1 Corinthians 12:31 - The Greater Gifts

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Context

The Greater Gifts
…30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.

Cross References

1 Corinthians 14:1
Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.1 Corinthians 14:39
So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

1 Corinthians 8:1
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

1 Corinthians 14:1,39
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy…

Matthew 5:6
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

shew.

1 Corinthians 13:1
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

Philippians 3:8
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

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Always Best Better Covet Desire Desires Eagerly Earnestly Excel Excellence Excellent Excelling Far Gifts Greater Higher Important Life Moreover Others Point Pointing Seek Shew Show Spirit Surpassing Transcends Turned Way

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Always Best Better Covet Desire Desires Eagerly Earnestly Excel Excellence Excellent Excelling Far Gifts Greater Higher Important Life Moreover Others Point Pointing Seek Shew Show Spirit Surpassing Transcends Turned Way

1 Corinthians 12

1. Spiritual gifts,
4. are diverse,
7. yet to profit all.
8. And to that end are diversely bestowed;
12. as the members of a natural body tend all to the mutual decency,
22. service,
26. and helpfulness of the same body;
27. so we should do for one another, to make up the body of Christ.

(31) But covet oarnestly,--Better, But earnestly seek the better gifts. All this argument is not meant to check ardour and to damp enthusiasm. The Spirit divideth to every man as He wills, but He wills to give to each the best gift that each desires and is capable of receiving. The receptivity which comes with earnest and practical desire is in the case of each individual the determining cause as to what gift the Spirit will give. The last sentence, "And yet show I unto you a more excellent way," ought to form the opening clause of the next chapter. The "more excellent way" is not some gift to be desired to the exclusion of the other gifts, but a more excellent way of striving for those gifts. You are not to strive for any one gift because it is more highly esteemed, or because it is more apparently useful, or because it is more easily attained. That which will consecrate every struggle for attainment and every gift when attained is LOVE.

Verse 31. - Covet earnestly; literally, be zealous for, strongly desire. That which we aim at we usually attain; and we should aim at that which really is, not at that which seems, the most splendid charism. And yet show I unto you a more excellent way. The "more excellent way" is the way of love, which he sets forth in the next chapter, and which lies open to all Christians without distinction. The verse means either, "And further" (besides bidding you aim at the better gifts), "I show you one supreme way of attaining them;" or, "And I show you a still more eminent way." I bid you desire the best gifts, and further show you a truly royal road (viam maxime vialem), a road par excellence, which leads to their attainment. The way of love would lead to them, and it was itself the best of them. "All the way to heaven lies through heaven, and the path to heaven is heaven."

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

eagerly desire
ζηλοῦτε (zēloute)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2206: From zelos; to have warmth of feeling for or against.

the
τὰ (ta)
Article - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

greater
μείζονα (meizona)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural - Comparative
Strong's 3173: Large, great, in the widest sense.

gifts.
χαρίσματα (charismata)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 5486: From charizomai; a gratuity, i.e. Deliverance;, a endowment, i.e. religious qualification, or miraculous faculty.

And
Καὶ (Kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

now
ἔτι (eti)
Adverb
Strong's 2089: (a) of time: still, yet, even now, (b) of degree: even, further, more, in addition. Perhaps akin to etos; 'yet, ' still.

I will show
δείκνυμι (deiknymi)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1166: A prolonged form of an obsolete primary of the same meaning; to show.

you
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

a way
ὁδὸν (hodon)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3598: A way, road, journey, path. Apparently a primary word; a road; by implication, a progress; figuratively, a mode or means.

that is beyond comparison.
ὑπερβολὴν (hyperbolēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5236: From huperballo; a throwing beyond others, i.e. supereminence; adverbially pre- eminently.

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1 Corinthians 12:31 Catholic BibleNT Letters: 1 Corinthians 12:31 But earnestly desire the best gifts (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor)