Note 3 at 1 Cor. 12:14: This is a tremendous analogy. The human body is made up of millions of different cells yet they all have to function in harmony to make one healthy person. Likewise, for the body of Christ to be healthy, there has to be unity. This doesn't mean there isn't room for diversity. Our bodies have tremendous diversity but when these different parts are controlled by one head, they greatly multiply our abilities.

For instance, the foot is an amazing thing. It gives us mobility as well as stability. But it can't do what the hand can do. Think what it would be like to have four feet and no hands. We need both in cooperation to be effective. Our feet help our hands and vice versa. There is no jealousy or strife between different parts of our body and there shouldn't be between different parts of Christ's body, either.

Paul continues this analogy using the ear (v. 16), the eye (v. 16), and our sense of smell (v. 17). In verses 22-24, Paul expands the analogy to say that the seemingly feeble parts of our body are necessary and need more attention (see note 7 at v. 22, p. 933).