Romans 12:4 (DBY)

Passage

For, as in one body we have many members, but all the members have not the same office;

Nearby Context

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of [your] mind, that ye may prove what [is] the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace which has been given to me, to every one that is among you, not to have high thoughts above what he should think; but to think so as to be wise, as God has dealt to each a measure of faith.

Romans 12:4 For, as in one body we have many members, but all the members have not the same office;

Romans 12:5 thus we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and each one members one of the other.

Romans 12:6 But having different gifts, according to the grace which has been given to us, whether [it be] prophecy, [let us prophesy] according to the proportion of faith;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "body", "members", "same", and "office". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "body" and "members", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 3's "For I say through the grace which..." into verse 5's "thus we being many are one body...", so "body" and "members" belong inside that flow. In Romans context, the local focus is righteousness by faith, union with Christ, life in the Spirit, and God's covenant faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "body" and "members" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.