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New Defender's Study Bible Notes

12:13 are we all. The verb should be “were,” denoting an event of the past. Also note the word “all,” twice used in this verse. Thus, all true Christians, those who have “the Spirit of Christ” (Romans 8:9), have been baptized (i.e., “immersed”) into the spiritual Body of Christ, when they were saved by grace through faith. They are all members of that Body, each with a particular gift or gifts, serving in ways analogous to the various functions of the different members of a physical body. Not all believers have the gift of tongues or of teaching, any more than all members of a body function as eyes or ears.


12:13 baptized. There are numerous references to the baptism of the Holy Spirit, all consistent with the teaching here that all true believers in Christ have been baptized into His body, thus sharing His eternal life. See Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:5; 11:16). Note that the Greek preposition en, here translated “by,” can just as well be rendered “in” or “with.”


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