1 Corinthians 12:31

1 Corinthians 12:31 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
• New International Version (NIV)Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

Context of 1 Corinthians 12:31

29Not everyone in the church is an apostle. Not everyone speaks messages from God. Not everyone is a teacher. Not everyone can do miracles. 30Not everyone has the gifts to make sick people well. Not everyone can speak in different kinds of languages. Nor can everyone explain what messages in those languages mean. You know that. But it is good if you really want the more valuable gifts from God. Now I will show you a way that is better than anything else.

1 Corinthians 12:31 word by word

ζηλοῦτε δὲ τὰ χαρίσματα τὰ μείζονα.¶ Καὶ ἔτι καθ᾽ ὑπερβολὴν ὁδὸν ὑμῖν δείκνυμι.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• covet earnestlyζηλόωzēloō · be eagerG2206
• the bestκρείττωνkreittōn · strongerG2909
• giftsχάρισμαcharisma · giftG5486
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• yetἔτιeti · stillG2089
• shew Iδεικνύωdeiknuō · to showG1166
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• ·κατάkata · according toG2596
• a more excellentὑπερβολήhuperbolē · surpassingG5236
• wayὁδόςhodos · roadG3598

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 12:31

• 1 Corinthians 8:1You asked me a question about food that people have offered to idols. You say, ‘We all know about these things.’ We know that is true. But when you know about something, that can make you proud. Love is better. Love helps people to become strong.
• 1 Corinthians 14:1So you must always want to love other people. Also, want very much to receive spiritual gifts from God. More than anything else, want to speak messages from God.
• Matthew 5:6Happy are the people who want to obey God, as much as they want to eat food. God will give to them everything that they need.
• Luke 10:42But only one thing is really important. That is what Mary has chosen to do. Nobody will take it away from her.’
• 1 Corinthians 13:1I may be able to speak many different languages that people or angels speak. But that is worth nothing if I do not love other people. I would only be making a loud noise, like someone who hits a piece of metal.
• Philippians 3:8Yes, now that I know Christ Jesus as my Lord, that is the most valuable thing. Nothing else is important at all. I have thrown everything else away, so that I can serve Christ. All those other things are like dirt to me. I think about them like that, so that I can have Christ.
• Hebrews 11:4Abel believed God. So he offered a better sacrifice to God than Cain did. And because of Abel's faith, God accepted him as right with him. God said that he was happy with Abel's gifts. Because Abel trusted God, we can still learn from his faith. Abel died long ago, but it is like he is still speaking to us.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 12:31

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31But covet earnestly - To covet signifies to desire earnestly. This disposition towards heavenly things is highly laudable; towards earthly things, is deeply criminal. A man may possess the best of all these gifts, and yet be deficient in what is essentially necessary to his salvation, for he may be without that love or charity which the apostle here calls the more excellent way, and which he proceeds in the next chapter to describe. Some think that this…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 31But covet earnestly - Greek “Be zealous for” ͂ ZēlouteThis word, however, may be either in the indicative mood (ye do covet earnestly), or in the imperative, as in our translation. Doddridge contends that it should be rendered in the indicative mood, for he says it seems to be a contradiction that after the apostle had been showing that these gifts were not at their own option, and that they ought not to emulate the gifts of another, or aspire to…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 27-31Verses 27-31 Contempt, hatred, envy, and strife, are very unnatural in Christians. It is like the members of the same body being without concern for one another, or quarrelling with each other. The proud, contentious spirit that prevailed, as to spiritual gifts, was thus condemned. The offices and gifts, or favours, dispensed by the Holy Spirit, are noticed. Chief ministers; persons enabled to interpret Scripture; those who laboured in word and doctrine…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 31Believers should eagerly seek the most helpful gifts, those with the greatest potential to strengthen the church (see 14:12). They should remember that God distributes gifts as he chooses (12:11, 18, 28). Paul encourages the Corinthians to look beyond their desire for the gift of tongues (compare 14:1–25, 27; see 12:10) because it has the least potential to strengthen the church. And now I will show you the most excellent way: This statement leads to…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3131. covet earnestly--Greek, "emulously desire." Not in the spirit of discontented "coveting." The Spirit "divides to every man severally as He will" (1Co 12:1); but this does not prevent men earnestly seeking, by prayer and watchfulness, and cultivation of their faculties, the greatest gifts. Beza explains, "Hold in the highest estimation"; which accords with the distinction in his view (1Co 14:1) between "follow after charity--zealously esteem spiritual…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 12:31

• Holiness
• Miracles

In the dictionaries

• Administration
• Bond
• Charity
• Covet
• Temper
• Tongues, Gift of
• Affect; Affection
• Best
• Church Government
• Communion; (fellowship)

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings