Romans 12:4-5 Romans 12:4-Paul Compares The Christian Community To The Human Body To Emphasize The Importance Of Humility Next, we continue our study of Romans chapter twelve by noting verse 4 but first by way of review, we have noted the following: In Romans 12:1, the apostle Paul appealed to his Christian readers in Rome on the basis of the merciful acts of the Father on their behalf to offer their bodies as a sacrifice-alive, holy, extremely pleasing to the Father, which is their reasonable service to the Father. Romans 12:1, “Therefore, I appeal to each and every one of you spiritual brothers and sisters on the basis of the merciful acts produced by God the Father to offer your bodies as a sacrifice-alive, holy, extremely pleasing and beneficial to God the Father, which is your reasonable service.” Then, in Romans 12:2, Paul prohibited his Christian readers in Rome from being conformed to the standards of the cosmic system of Satan. Romans 12:2a, “Consequently, do not conform your behavior in accordance with the standards of this age.” He then issued a command on the heels of this prohibition to be transformed in their character into the image of Christ by the renewing of their minds. He teaches that this transformation of the believer’s character into the image of Christ by renovating their mind accomplishes what the Father intended in that it provides the believer the capacity to discern what the will of God is with regards to any situation. Romans 12:2b, “On the contrary, permit yourselves to be transformed by renovating your mind in order that each and every one of you may discern what is, as an eternal spiritual truth, God the Father’s will, that which is good as well as extremely pleasing and in addition perfect.” In Romans 12:3, Paul forbid his readers from thinking more highly of themselves than they were obligated to think. Romans 12:3a, “In fact, by means of the spiritual gift, which was assigned to me for the benefit of myself and others I say for the benefit of each and every person, namely those who are at this particular time living among all of you not to think more highly of oneself than what one is, as an eternal spiritual truth, obligated to think.” In contrast to this he commanded that they think properly about themselves, which is accomplished by obeying the command in Romans 12:2 to renovate one’s mind. Thinking properly about themselves would be consistent with the objective 2009 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 1 standard that the Father distributed to each believer by which they can accurately and objectively form an opinion of themselves, namely justifying faith. Romans 12:3b, “On the contrary, make it a habit to think so that you think properly about yourselves consistent with the objective standard God the Father distributed to each and every person without exception for their benefit, namely justifying faith.” Next, we will begin a study of Romans 12:4-5, which teaches that the reason why it is essential that the believer maintain a humble attitude toward self is that like the human body has many members with differing functions so they are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. In Romans 12:4, Paul compares the Christian community to the human body to emphasize the importance of humility. Romans 12:4-5, “For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” In Romans 12:4-5, the apostle Paul employs the body of Christ metaphor to teach that there is unity as well as diversity in the Christian community. Constable writes, “The body of Christ is a unified organism, and its members are diverse personally and in their functions…All the members belong to one another; there is mutuality in the church. As members of one another, we cannot work independently effectively. Each member profits from the contribution of every other member too. This realization should help us avoid becoming proud.” (Constable, Thomas L.; Romans 2006 Edition; page 130; Published by Sonic Light) Ray Stedman writes, “God gives us gifts, but we do not all have the same gifts. We need one another. We are members one with another, not just of this church, but of other churches, other denominations, other groups as well.” (Stedman, Ray; Romans: Simple Christianity; page 140; Discovery Publishing, a ministry of Peninsula Bible Church; 1995) This comparison of a social group to the human body was very common among ancient writers. Of course, Paul picked up the metaphor and gave it a theological or spiritual application. Paul uses this illustration in 1 Corinthians 12 and it is further developed in Ephesians and Colossians. He uses the metaphor in 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12 to deal with arrogance in the Christian community. In 1 Corinthians 12, he uses it to rebuke those in the Corinthian church who prided themselves on possessing certain spiritual gifts, which they erroneously and arrogantly deemed as making them more important than other believers. 1 Corinthians 12, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray 2009 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 2 to the mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus is accursed’; and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,’ it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,’ it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; or again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do 2009 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 3 they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.” In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul uses the body of Christ metaphor to stop arrogance that was already taking place among believers whereas in Romans 12:4-5, he uses the body of Christ metaphor to prevent it from taking place (See Romans 15:14- 15). In both instances, Paul discusses the subject of love immediately after discussing spiritual gifts since spiritual gifts can only function when the believer is operating according to the love of God.