The Less Honored Bestowed More Honor 1 Corinthians 12:23

Paul the apostle told the church members in Corinth how, “those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary”, and in chapter twelve and verse twenty-three of First Corinthians, Paul shared with the Corinthian church about the, “members...less honorable”, where we read:

And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

The verse begins, “And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor;”. Paul began with the words, “And those members” which means “limbs or parts” “of the body” or “of the living corpse or carcass”, “which we think” which means “that Paul and the church member consider, suppose and judge” “to be less honorable” which means “that are without honor of of less comparative degree”, “upon these” or “upon those less honorable members” “we bestow” which means “Paul and the church members place, present, confer and put upon” “more abundant” or “exceeding above and over than is necessary supreme” “honor” which means “value, deference and reverence”. Paul referred to the way people give great “honor” to parts of the “body” that are usually thought of as to “lower degree”.

The verse goes on to say, “... and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.” Paul added the words, “and our uncomely” which means “our deformed, indecent and unseemly” “parts” or “members” “have more” which means “hold, own and possess “abundant” or superior, extraordinary, surpassing and uncommon” “comeliness” which means “charm, elegance, external beauty, decorum and modesty”. Paul added that the “indecent and unseemly” “parts” of the “body” are given a “greater beauty and decorum” than the others.

When we meditate upon these words from Paul, we see how he places great value upon the “parts” of the “body” that may be deemed “unworthy” or “less honorable”. The internal “parts” of the “body” are not seen from the outside, however, “parts” such as the heart, lungs, brain and muscles are extremely valuable to the “body” functions. Jesus Christ's “body”, the church, has many “members” within it who are not as easily seen or may be clandestine to others, however, their value is “honored” by God to a greater degree. May we realize the “honor” that should be placed upon both beautiful and “uncomely” parts to the “body of Christ”.

Next time Paul shares with the church members concerning how, “God has tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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