Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way. New Living Translation So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all. English Standard Version But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. Berean Standard Bible But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way. Berean Literal Bible But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show to you now a more surpassing way. King James Bible But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. New King James Version But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. New American Standard Bible But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And yet, I am going to show you a far better way. NASB 1995 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way. NASB 1977 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way. Legacy Standard Bible But you earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I will yet show you a more excellent way. Amplified Bible But earnestly desire and strive for the greater gifts [if acquiring them is going to be your goal]. And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one of the choicest graces and the highest of them all: unselfish love]. Christian Standard Bible But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way. Holman Christian Standard Bible But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way. American Standard Version But desire earnestly the greater gifts. And moreover a most excellent way show I unto you. Aramaic Bible in Plain English But if you are zealous for great gifts, I again shall show you a better way. Contemporary English Version I want you to desire the best gifts. So I will show you a much better way. Douay-Rheims Bible But be zealous for the better gifts. And I shew unto you yet a more excellent way. English Revised Version But desire earnestly the greater gifts. And a still more excellent way shew I unto you. GOD'S WORD® Translation You [only] want the better gifts, but I will show you the best thing to do. Good News Translation Set your hearts, then, on the more important gifts. Best of all, however, is the following way. International Standard Version Keep on desiring the better gifts. And now I will show you the best way of all. Literal Standard Version And earnestly desire the better gifts; and yet I show to you a far [more] excelling way: Majority Standard Bible But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way. New American Bible Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts. But I shall show you a still more excellent way. NET Bible But you should be eager for the greater gifts. And now I will show you a way that is beyond comparison. New Revised Standard Version But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. New Heart English Bible But earnestly desire the greater gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you. Webster's Bible Translation But covet earnestly the best gifts. And yet I show to you a more excellent way. Weymouth New Testament But always seek to excel in the greater gifts. And now I will point out to you a way of life which transcends all others. World English Bible But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you. Young's Literal Translation and desire earnestly the better gifts; and yet a far excelling way do I shew to you: Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Greater Gifts…30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way. Cross References 1 Corinthians 14:1 Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 1 Corinthians 14:39 So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. Treasury of Scripture But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I to you a more excellent way. covet. 1 Corinthians 8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 1 Corinthians 14:1,39 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy… Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. shew. 1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. Jump to Previous Always Best Better Covet Desire Desires Eagerly Earnestly Excel Excellence Excellent Excelling Far Gifts Greater Higher Important Life Moreover Others Point Pointing Seek Shew Show Spirit Surpassing Transcends Turned WayJump to Next Always Best Better Covet Desire Desires Eagerly Earnestly Excel Excellence Excellent Excelling Far Gifts Greater Higher Important Life Moreover Others Point Pointing Seek Shew Show Spirit Surpassing Transcends Turned Way1 Corinthians 12 1. Spiritual gifts,4. are diverse, 7. yet to profit all. 8. And to that end are diversely bestowed; 12. as the members of a natural body tend all to the mutual decency, 22. service, 26. and helpfulness of the same body; 27. so we should do for one another, to make up the body of Christ. (31) But covet oarnestly,--Better, But earnestly seek the better gifts. All this argument is not meant to check ardour and to damp enthusiasm. The Spirit divideth to every man as He wills, but He wills to give to each the best gift that each desires and is capable of receiving. The receptivity which comes with earnest and practical desire is in the case of each individual the determining cause as to what gift the Spirit will give. The last sentence, "And yet show I unto you a more excellent way," ought to form the opening clause of the next chapter. The "more excellent way" is not some gift to be desired to the exclusion of the other gifts, but a more excellent way of striving for those gifts. You are not to strive for any one gift because it is more highly esteemed, or because it is more apparently useful, or because it is more easily attained. That which will consecrate every struggle for attainment and every gift when attained is LOVE. Verse 31. - Covet earnestly; literally, be zealous for, strongly desire. That which we aim at we usually attain; and we should aim at that which really is, not at that which seems, the most splendid charism. And yet show I unto you a more excellent way. The "more excellent way" is the way of love, which he sets forth in the next chapter, and which lies open to all Christians without distinction. The verse means either, "And further" (besides bidding you aim at the better gifts), "I show you one supreme way of attaining them;" or, "And I show you a still more eminent way." I bid you desire the best gifts, and further show you a truly royal road (viam maxime vialem), a road par excellence, which leads to their attainment. The way of love would lead to them, and it was itself the best of them. "All the way to heaven lies through heaven, and the path to heaven is heaven." |
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