1 Corinthians 14:12

12 Therefore, seeing that you are ambitious for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in them so as to benefit the Church.

1 Corinthians 14:12 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 14:12

Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts,
&c.] Gr. "of spirits"; that is, "of the gifts of the Spirit", as the Syriac version renders it; and we rightly, "spiritual gifts"; the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, for which the apostle does not blame them; these being what he had before exhorted them to covet earnestly, and zealously affect and desire: but then he further advises,

seek that ye may excel, to the edifying of the church:
above all, be desirous of such gifts, and of excelling in them, and abounding in the exercise of them, which may be most profitable and edifying to the members of the church; and what these were, and in what manner to be used, he had before signified: the Alexandrian copy reads, seek that ye may prophesy.

1 Corinthians 14:12 In-Context

10 There are, we will suppose, a great number of languages in the world, and no creature is without a language.

11 If, however, I do not know the meaning of the particular language, I shall seem to the speaker of it, and he to me, to be merely talking some foreign tongue.

12 Therefore, seeing that you are ambitious for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in them so as to benefit the Church.

13 Therefore let a man who has the gift of tongues pray for the power of interpreting them.

14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is barren.