1 Corinthians 12:19

Vv. 19 expresses once more the idea of 1 Corinthians 12:17: “If God had acted otherwise, what would have become of the body?” Instead of this admirable organism, we should have a being endowed with a single sense, as is found, for example, in the lowest grade of animalism.

Then 1 Corinthians 12:20 resumes the exposition of the actual fact, as God has willed it. The νῦν δέ is the repetition of the νυνὶ δέ of 1 Corinthians 12:18. God has not managed things so awkwardly. He has instituted a plurality of members, without however destroying the unity of the body.

The application is obvious at a glance: If the Spirit manifests Himself in certain members only in less extraordinary or less eminent forms than in others, it does not follow that they should put themselves outside the common life, and bury away their gift, like the wicked servant of the parable, who received only one talent.

The apostle now turns, on the other hand, to those who have received the most eminent gifts (1 Corinthians 12:21-26).