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"If the foot should say..."

Text: 1 Corinthians 12:15

LITERARY SKILL

Paul was an excellent writer. 1 Corinthians bears witness to his vast literary skill. Not only was he full of knowledge, he was also highly skilled with reference to using different literary devices. In the following text, Paul used personification to communicate effectively.

“If the foot should say,
‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body.’
is it therefore not of the body?
And if the ear should say,
‘Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,’
is it therefore not of the body?
If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing?
If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?
But now God has set the members,
each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.”
1 Corinthians 12:15-18

1. Use of personification

a) The foot

b) The ear

c) These were personified and they voiced their opinions.

d) There were probably church members in Corinth who felt that they were not a part of the Body of Christ.

2. Use of rhetorical questions

a) Paul used this effectively.

b) This was made use of to answer those who were obviously reasoning incorrectly.

3. Different body parts were highlighted

a) To show differences.

b) Yet, each member of the body contributed to the well-being of the body.

4. God

a) Paul now wrote of God as the Creator.

b) He designed the body.

c) He created each individual part.

d) Each part was designed to fulfil a certain role.

e) The Divine design must be borne in mind.

f) God’s personal involvement must be noted amidst the obvious work of the Holy Spirit.

g) There is total and perfect harmony in the Triune Godhead.