Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Corinthians 12:17

expostulates in the vein of 1 Corinthians 12:15 f. with those who exalt one order of gifts (either as possessing it themselves or envying it in their neighbours) to the contempt of others; the despised function is as needful as the admired to make up the body: “If all the body (were) eye, where the hearing? if all (were) hearing, where the smelling?” The senses are set in order of dignity; the ear wishes to be the eye (1 Corinthians 12:16), but then its indispensable service of hearing would be undischarged; so the nose might desire promotion to the rank of an ear, leaving the body impotent to smell. The discontent of the lower members and the scornfulness of the higher are alike signs of a selfish individualism, indifferent to the welfare of the body ecclesiastic. ἦν (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:9) is understood here. Ἡ ὄσφρησις is “the sense of smell” not odor, but odoratus (Vg [1909]).

[1909] Latin Vulgate Translation.

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Corinthians 12:17

Old Testament

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