John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. So we being many are one body in Christ , etc..] This is the application of the above simile. The chosen of God, the redeemed of Christ, and those that are justified by his righteousness, and sanctified by his Spirit; though they are but few in comparison of the men of the world, but considered in themselves are many, and yet make up but one body, the church, of which Christ is the head: and though this general assembly; or church universal, may be distinguished into several congregational churches, and distinct communities, yet each community, consisting of divers persons, is but one body in Christ, united and knit together by joints and bands, under him their head, Lord, and King; in him, and not in Caesar, or any earthly monarch, to distinguish this body from bodies politic, or any civil community among men: and everyone members one of another ; as in union with Christ their head, so to one another in love, walking in holy fellowship together, sympathizing with, and serving each other.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 3-8 - Pride is a sin in us by nature; we need to be cautioned and arme against it. All the saints make up one body in Christ, who is the Hea of the body, and the common Centre of their unity. In the spiritual body, some are fitted for and called to one sort of work; others for another sort of work. We are to do all the good we can, one to another and for the common benefit. If we duly thought about the powers we have, and how far we fail properly to improve them, it would humble us But as we must not be proud of our talents, so we must take heed lest under a pretence of humility and self-denial, we are slothful in layin out ourselves for the good of others. We must not say, I am nothing therefore I will sit still, and do nothing; but, I am nothing in myself, and therefore I will lay out myself to the utmost, in the strength of the grace of Christ. Whatever our gifts or situations ma be, let us try to employ ourselves humbly, diligently, cheerfully, an in simplicity; not seeking our own credit or profit, but the good of many, for this world and that which is to come.
Greek Textus Receptus
ουτως 3779 ADV οι 3588 T-NPM πολλοι 4183 A-NPM εν 1520 A-NSN σωμα 4983 N-NSN εσμεν 2070 5748 V-PXI-1P εν 1722 PREP χριστω 5547 N-DSM ο 3588 T-NSM δε 1161 CONJ καθ 2596 PREP εις 1520 A-NSM αλληλων 240 C-GPM μελη 3196 N-NPN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
5. Being many (oi polloi). Lit., the many. Rev., better, who are many. Every one (to de kaq eiv). The literal phrase can only be rendered awkwardly: and as to what is true according to one; i.e., individually, severally. Compare, for a similar phrase, Mark xiv. 19; John viii. 9.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
12:5 {And severally} (to de kaq' heis). A difficult late idiom where the preposition kaq' (kata) is treated adverbially with no effect on the nominative case heis like huper eg" (#2Co 11:23). So heis kaq' heis (#Mr 14:19) and in Modern Greek katheis as a distributive pronoun. But we have kaq' hena in #1Co 14:31. The use of the neuter article here to with kaq' heis is probably the accusative of general reference, "as to each one."
