The thoughts expressed in these verses have already been discussed in earlier passages, but there are a number of problems in translation.

One cannot usually say literally we have many parts in the one body. A more normal expression would be “each one of us has a body made up of different parts” or “the body of each one of us has many different parts.” All these parts have different functions may then be rendered as “each part has a different function,” “each part has its own use,” “each part works in a different way,” or “each part is for something different.”

Though we are many may be translated as “though we are many different people” or “… distinct persons.”

We are one body must be rendered in some languages as “we form one body” or “we are just like one body.”

The phrase in union with Christ may be understood as either means or cause—for example, “by being one with Christ” or “because we are one together with Christ.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .