A quick look at 1 Corinthians 12:27
The body of Christ is the ultimate unifier. As a believer of the Christian faith, one contributes to the body of Christ. The stronger the contribution, the stronger the body of Christ becomes. The body of Christ refers to multiple aspects within the Christian faith. The body of Christ refers to the worldwide church, the physical body of Christ, incarnation, and the bread in communion. However, there is only one body and it is a unified body.
Tony Evans tells us that:
As believers and followers of Jesus Christ our Lord, our spiritual well-being depends on our connection with Christ through His body. In 1 Corinthians 12, the word body appears 18 times. Paul’s conclusion in this chapter is that we must be connected to each other in order to be what God wants us to be.
In the New Testament, the human body became the primary picture of the church body. At the end of verse 12 Paul wrote, “So also is Christ.” What the human body is to us, so also is Christ’s body. There are many different parts doing many different things, but one unit. The reason our physical body is one is that all the parts are connected. If we cut off a finger, the finger dies. If we want it to function, we must get it reconnected quickly. Connection is absolutely necessary for life.
Christ’s body, the church, is not an organization, but an organism. We can create a robot and have organization. The parts connect to each other so that it works. But the problem with the robot is that it has no life. It is organizationally connected, but it’s not a living being. A human body, in contrast, has organization that makes it function, but it also is an organism. It’s a living, breathing life. Connection in the body is necessary for function and for life, and it is essential if we are to leave a lasting impact and impression on our society and in our world.
No matter which translation you access, 1 Cor 12:27 tells you the same thing:
The New International Version (NIV)
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
King James Version (KJV 1900)
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
New Living Translation (NLT)
All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
The New King James Version (NKJV)
Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
New Century Version (NCV)
Together you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of that body.
American Standard Version (ASV 1901)
Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof.
1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)
Now ye are Christ’s body, and members in particular.
GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
You are Christ’s body and each of you is an individual part of it.
The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it.
The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
The Lexham English Bible (LEB)
Now you are the body of Christ, and members of it individually,
New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)
You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)
Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.
Other mentions in the Bible regarding the body of Christ : Romans 7:4, 12:5; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, 12:25; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:12, 15-16, 5:23; Philippians 2:7; Colossians 1:24; Hebrews 10:5, 13:3.