benefits and rejoices because of his walk and contribution.

  We are part of his Body, and it is vital that we contribute to its overall well-being. How wonderful to know we have been empowered with such a magnificent gift. We can manifest it in nine wonderful ways, which are all important if we are to fulfill our ministry and function within the Body of Christ.

  The word, tempered, sunkerannumi, in verse twenty-four is only used twice in the Bible. Here in I Corinthians 12:24 where God composes the body by uniting its members, and in Hebrews 4:2 where the God breathed word that is profitable, did not profit some, because it was not mixed, sunkerannumi, with believing in them that heard it. God has moved. He has tempered the believer together in the Body of Christ and has tempered the manifestations together in each individual believer. This is God’s Word, and when we mix it with believing, we will enjoy the profit of God’s tempering as we rejoice in what God had done.

  The Corinthians were in error regarding spiritual matters. This illustration of the body in I Corinthians 12:12-27 reproved and reestablished the truth that God ordained the members as it hath pleased Him. Not only did God ordain the individual members but He tempered them together in order that there would be no schism in the body and that the members would have the same care one for another.

  Ephesians further displays the unique and eminent position of this wonderful body of Christ. Christ was set at God’s own right hand in the heavenlies:

  All things are therefore under the church’s feet for it is his body. Ephesians 4:16 also elaborates on the magnificent way in which God tempered the body together.

  This Body of Christ is God’s doing. He worketh all things after the council of His own will. There are many members, but God tempered them together as it has pleased Him. Out of many God makes one functioning unit. Let’s work together in unity of purpose operating all nine manifestations to the glory of God.