1 Corinthians 14:12 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

¹² So, you people also, since you are eager for [supernatural] spiritual gifts, should look for ways to excel in building up the church.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

¹² Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

¹² So it is with yourselves; since you are so eager and ambitious to possess spiritual endowments and manifestations of the [Holy] Spirit, [concentrate on] striving to excel and to abound [in them] in ways that will build up the church.

American Standard Version (1901)

¹² So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church.

Common English Bible

¹² The same holds true for you: since you are ambitious for spiritual gifts, use your ambition to try to work toward being the best at building up the church.

Catholic Public Domain Version

¹² So it is with you also. And since you are zealous for what is spiritual, seek the edification of the Church, so that you may abound.

1 Corinthians 14:12 Cross References

Romans 14:19

So then, let us pursue such things that produce peace and things that build one another up [spiritually].

1 Corinthians 12:31

[Obviously not], but you should eagerly desire the more important gifts. And now I will show you a much better way [i.e., a better way to serve one another in the church than using supernatural gifts]:

1 Corinthians 12:7

But the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s [power] is given to each person for the good of everyone.

1 Corinthians 14:1

You should make loving [others] your aim, yet eagerly desire [to possess] spiritual gifts, and especially [the gift of] prophecy.

1 Corinthians 14:13

Therefore, the person who speaks in a language [supernaturally] should pray [i.e., in advance] for the ability to interpret it [as well].

1 Corinthians 14:26

So, what is the conclusion, brothers? When you people assemble together, each one of you has a psalm [to sing], or a lesson [to teach], or a [supernatural] revelation [to give], or a language [to speak supernaturally], or an interpretation [of that language]. Everything that is done should be for the building up [of the church].

1 Corinthians 14:5

Now I would like all of you to speak in languages [supernaturally], but I would rather have you prophecy. For the person who prophesies is more important [i.e., to the church] than those who speak in languages [supernaturally], unless that person interprets [the languages], so the church can be built up [spiritually].

Titus 2:14

He gave Himself up for us, to buy us back from [enslavement to] all [kinds of] wickedness and to purify for Himself a group of people who belong to Him and who are eager to do good deeds.