1 Corinthians 12:22

Nay more, the instant we reflect, we are convinced of the absolute necessity of the members which seem to play an altogether secondary part, more secondary even than the hand or the feet. These weak parts are no doubt the sensitive organs which are protected by their position in the body, the lungs and stomach, for example, on which, above all, the life and health of the whole body depend.

The πολλῷ μᾶλλον has a logical (much rather) and not a quantitative sense (much more).

Hence it follows that the gifts and offices which have a modest appearance are necessary, no less than the others, to the prosperity of the whole.

Vers. 23, 24a. “And the members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24a. Whereas our comely parts have no need.”

Paul here appeals to a fact of natural instinct in man. Καί : and moreover. There is a gradation from the ἀσθενέστερα, more feeble, to the ἀτιμότερα and ἀσχήμονα, less honourable and uncomely. These less honourable members are the arms, the throat, the breast, the belly, the legs, all the parts of the body on which chiefly the cares of the toilet are lavished.

The apostle pushes the comparison to the utmost. The second καί signifies: and even. Hofmann makes the ἡμῶν, our, dependent not on ἀσχήμονα, but on εὐσχημοσύνην ἔχει : “derive from us greater comeliness;” and similarly in 1 Corinthians 12:24 he makes the ἡμῶν depend on χρείαν ἔχει : “Those which are comely of themselves have no need of us to make them such.” This commentator sometimes seems to amuse himself with exegetical feats rather than to speak seriously. The ἡμῶν is added to the two adjectives ἀσχήμονα and εὐσχήμονα to express the solidarity which exists between the comeliness of one part of the body and that of our whole person. The shame of one of our members is ours. What the apostle wished thereby to impress on the proud Corinthians was, that it pertains to the honour of the whole Church that those who are charged with the humblest functions and the least prominent services should be the objects of the greatest marks of respect; we should say, if we dared so to paraphrase: To the brother serving in the agape, the best portion! To the brother who sweeps the floor, the most honourable place beside the president!