1 Corinthians 12

Jesus

Jesus — Greek form of Joshua/Jeshua, 'Jehovah saves'

Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 1 Corinthians 12:3

A real testimony that Jesus is the Lord comes by the power of the Holy Ghost. The Spirit's central mission is to witness of Christ, so the gifts Paul lists all start from this one witness.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

Lord (Jesus Christ)

And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 1 Corinthians 12:5

Verses 4-6 name the Spirit, the Lord, and God as the source of the gifts. In Paul's usage "the Lord" is Jesus Christ (see verse 3), so all ministries in the Church serve one Master, distinct from the Spirit and the Father.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

Body of Christ

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12–13

Paul compares the Church to a human body and says "so also is Christ": the believers, baptized into Him, together make up His body. Every member matters because each belongs to Christ.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in Romans 12:4-5 — "we, being many, are one body in Christ" — the same image of the Church as Christ's body.
• the same title in Ephesians 1:22-23 — Christ is head over the Church, "which is his body".

Body of Christ

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 1 Corinthians 12:27

Paul applies the comparison directly: the Corinthian Saints are Christ's body, each one a needed part. Belonging to His Church means belonging to Him.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it