Continuing Paul’s journey one of the most fascinating sites from ancient Corinth is the Asclepieion, a healing temple dedicated to Asclepius, the Greek and Roman god of medicine. This temple was a place of worship but also functioned as an early hospital. People suffering from various illnesses would come to the Asclepieion, offer sacrifices, and seek healing—through medical treatment, or prayer. Before presenting their offerings, visitors created terracotta models representing the part of their body in need of healing. For example, someone with a broken hand would craft a clay model of a hand, while others with different ailments would make molds of the afflicted body part. These terracotta forms were then presented at the temple as acts of devotion and hope for recovery.

In Paul’s day, the area around the Asclepieion would have been filled with these terracotta forms—eyes, noses, ears, hands, arms, and feet—many of which are still on display today. Drawing on this vivid imagery, Paul encouraged the church toward unity. He asked, can the foot say to the hand, or the eye to the ear, or the nose to the rest of the body, ‘I don’t need you’? Of course not. Together, all parts make up one body.

My friend, Paul contrasts the world’s disunity and self-centered independence—an attitude that says, ‘I don’t need anyone; it’s just me and God.’ Such thinking leads only to isolation and spiritual emptiness. Instead, Paul teaches that the path to true unity, whether in a church, family, or nation, is remarkably simple: it’s love. Genuine unity is born from you and I simply loving and caring for one another.