One Body with Many Parts

¹² The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.

²⁷ All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

⁴ Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, ⁵ so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

¹⁵ And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

¹⁵ Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. ¹⁶ He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

¹⁷ And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body.

¹⁹ and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.

³⁰ And we are members of his body.

²³ For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church.

¹² Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.