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

New Living Translation
Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy.

English Standard Version
Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

Berean Standard Bible
Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.

Berean Literal Bible
Earnestly pursue love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, and especially that you might prophesy.

King James Bible
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

New King James Version
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

New American Standard Bible
Pursue love, yet earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

NASB 1995
Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

NASB 1977
Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

Legacy Standard Bible
Pursue love, yet earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

Amplified Bible
Pursue [this] love [with eagerness, make it your goal], yet earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual gifts [to be used by believers for the benefit of the church], but especially that you may prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people].

Christian Standard Bible
Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and above all that you may prophesy.

American Standard Version
Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Run after love and be zealous for the gifts of The Spirit, but especially that you may prophesy.

Contemporary English Version
Love should be your guide. Be eager to have the gifts that come from the Holy Spirit, especially the gift of prophecy.

Douay-Rheims Bible
FOLLOW after charity, be zealous for spiritual gifts; but rather that you may prophesy.

English Revised Version
Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially the gift of speaking what God has revealed.

Good News Translation
It is love, then, that you should strive for. Set your hearts on spiritual gifts, especially the gift of proclaiming God's message.

International Standard Version
Keep on pursuing love, and keep on desiring spiritual gifts, especially the ability to prophesy.

Literal Standard Version
Pursue love, and earnestly seek the spiritual things, and rather that you may prophesy,

Majority Standard Bible
Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.

New American Bible
Pursue love, but strive eagerly for the spiritual gifts, above all that you may prophesy.

NET Bible
Pursue love and be eager for the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

New Revised Standard Version
Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy.

New Heart English Bible
Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual things, and especially that you may prophesy.

Webster's Bible Translation
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

Weymouth New Testament
Be eager in your pursuit of this Love, and be earnestly ambitious for spiritual gifts, but let it be chiefly so in order that you may prophesy.

World English Bible
Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

Young's Literal Translation
Pursue the love, and seek earnestly the spiritual things, and rather that ye may prophecy,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Prophecy and Tongues
1Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit.…

Cross References
1 Samuel 10:5
After that you will come to Gibeah of God, where the Philistines have an outpost. As you approach the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying.

1 Corinthians 12:1
Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.

1 Corinthians 12:31
But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.

1 Corinthians 13:2
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

1 Corinthians 14:22
Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.

1 Corinthians 14:24
But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all,

1 Corinthians 14:39
So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.


Treasury of Scripture

Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that you may prophesy.

Follow.

Proverbs 15:9
The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.

Proverbs 21:21
He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

Isaiah 51:1
Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.

charity.

1 Corinthians 13:1-8,13
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal…

2 Timothy 2:22
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

2 Peter 1:7
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

desire.

1 Corinthians 12:1,31
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant…

Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

prophesy.

1 Corinthians 14:3-5,24,25,37,39
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort…

1 Corinthians 13:2,9
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing…

Numbers 11:25-29
And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease…

Jump to Previous
Aim Ambitious Charity Chiefly Desire Desiring Eager Eagerly Earnestly Emulous Especially Follow Gift Gifts Gives Love Manifestations Order Power Prophecy Prophesy Prophet's Pursue Pursuit Rather Seek Spirit Spiritual Way
Jump to Next
Aim Ambitious Charity Chiefly Desire Desiring Eager Eagerly Earnestly Emulous Especially Follow Gift Gifts Gives Love Manifestations Order Power Prophecy Prophesy Prophet's Pursue Pursuit Rather Seek Spirit Spiritual Way
1 Corinthians 14
1. Prophecy is commended,
2. and preferred before speaking in tongues,
6. by a comparison drawn from musical instruments.
12. Both must be referred to edification,
22. as to their true and proper end.
26. The true use of each is taught,
27. and the abuse rebuked.
34. Women in the churches.














XIV.

(1) Follow after charity.--Better, Follow after love. The preceding chapter is parenthetical, and the Apostle here returns to the subject with which he had been immediately occupied before he branched off into that great Psalm of Love. He has spoken enthusiastically in praise of the superiority of love as the greatest amongst graces, and of all graces as superior to all gifts; but still, though we are to "do this," we are not to leave the other undone. Spiritual gifts are to be "earnestly striven for." As there was a priority in graces, so there is in gifts. To prophesy is the greatest gift; it is so, as we see afterwards, because it makes us useful to our brethren; therefore it is to be striven for rather than any other gift.

Verses 1-25. - The gift of preaching superior to the gift tongues. Verse 1. - Follow after charity; literally, chase; pursue. The word is one of which St. Paul is fond (Romans 9:30, 31; Romans 13:13; Romans 14:19; Philippians 3:12, 14; 1 Timothy 6:11, etc.). And desire; rather, yet be zealous for. But rather that ye may prophesy; and yet more strive after the gift of sacred preaching.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Earnestly pursue
Διώκετε (Diōkete)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1377: To pursue, hence: I persecute. A prolonged form of a primary verb dio; to pursue; by implication, to persecute.

love
ἀγάπην (agapēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 26: From agapao; love, i.e. Affection or benevolence; specially a love-feast.

and
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

eagerly desire
ζηλοῦτε (zēloute)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2206: From zelos; to have warmth of feeling for or against.

spiritual gifts,
πνευματικά (pneumatika)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4152: Spiritual. From pneuma; non-carnal, i.e. ethereal, or a spirit, or supernatural, regenerate, religious.

especially
μᾶλλον (mallon)
Adverb
Strong's 3123: More, rather. Neuter of the comparative of the same as malista; more) or rather.

[the gift]
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

of prophecy.
προφητεύητε (prophēteuēte)
Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4395: From prophetes; to foretell events, divine, speak under inspiration, exercise the prophetic office.


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NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 14:1 Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor)
1 Corinthians 13:13
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