Historical
Context
The historical context
was described in this Blog
post. The immediate context includes
verses 27-31. These verses bring to a conclusion the discussion that Paul is
having and in doing so he ties the entire Chapter together.
“Now you are the body of Christ and
individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles,
second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping,
administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all
prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of
healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the
higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.” (1
Corinthians 12:27–31, ESV)
This congregation is the Body of Christ and
they are a living organism created by Christ.
They are one and yet individual members, but they are also
interdependent. So in summary Paul asks
some rhetorical questions which the intended answer is "No"! "Christians have different gifts, no one has all
gifts, and no gift has been given to all".[1] And then Paul makes this statement:
Text
“But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way.” (1 Corinthians 12:31, ESV)
“But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show
you a still more excellent way.”
(1 Corinthians 12:31, NASB95)
“Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
And yet I will show you the most excellent way.” (1 Corinthians 12:31, NIV)
Greek Text
Paul starts with a
command. ζηλοῦτε [pronounced "dzay·lo·ote"] is in the present, active imperative. It is understood as be zealous, strive for,
etc. They are commanded to strive, seek, earnestly desire gifts, but these
gifts are defined as κρείττων [pronounced,
krite·tohn] and mean better or more
excellent.
Then Paul adds καὶ ἔτι καθʼ which is translated "and yet". On the surfaces he seems to be
suggesting "Do this" and yet even "do this". He may not be adding a phrase that renders
the first clause obsolete, but he is saying "I command you to earnestly
seek the better gifts of the Spirit; and in addition to that also apply a
better way – a better (ὑπερβολή [pronounced,
hoop·er·bol·ay) way.
In other words, as Fee
affirms: "'Pursue love,' he commands, 'and in that
context eagerly desire the things of the Spirit, especially those gifts that
are [better].”[3]
Interpretation
Now some think that
the Chapter division ends at the first clause, for example:
Chapter 12
. . . “30Do
all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31aBut
earnestly desire the higher gifts."
Chapter 13
"31b. . . And I will show you a still more excellent way. 13:1If I speak in the tongues of
men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”
However, with the knowledge that Paul
didn't write this letter with chapter divisions, we can take the phrases and
treat them as a whole.
Also it is understood by some that when
Paul commands the Church to seek/desire the better gifts he is referring to his
list immediately in context which implies that he wrote that list as a
hierarchy in descending order. "He
wants his readers to be clear in their own minds as to which gifts are the
best. Obviously, his intent is to steer them away from the more spectacular
gifts, such as tongues"[4] and have them pursue gifts that edify the Body, namely prophecy. Garland
quotes Baker who notes that each time Paul uses this phrase he seems to have
prophecy in mind:
“Eagerly desire the greater gifts, but I will
show you a more excellent way.” (12:31)
“Eagerly desire
the spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” (14:1)
“Eagerly desire to
prophesy, … but do everything in decency and order.” (14:39–40)[5]
It would seem that prophecy may be in the
mind of Paul, but clearly Paul is considering more than that for he uses gifts
in the plural. Garland is right, I
believe, to assume that simply "the greater gifts are those that edify,
encourage, and comfort others."[6] In other words don't pursue gifts that are simply spectacular in
nature, pursue gifts that are enriching and enheartening to the body of Christ.
"While the Spirit’s gifts are equal in essence, some are greater in
function because they more clearly and consistently edify the church."[7]
Conclusion
"With these words Paul is about to
launch on his next argument (14:1–25), with its passion regarding the need for
intelligibility in the community; and in the community all the intelligible gifts are “greater” than tongues because they
can edify, while tongues without interpretation cannot. But before he gets to
that point, Paul interrupts himself to give the proper framework in which the
“greater gifts” are to function—love."[8]
". . . A still more excellent way than merely seeking the
higher gifts is to use the gifts in love (ch. 13) so that others are built up
(ch. 14)."[9]
Therefore my paraphrase of verse 31 would read this way:
“You are
to earnestly desire the most helpful gifts and
express them in a most excellent way that I am going to show you."
The bottom-line is to seek the most helpful
gifts and express them in the most loving ways.
[1] Zondervan. The
NIV Zondervan Study Bible, eBook: Built on the Truth of Scripture and Centered
on the Gospel Message (Kindle Locations 266901-266903). Zondervan. Kindle
Edition.
[2] Holmes, M. W.
(2011–2013). The Greek New Testament: SBL
Edition (1 Co 12:31). Lexham Press; Society of Biblical Literature.
[3] Fee, G. D. (2014). The First Epistle to the Corinthians. (N. B. Stonehouse, F. F.
Bruce, G. D. Fee, & J. B. Green, Eds.) (Revised Edition., p. 692). Grand
Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
[4] Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.).
(1994). KJV Bible Commentary (p.
2319). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[5] Garland, D. E. (2003). 1 Corinthians (p. 601). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
[6] Garland, D. E. (2003). 1 Corinthians (p. 602). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
[7] Zondervan. The NIV Zondervan Study Bible,
eBook: Built on the Truth of Scripture and Centered on the Gospel Message
(Kindle Location 266904). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
[8] Fee, G. D. (2014). The First Epistle to the Corinthians. (N. B. Stonehouse, F. F.
Bruce, G. D. Fee, & J. B. Green, Eds.) (Revised Edition., p. 691). Grand
Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
[9] Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 2210). Wheaton,
IL: Crossway Bibles.
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