1 Cor. 12:31--What does “desiring the greater gifts” mean?--Gifts FAQ

In facilitating and teaching the Your Unique Design Sessions to a variety of groups, I have gathered questions along the way. This and several future blog posts will capture some of those questions and my responses.

1 Cor. 12:31--What does “desiring the greater gifts” mean?

In this context, the Greek word for Greater is  “meizona” where “greater” has the sense of abundant, widest possible, spacious. It is the same sense as “greater works than these” (John 5:20, John 14:12). The Message translates the end of 1 Corinthians 12 thusly: But it’s obvious by now, isn’t it, that Christ’s church is a complete Body and not a gigantic, unidimensional Part? It’s not all Apostle, not all Prophet, not all Miracle Worker, not all Healer, not all Prayer in Tongues, not all Interpreter of Tongues. And yet some of you keep competing for so-called “important” parts.

But now I want to lay out a far better way for you.

It is important to remember the context of 1 Corinthians 12:31. In Chapter 12 of the letter to the church in Corinth, Paul is counseling them toward clarity…to be informed about gifts…to not be led astray. He focuses on embracing their diversity with unity in the same Spirit/Lord/God at work. Paul reminds them that gifts are for the COMMON GOOD and are distributed as God intends. The church at Corinth had been focused otherwise—elevating some gifts as “greater” or more “important” than others.

Paul is about leveling the playing field and equalizing honor in the church. Just prior to “eagerly desire the greater gifts”, Paul says: 12:29-30 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? He is reiterating to them that NO ONE is the be-all-end-all. No one has all of the gifts…nor all of the “flashy gifts.”

Where Paul says “Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.”—translated as And yet some of you keep competing for so-called “important” parts (The Message)--that statement is followed immediately by the second half of verse 31: And yet I will show you the most excellent way. [But now I want to lay out a far better way for you. –The Message]. Paul continues writing (without chapter breaks and verse breaks in his letter)—and we get the beautiful 1 Corinthians 13—the LOVE chapter. The “far better way” is the way of love—using our gifts only in love, with love as our motivation, not a desire for credit nor importance nor applause. This is Paul’s reminder to them/us that these spiritual gifts that they’re fighting over and over-prioritizing have NO value whatsoever unless used in LOVE. NONE!  Apparently, all the gifts will disappear eventually, but LOVE will last.

As if he is finally answering what he set up a chapter before, he says in 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Another clue is also found in 1 Corinthians 14

14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.

We know that Paul does not mean that prophecy is somehow head and shoulders above the other gifts…but, in their church context, they were overvaluing speaking in tongues—likely during worship—in ways that were not understood (because he says they are speaking to God…uttering “mysteries by the Spirit”). He says essentially, I think for exaggerated emphasis: If you ARE going to fight over gifts and overvalue anything, why are you not elevating a gift that actually builds the Body without creating confusion—prophecy would do that more than tongues would. Paul says that prophesying brings the church/people strengthening, encouragement, and comfort. The “be desirous of” = zeloute (Greek)—meaning of to be bubbling over, deeply committed to something.

Lest he be completely misunderstood, Paul also says, yes, I’d love it if everyone also was able to speak in tongues…but since that’s not the case, he’s rooting for prophesy…unless there is one with the gift of interpretation—because the ultimate goal is not the gift but that the church might be edified. He says: Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. [Paul, who speaks in tongues says he would rather instruct with five intelligible words than

ten thousand words in a tongue. V. 18-19]

The rest of the chapter makes it clear that Paul is talking about order in worship—and the impact on nonbelievers in their midst. Tongues are confusing without interpretation; prophecy may call them back to God through conviction of their sin.

Remember, one of the New Testament words for “spiritual gifts” is charismata—or, literally: grace endowments; a gift of grace; a free gift undeserved; divine empowerment of a believer to share God’s work with others. The wording of “greater” is also in this context—with reliance on Spirit-empowered service to the Church to invite God’s kingdom come on earth. Taking all of this into account, no gifts are “greater”, but all are grace-filled, Holy Spirit empowered, God-given and God-ordained supernatural abilities to bring Him glory and expand His kingdom reach.

Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, Your Unique Design Class Guide, Your Unique Design Facilitator Guide, DIOS. DONES. TÚ.: Tu llamado y diseño único (Spanish Edition), and Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with hundreds of faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and executive leaders in a diversity of fields for four decades. She currently serves as Catalyst for Equipping at her church.

Photo © Shirley Giles Davis.

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