1 Corinthians 12:17

“If the whole body were an eye, etc.] And nothing else, where were the hearing? there would be no ear, and so no sense of hearing: and if the whole were hearing: or only consisted of a member capable of the sense of hearing, where were the smelling? there would be no nose, the organ of smelling, and that sense would be wanting: thus if the church only consisted of ministers of the Gospel, of men of eminent light and knowledge, qualified for the preaching of the word to others, there would be no hearers; and on the other hand, if it only consisted of hearers, of such who only could hear the word to their own advantage, there would be none of a quick understanding, or of a quick smell to…”

“Superior as the eye is, it would not do if it were the sole member to the exclusion of the rest.”

“If the whole body ... - The idea in this verse is, that all the parts of the body are useful in their proper place, and that it would be as absurd to require or expect that all the members of the church should have the same endowments, as it would be to attempt to make the body “all eye.” If all were the same; if all had the same endowments, important offices which are now secured by the other members would be unknown. All, therefore, are to be satisfied with their allotment; all are to be honored in their appropriate place. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Co1 12:21, Co1 12:29; Sa1 9:9; Psa 94:9, Psa 139:13-16; Pro 20:12 1 Corinthians 12:18”