1 Corinthians 14:12

12 In the same way, since you're eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in them so that you help the church grow.

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 No matter how many different languages there are in the world, not one of them is without meaning.

11 If I don't know what a language means, I will be a foreigner to the person who speaks it and that person will be a foreigner to me.

12 In the same way, since you're eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in them so that you help the church grow.

13 So the person who speaks in another language should pray for an interpretation of what he says.

14 If I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my mind is not productive.