1 Corinthians 14:12
in 1 Corinthians 14It 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.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 14
Commentary
12 notes on this verseSome, 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
"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? ...
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
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
"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
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,
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 & Brown1802–1910
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
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.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
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 wordsEvery 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.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὕτως | houtos | So | G3779 → | 208 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὑμεῖς, | humeis | you yourselves, | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἐπεὶ | epei | since | G1893 → | 26 times |
| ζηλωταί | zelotai | zealous | G2207 → | |
| ἐστε | este | you are | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| πνευμάτων, | pneumaton | of spiritual gifts, | G4151 → | 378 times |
| πρὸς | pros | for | G4314 → | 700 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| οἰκοδομὴν | oikodomen | edification | G3619 → | 18 times |
| τῆς | tes | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐκκλησίας | ekklesias | church | G1577 → | 113 times |
| ζητεῖτε | zeteite | do seek | G2212 → | 117 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| περισσεύητε.¶ | perisseuete | you may exceed. | G4052 → | 39 times |
οὕτωςSo
houtosG3779 →208 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὑμεῖς,you yourselves,
humeisG4771 →2973 times
ἐπεὶsince
epeiG1893 →26 times
ζηλωταίzealous
zelotaiG2207 →
ἐστεyou are
esteG1510 →2333 times
πνευμάτων,of spiritual gifts,
pneumatonG4151 →378 times
πρὸςfor
prosG4314 →700 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
οἰκοδομὴνedification
oikodomenG3619 →18 times
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
ἐκκλησίαςchurch
ekklesiasG1577 →113 times
ζητεῖτεdo seek
zeteiteG2212 →117 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
περισσεύητε.¶you may exceed.
perisseueteG4052 →39 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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 2:14He 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…
- Hebrews 9:14
Through
1 Corinthians 14:26What 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.
- Ephesians 5:19
Through
1 Corinthians 14:1Earnestly 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.
- 1 Corinthians 14:39
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies10
About 1 Corinthians

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.
