A More Excellent Way 1 Corinthians 12:31

Paul the apostle asked the church members in Corinth, “are all apostles, prophets, teachers or workers of miracles, and have all the gifts of healing, speak with tongues, and all interpret?”, and in chapter twelve and verse thirty-one of First Corinthians, Paul told the Corinthian church to “covet earnestly the best gifts”, and he would “show unto” them “a more excellent way” where we read:

But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.

The verse begins, “But covet earnestly the best gifts:”. Paul began with the word, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “covet” which means “desire and long for” “earnestly” which means “with zeal, heated or to boil with envy” “the best” or “the more useful, serviceable, excellent and advantageous” “gifts” which refers to “grace or gifts denoting extraordinary powers which distinguish certain Christians and enables them to serve the church of Christ. It is the reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating on their souls by the Holy Spirit”. Paul exhorted the church members to “desire passionately” the “more useful and advantageous” “gifts” of God.

The verse goes on to say, “and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.” Paul continues with the words, “and yet” which means “and still, even now at at the present time” “show” or “expose, give evidence or proof of by words or teaching” “I” which refers to “Paul himself” “unto you” or “toward the church members” “a more excellent” which means “toward and along a superior, excellent and pre-eminent” “way” or “road, course of conduct and manner of thinking, feeling and deciding”. Paul encouraged the church members to “long for the best gifts”, and above that, he would “expose” to them a “superior” “manner of conducting themselves”.

When we think through these words from Paul, we see his desire for the church members in Corinth to “long for” the “best” of the “spiritual gifts”, and at the same time, he wants to share with them a “manner of conducting themselves” that is superior to all the “gifts” he has mentioned thus far. Jesus Christ wants His church to be filled with the “gifts” of the Spirit, and Paul has exhorted the church members in Corinth to “long for” the “best” of them. This being said, Paul has a more important and “pre-eminent” way to conduct themselves, and as they desire the “best” of the “spiritual gifts”, they were to remember that Jesus Christ has a particular way for them to live.

Next time we begin a new chapter and see Paul share about using “spiritual gifts” not having “charity” which means “love”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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