1 Corinthians 12:13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:13 in other translations
| BSB | For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink. |
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| WEB | For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit. |
| ASV | For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit. |
| YLT | for also in one Spirit we all to one body were baptized, whether Jews or Greeks, whether servants or freemen, and all into one Spirit were made to drink, |
| DARBY | For also in the power of one Spirit we have all been baptised into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bondmen or free, and have all been given to drink of one Spirit. |
| BBE | For through the baptism of the one Spirit we were all formed into one body, Jews or Greeks, servants or free men, and were all made full of the same Spirit. |
| Webster | For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. |
What does 1 Corinthians 12:13 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Corinthians 12:12-13
12-13. Unity, not unvarying uniformity, is the law of God in the world of grace, as in that of nature. As the many members of the body compose an organic whole and none can be dispensed with as needless, so those variously gifted by the Spirit, compose a spiritual organic whole, the body of Christ, into which all are baptized by the one Spirit. of that one body--Most of the oldest manuscripts omit "one." so also is…
Barnes' Notes
Are we all. Every member of the church, whatever may be his rank or talents, has received his endowments from the same Spirit.
Baptized into one body. Many suppose that there is reference here to the ordinance of baptism by water. But the connexion seems rather to require us to understand it of the baptism of the Holy Ghost, (Mt 3:11;) and if so, it means, that by the agency of the Holy Spirit they had all been fitted, each to his appropriate place, to constitute the body of Christ--the church. If, however, it refers to the ordinance of baptism, as Bloomfield, Calvin, Doddridge, etc. suppose, then it means, that by the very profession of religion as made at baptism, by there being but one baptism, (Eph 4:5,) they had all professedly become members of one and the same body. The former interpretation, however, seems to me best to suit the connexion.
Whether we be Jews or Gentiles. There is no difference. All are on a level. In regard to the grand point, no distinction is made, whatever may have been our former condition of life.
Bond or free. It is evident that many who were slaves were converted to the Christian faith. Religion, however, regarded all as on a level; and conferred no favours on the free which it did not on the slave. It was one of the happy lessons of Christianity, that it taught men that in the great matters pertaining to their eternal interests they were on the same level. This doctrine would tend to secure, more than anything else could, the proper treatment of those who were in bondage, and of those who were in humble ranks of life. At the same time it would not diminish, but would increase their real respect for their masters, and for those who were above them, if they regarded them as fellow Christians, and destined to the same heaven. 1Cor 7:22.
And have been all made to drink, etc. This probably refers to their partaking together of the cup in the Lord's Supper. The sense is, that by their drinking of the same cup commemorating the death of Christ, they had partaken of the same influences of the Holy Ghost, which descend alike on all who observe that ordinance in a proper manner. They had shown, also, that they belonged to the same body, and were all united together; and that, however various might be their graces and endowments, yet they all belonged to the same great family.
(a) "all baptized" Jn 1:16, Eph 4:5 (1) "Gentiles" "Greeks" (b) "drink into one Spirit" Jn 7:37-39
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 12:12-26
Christ and his church form one body, as Head and members. Christians become members of this body by baptism. The outward rite is of Divine institution; it is a sign of the new birth, and is called therefore the washing of regeneration, Tit 3:5. But it is by the Spirit, only by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that we are made members of Christ's body. And by communion with Christ at the Lord's supper, we are…
1 Corinthians 12:13 in the original Greek
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Cross references for 1 Corinthians 12:13
- Ephesians 4:5
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
- Colossians 3:11
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
- Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
- John 7:37-39
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
- Romans 6:3-6
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
- 1 Peter 3:21
The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
- Acts 1:5
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
- Ephesians 2:11-22
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; …
- Titus 3:4-6
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
- Luke 3:16
John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
- Romans 3:29
Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
- John 1:33
And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
10:2; Isa 44:3-5; Eze 36:25-27; Mt 3:11; Lu 3:16; Joh 1:16,33; 3:5
Ac 1:5; Ro 6:3-6; 8:9-11; Eph 4:5; 5:26; Col 2:11,12; Tit 3:4-6
1Pe 3:21
whether we be Jews.
Ro 3:29; 4:11; Ga 3:23,28; Eph 2:11-16,19-22; 3:6; Col 1:27; 3:11
Gentiles. Gr. Greeks. bond.
7:21,22; Eph 6:8
to drink.
So 5:1; Isa 41:17,18; 55:1; Zec 9:15-17; Joh 4:10,14; 6:63; 7:37-39
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- 1 Corinthians 12:12
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 12:13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
- 1 Corinthians 12:14
For the body is not one member, but many.
1 Corinthians 12:13 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Porque por un Espíritu somos todos bautizados en un cuerpo, ora Judíos ó Griegos, ora siervos ó libres; y todos hemos bebido de un mismo Espíritu. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Car aussi nous avons tous été baptisés d’un seul Esprit pour être un seul corps, soit Juifs, soit Grecs, soit esclaves, soit hommes libres; et nous avons tous été abreuvés pour l’unité d’un seul Esprit. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Denn auch in einem Geiste sind wir alle zu einem Leibe getauft worden, es seien Juden oder Griechen, es seien Sklaven oder Freie, und sind alle mit einem Geiste getränkt worden. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Etenim in uno Spiritu omnes nos in unum corpus baptizati sumus, sive Judæi, sive gentiles, sive servi, sive liberi: et omnes in uno Spiritu potati sumus. |