What is the body in 1 Corinthians 12:12?

Paul uses the human body as an illustration in 1 Corinthians 12:12, showing that one body has many members yet remains one. By analogy, the body is the Church, His called-out assembly, whose head is Christ in heaven and whose members are believers.

Les explains that in 1 Corinthians chapter 12, verse 12, Paul is talking about the human body: "for as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body being many are one body, so also is Christ." The body in this passage points to the Church which is His body. Les notes that this called-out assembly is the same Greek word Ecclesia, but it now carries a new connotation: it is the church which is His body, or the body which is the church. Its head is in heaven as the head of the body, and believers are the body. Les contrasts this with Peter in Acts, who makes no mention that Christ is the head of this called-out assembly or that they are part of Him.

1 Corinthians 12:12

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

What does 1 Corinthians 12:12 compare the body of Christ to?

Paul writes that 1 Corinthians 12:12 compares the body of Christ to the human body: as one body has many members, and all members, though many, are one body, so also is Christ. The passage teaches that believers are brought into this body and become members of it while retaining individuality.