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Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible

The NET Bible®

1 Corinthians 14:12

It is the same with you. Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, seek to abound in order to strengthen the church.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Interpretation;   Language;   Miracles;   Preaching;   Tongues (the Gift);   Zeal, Religious;   Thompson Chain Reference - Ambition;   Earnestness-Indifference;   Fervour;   Holy;   Zeal;   The Topic Concordance - Prophecy and Prophets;   Seeking;   Tongues;   Understanding;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Edification;   Language;   Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit;   Zeal;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Church;   Paul;   Tongues;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Education in Bible Times;   Teach, Teacher;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Worship of God;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Corinthians, First Epistle to the;   Ethics;   Spiritual Gifts;   Tongues, Gift of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Ambition;   Edification;   Voice;   Zeal;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Edification;   Tongues, Gift of;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Synagogue;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
So also you—since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church.
King James Version (1611)
Euen so ye, forasmuch as yee are zealous of spirituall gifts, seeke that yee may excell to the edifying of the Church.
King James Version
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
English Standard Version
So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
New American Standard Bible
So you too, since you are eager to possess spiritual gifts, strive to excel for the edification of the church.
New Century Version
It is the same with you. Since you want spiritual gifts very much, seek most of all to have the gifts that help the church grow stronger.
Amplified Bible
So it is with you, since you are so very eager to have spiritual gifts and manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in ways that will build up the church [spiritually].
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.
Legacy Standard Bible
So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.
Berean Standard Bible
It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church.
Contemporary English Version
If you really want spiritual gifts, choose the ones that will be most helpful to the church.
Complete Jewish Bible
Likewise with you: since you eagerly seek the things of the Spirit, seek especially what will help in edifying the congregation.
Darby Translation
Thus *ye* also, since ye are desirous of spirits, seek that ye may abound for the edification of the assembly.
Easy-to-Read Version
That's why you who want spiritual gifts so much should prefer those gifts that help the church grow stronger.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Euen so, forasmuch as ye couet spirituall giftes, seeke that ye may excell vnto the edifying of the Church.
George Lamsa Translation
Likewise you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts for the edification of the church, seek that you may excel in these gifts.
Good News Translation
Since you are eager to have the gifts of the Spirit, you must try above everything else to make greater use of those which help to build up the church.
Lexham English Bible
In this way also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek for the edification of the church, in order that you may abound.
Literal Translation
So also you, since you are zealots of spiritual things, seek to build up the assembly that you may abound.
American Standard Version
So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church.
Bible in Basic English
So if you are desiring the things which the Spirit gives, let your minds be turned first to the things which are for the good of the church.
Hebrew Names Version
So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.
International Standard Version
In the same way, since you're so desirous of spiritual gifts, you must keep on desiring them for the upbuilding of the church.
Etheridge Translation
So also you, while you are emulous of the gifts of the Spirit for the edification of the church, seek that you may excel.
Murdock Translation
So also ye, since ye are emulous of the gifts of the Spirit for the edification of the church, seek ye to excel.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Euen so, forasmuch as ye couet spirituall [giftes] seke that ye may excell, vnto the edifiyng of the Churche.
English Revised Version
So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual [gifts], seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church.
World English Bible
So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
So ye also, seeing ye desire spiritual gifts, seek to abound in them, to the edifying of the church.
Weymouth's New Testament
Therefore, seeing that you are ambitious for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in them so as to benefit the Church.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
So ye, for ye ben loueris of spiritis, seke ye that ye be plenteuouse to edificacioun of the chirche.
Update Bible Version
So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual [gifts], seek that you may abound to the edifying of the church.
Webster's Bible Translation
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual [gifts], seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
New King James Version
Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
New Living Translation
And the same is true for you. Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church.
New Life Bible
Since you want gifts from the Holy Spirit, ask for those that will build up the whole church.
New Revised Standard
So with yourselves; since you are eager for spiritual gifts, strive to excel in them for building up the church.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So, ye, also - since ye are, envious, of spirits, unto the upbuilding of the assembly, seek to be pre-eminent.
Douay-Rheims Bible
So you also, forasmuch as you are zealous of spirits, seek to abound unto the edifying of the church.
Revised Standard Version
So with yourselves; since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Eve so ye (for as moche as ye covet spretuall giftes) seke that ye maye have plentye vnto ye edifyinge of the congregacion.
Young's Literal Translation
so also ye, since ye are earnestly desirous of spiritual gifts, for the building up of the assembly seek that ye may abound;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Eue so ye (for so moch as ye couet spirituall giftes (seke yt ye maye haue plentye to the edifienge of the congregacion.
Mace New Testament (1729)
But since there is emulation among you concerning spiritual gifts, seek to abound in the exercise of such gifts as tend most to the edification of the church.
Simplified Cowboy Version
vice versa. If you're wanting a special ability, ask for those who strengthen the whole church, not just one cowboy.

Contextual Overview

6 Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I help you unless I speak to you with a revelation or with knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 It is similar for lifeless things that make a sound, like a flute or harp. Unless they make a distinction in the notes, how can what is played on the flute or harp be understood? 8 If, for example, the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 It is the same for you. If you do not speak clearly with your tongue, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are probably many kinds of languages in the world, and none is without meaning. 11 If then I do not know the meaning of a language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12 It is the same with you. Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, seek to abound in order to strengthen the church. 13 So then, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14 If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

forasmuch: 1 Corinthians 14:1, 1 Corinthians 12:7, 1 Corinthians 12:31, Titus 2:14

spiritual gifts: Gr. spirits, 1 Corinthians 14:32

seek: 1 Corinthians 14:3, 1 Corinthians 14:4, 1 Corinthians 14:26

Reciprocal: Proverbs 18:2 - but Acts 9:31 - were edified Romans 14:19 - and 1 Corinthians 10:23 - edify 1 Corinthians 14:5 - except 2 Corinthians 8:7 - as Ephesians 4:12 - the edifying 1 Thessalonians 5:11 - and edify

Cross-References

Genesis 11:27
This is the account of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot.
Genesis 12:5
And Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they left for the land of Canaan. They entered the land of Canaan.
Genesis 14:9
Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of nations, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar. Four kings fought against five.
Genesis 14:11
The four victorious kings took all the possessions and food of Sodom and Gomorrah and left.
Genesis 14:12
They also took Abram's nephew Lot and his possessions when they left, for Lot was living in Sodom.
Genesis 14:13
A fugitive came and told Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, the brother of Eshcol and Aner. (All these were allied by treaty with Abram.)
Genesis 14:17
After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet Abram in the Valley of Shaveh (known as the King's Valley).
Genesis 14:19
He blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by the Most High God, Creator of heaven and earth.
Numbers 16:26
And he said to the community, "Move away from the tents of these wicked men, and do not touch anything they have, lest you be destroyed because of all their sins."
Job 9:23
If a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks at the despair of the innocent.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts,.... 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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Even so ye - Since you desire spiritual gifts, I may urge it upon you to seek to he able to speak in a clear and intelligible manner, that you may edify the church. This is one of the most valuable endowments of the Spirit; and this should be earnestly desired.

Forasmuch as ye are zealous - Since you earnestly desire; See the note at 1 Corinthians 12:31.

Spiritual gifts - The endowments conferred by the Holy Spirit; See the note at 1 Corinthians 12:1.

Seek that ye may excel ... - Seek that you may be able to convey truth in a clear and plain manner; seek to be distinguished for that. It is one of the most rare and valuable endowments of the Holy Spirit.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Corinthians 14:12. For as much as ye are zealous — Seeing ye affect so much to have spiritual gifts, seek that ye may get those by which ye may excel in edifying the Church.


 
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