1 Corintios 12:31

μείζονα אABC. Rec. κρείττονα with DEFG, Vetus Lat. Vulg.

31. ζνλοῦτε δέ. But be emulous for, aemulamini, Vulg. ζηλόω (see note on ch. 1 Corintios 3:3) signifies originally to be eager, fervent. Here it means to be (1) emulous or (2) envious. We have instances both of the good and bad sense in the N. T. For the former, see 2 Corintios 11:2; Gálatas 4:18, and ch.

1 Corintios 14:1; 1 Corintios 14:39. For the latter, see Hechos 7:9; Hechos 17:5, and ch.

1 Corintios 13:4. The δέ here is adversative. ‘Do not envy the gifts of which I have been speaking, but aim at things still higher.’

μείζονα. The rec. κρείττονα is clearly a gloss, which, while it explains, does nevertheless weaken the force of the Apostle’s language. His meaning is this. ‘You are altogether mistaken as to the comparative value of the gifts for which you seek. It is still the visible, the tangible, that which makes the deepest impression on the senses, that you are desiring. Seek greater things than these.

And I will point out to you a way inconceivably higher.’ ‘To conclude therefore, let no man, upon a weak conceit of sobriety or ill-applied moderation, think or maintain that a man can search too far or be too well studied in the book of God’s word or the book of God’s works; divinity or philosophy; but rather let men endeavour an endless progress or proficiency in both; only let men beware that they apply both to charity and not to swelling, to use, and not to ostentation.’ Bacon’s Advancement of Learning, Book I.

1 Corintios 12:31 to 1 Corintios 13:13. THE EXCELLENCIES OF LOVE

καὶ ἔτι καθ' ὑπερβολὴν ὁδὸν ὑμῖν δείκνυμι. And moreover I shew you a way of superlative excellence. This, St Paul would have us understand, is the best gift of all. Even faith and hope come short of it. How much more then, those inferior gifts (however useful in their way) about which Christians at Corinth were wrangling. And the search after this gift of infinitely higher value will effectually prevent all jealousies about the lesser gifts by which the natural man is inclined to set store.

For καθ' ὑπερβολήν in the sense of the superlative see Polyb. IX. 22. 8, of Hannibal, τινὲς μὲν γὰρ ὠμὸν αὐτὸν οἴονται γεγονέναι καθ' ὑπερβολήν. Calvin complains, and not without cause, of the ‘inepta capitis sectio’ here. The words at the head of this note belong to what follows, rather than to what goes before.