1 Corinthians 14:12

12 So also you-since you are zealous in matters of the spirit,^[a] seek to excel in building up 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 doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, and all have meaning.

11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner = in Eng a barbarian. To a Gk, a barbaros was anyone who did not speak Gk. to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me.

12 So also you-since you are zealous in matters of the spirit, seek to excel in building up the church.

13 Therefore the person who speaks in [another] language should pray that he can interpret.

14 For if I pray in [another] language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit zealous of spirits; spirits human spirits, spiritual gifts or powers, or the Holy Spirit