19. If all the parts were the same, how could there be a body?
20. As it is, there are many parts. But there is only one body.
21. The eye can't say to the hand, "I don't need you!" The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you!"
22. In fact, it is just the opposite. The parts of the body that seem to be weaker are the ones we can't do without.
23. The parts that we think are less important we treat with special honor. The private parts aren't shown. But they are treated with special care.
24. The parts that can be shown don't need special care. But God has joined together all the parts of the body. And he has given more honor to the parts that didn't have any.
25. In that way, the parts of the body will not take sides. All of them will take care of each other.
26. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part shares in its joy.
27. You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it.
28. First, God has appointed apostles in the church. Second, he has appointed prophets. Third, he has appointed teachers. Then he has appointed people who do miracles and those who have gifts of healing. He also appointed those able to help others, those able to direct things, and those who can speak in different kinds of languages they had not known before.