Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Corinthians 12:16
And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
And if the ear shall say,…. The organ that receives sounds, and can distinguish them, and in which member is placed the sense of hearing; and may design such as are hearers of the word of God, not merely externally, but internally; who hear so as to love, savour, and relish it; so as to understand and believe it, and to act in compliance with it; and distinguish it for themselves, though they may not be able to give a distinct account of it to others, or instruct others in it:
because I am not the eye: the organ of seeing, in which is seated the visive faculty, and which receives light, and uses it for the good of the body, whose superintendent it is; and may be expressive of the ministers of the Gospel, who are that to the church, as eyes are to the body; they are the light of the world, have a clear insight into the doctrines of the Gospel, and communicate their light to others; they are set in the highest place in the church, and as watchmen and overseers there, to instruct; guide, and direct the members of it:
I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? it certainly is; and so such as are only hearers of the Gospel, being affectionate, believing, understanding and fruitful hearers; though they have not such large knowledge and clear light, so as to be capable of overseeing and instructing others, yet are true and useful members of the church, are highly respected by Christ the head, and to be had in esteem by their fellow members, who may be superior to them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Points explained precisely as in verse 15.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And if the ear shall say “ (kai can eipe to ous) “And if the ear says or should say.” This is a supposition contrary to possibility of the fact – an hypothesis of absurd nature – ears do not talk , complain, rebel – as singular members of the body. See Eph 4:25.
2) “Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body;” (hoti ouk eimi ophthlamos ouk eimi ek tou somatos) “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body.” The term “an eye” contrasts seeing with hearing and attributes supposed, hypothetical, rebellious speech to the eye in jealous conference with the eye against the whole body.
3) “Is it therefore not of the body?” (ou para touto ouk estin ek tou somatos) “Yet for this is it not of the body?” The mere complaint, dissatisfaction, of an ear, does not remove it from the body; or the lie that the dissatisfied evil ear tells does not change the fact that it exists as a vital part of the body, does it? The rhetoric implication is – it surely does not!
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
16. No one must claim that he is not sharer of the Church because he is only a hearer and not an overseer, any more than the ear is excluded from the body because it is not the eye.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
Ver. 16. If the ear ] A man had better be blind, lame, dumb, than deaf; because by the ear life enters into the soul, Isa 55:3 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Co 12:16. , the ear) a part less noble.-, the eye) a most noble and most commanding () part of the body, comp. Num 10:31. Sight excels hearing, 1Co 12:17; 1Co 12:21.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
1Co 12:16
1Co 12:16
And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body.-All the members are essential to the performance of all the functions of the body. [The point is that the humble members as well as the more honored are all members of the body. Each, because of this fact, must perform his function to the best of his ability.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
is it: 1Co 12:16, 1Co 12:22, Rom 12:3, Rom 12:10, Phi 2:3
Reciprocal: 1Co 13:1 – I speak
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body. [This passage exposes the folly of those who were belittling themselves in the presence of their fellow-Christians. Being in the church, they were organically united to the entire church body. If they felt that their inferiority in gifts excluded them, they were not thereby excluded. Their false views and false assertions did not alter their true condition. Paul associates the members of action (foot and hand) and the members of sensation (eye and ear), and represents each as complaining against the other, because men are apt to be envious and to disparage themselves as to those who have superior gifts similar to their own. We are not envious of those whose gifts are dissimilar. It is the foot and not the eye that envies the hand.]