1 Corinthians 12:26

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Paul addresses the Corinthian church while using the body metaphor to address their internal factionalism. He speaks this to establish that the church functions as a single organism where every member’s experience affects the whole.

The words — The Greek συμπάσχει (sumpaschei) literally means "suffers with," and πᾶντα (panta) translates to "all" or "every part." These terms anchor the mutual experience of the body in shared physical reality rather than abstract sympathy.

The thread — The text records the principle of corporate empathy, which Paul reiterates in Romans 12:15, Galatians 6:2, and Hebrews 13:3. These passages extend the pattern of shared burden and shared celebration to the wider community of believers.

Why it lands — The text states that the body's members must experience each other's pain and honor as their own. It requires believers to actively participate in the circumstances of others rather than observe them from a distance.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

καὶkaiAnd εἴτεeiteif πάσχειpascheisuffers ἓνhenone μέλος,melosmember,συμπάσχειsumpascheisuffer with [it]πάνταpantaall τὰtathe μέλη·melēmembers;εἴτεeiteif δοξάζεταιdoxazetaiis honored ἓνhenone μέλος,melosmember,συγχαίρειsugchaireirejoice with [it]πάνταpantaall τὰtathe μέλη.¶melēmembers.

King James Version

And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

Cross-references

Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
Galatians 6:2 Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Hebrews 13:3 Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them.
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.
2 Corinthians 11:28 Apart from these external trials, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.