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1 Corinthians 14:12

in 1 Corinthians 14

It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church.

KJV

Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

This verse in 1 Corinthians 14

Commentary

12 notes on this verse

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on 1 Corinthians · Written before 1107.

Some, after the words "so also you," place a period, and explain: so also you, speaking in tongues things unintelligible, appear as foreigners to the listeners; then they begin again and read: "zealous for spiritual gifts." But Saint John Chrysostom reads without the division. Since, …

This site's exposition

you are eager to have

on 1 Corinthians 14:12-13

Paul redirects the zeal he commanded in verse 1 toward gifts that build up the church. Verse 13 gives the tongue-speaker a remedy, to pray that he may interpret, so the gift already given can serve the assembly.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on 1 Corinthians 35 · Written before 407.

proposed

"What then must be done?" saith he. Why, so far from disparaging, one ought to recommend and to teach it; as indeed himself also doth. Since after he had accused and rebuked it and shown its unprofitableness, he proceeds to counsel them; saying, "So also ye, since as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the Church." Seest thou his aim every where, how he looks to one thing continually and in all cases, the general utility, the profiting the Church; laying this down as a kind of rule? And he did not say, "that ye may obtain the gifts" but, "that ye may abound," i.e., that ye may even possess them in great plenitude. Thus, so far am I from wishing you not to possess them, that I even wish you to abound in them, only so that ye handle them with a view to the common advantage. And how is this to be done? ...

A commentator

Ambrosiaster

COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES · Written before 384.

proposed

The soul is stirred and rejoices when it learns something more about the Scriptures. The more it tends in this direction, the more it abandons vices. It is for these reasons that Paul advises that one should make efforts to communicate clearly.

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on 1 Corinthians · Written before 1274.

proposed

Then when he says: So with yourselves, he concludes to what he intended; and this can be constructed in two ways: first, so that it is punctuated as if he were saying: Therefore, I will be a barbarian to you, if I speak without meaning …

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

"Forasmuch as you are zealous of spiritual gifts, this way it will become commendable zeal, be zealous to edify the church, to promote Christian knowledge and practice, and covet those gifts most that will do the best service to men's souls." This is the great rule he gives, which, 2.
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts,....
5 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

He advises that worship should be celebrated so that the most ignorant might understand, and join in prayer and praise, and presses the advice by his own example,

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Some understand it, "Let him pray so as to interpret what he utters in prayer in a language unintelligible without it." The sum is that they should perform all religious exercises in their assemblies so that all might join in them and profit by them.

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

zealous--emulously desirous. spiritual gifts--literally, "spirits"; that is, emanations from the one Spirit. seek that ye may excel to--Translate, "Seek them, that ye may abound in them to the edifying," &c.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

For as much as ye are zealous - Seeing ye affect so much to have spiritual gifts, seek that ye may get those by which ye may excel in edifying the Church.
Even so ye - Since you desire spiritual gifts, I may urge it upon you to seek to he able to speak in a clear and intelligible manner, that you may edify the church. This is one of the most valuable endowments of the Spirit; and this should be earnestly desired. Forasmuch as ye are zealous - Since you earnestly desire; See the note at 1Co 12:31. Spiritual gifts - The endowments conferred by the Holy Spirit; See the note at 1Co 12:1. Seek that ye may excel ... - Seek that you may be able to convey truth in a clear and plain manner; seek to be distinguished for that. It is one of the most rare and valuable endowments of the Holy Spirit.

The words behind it

15 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Titus 2:14

    He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

    it leads to

    • Hebrews 9:14

      how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!

    • Ephesians 2:10

      For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

    • 1 Peter 2:9

      But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

    • 1 Peter 1:18

      For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,

    • Titus 3:8

      This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize these things, so that those who have believed God will take care to devote themselves to good deeds. These things are excellent and profitable…

  • Through

    1 Corinthians 14:26

    What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the…

    it leads to

    • Ephesians 5:19

      Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,

    • 1 Corinthians 12:7–10

      Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

  • Through

    1 Corinthians 14:1

    Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.

    it leads to

    • 1 Corinthians 14:39

      So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

Where this verse is studied

About 1 Corinthians

The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci, 1495 to 1498. Public domain.
The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci, 1495 to 1498. Public domain.
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 35; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.