What does the Bible say about members?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible teaches that believers are united to Christ and to one another as members of His one body, each receiving a needed place and purpose by God’s grace. First Corinthians 12:12-27 portrays the church as a body with many distinct members, none insignificant and none independent. Romans 12:4-5 likewise calls Christians to humble mutual belonging, using differing gifts for the good of all. Christ gives gifted servants to equip the saints for ministry and to build up His body, as Ephesians 4:12 teaches. Therefore, church membership is not merely personal association but a covenantal calling to serve, suffer, rejoice, and grow together under Christ, the Head.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • 1 Corinthians 12:27

    Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:12

    For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.

  • Romans 12:5

    so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

    [12] For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. [13] For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit. [14] For the body is not one member, but many. [15] If the foot would say, "Because I'm not the hand, I'm not part of the body," it is not therefore not part of the body. [16] If the ear would say, "Because I'm not the eye, I'm not part of the body," it's not therefore not part of the body. [17] If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be? [18] But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired. [19] If they were all one member, where would the body be? [20] But now they are many members, but one body. [21] The eye can't tell the hand, "I have no need for you," or again the head to the feet, "I have no need for you." [22] No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. [23] Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant propriety; [24] whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part, [25] that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. [26] When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. Or when one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. [27] Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

  • Ephesians 4:12

    for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ;

  • Romans 12:4

    For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don't have the same function,

  • 1 Corinthians 12:20

    But now they are many members, but one body.

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