1 CORINTHIANS 14:12 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.”
So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in those that build up the church — Paul redirects the Corinthians' competitive zeal toward prophetic utterance. Their eagerness (zêló) is not condemned but reoriented from status-seeking toward oikodomeó (edification). Ambition itself is morally neutral; its aim determines its righteousness.
Church Fathers on 1 Corinthians 14:12
“So also ye, since as you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound unto the edifying of the Church.” Do you see his aim every where, how he looks to one thing continually and in all cases, the general utility, the profiting the Church; laying this down as a kind of rule? And he did not say, “that you may obtain the gifts” but, “that you may abound,” i.e., that you may even possess them in great plenitude. Thus, so far am I from wishing you not to possess…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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