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1 Corinthians 12-14

1. Why does Paul urge the Corinthian believers to eagerly desire the greater gifts? (1 Corinthians 12:31)

Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way (1 Corinthians 12:31).

This verse can just as legitimately be translated in the indicative mood:

But you are eagerly desiring the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way (1 Corinthians 12:31).

Although most modern translations have opted for first, the context seems to support the latter translation better:

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 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? But you are eagerly desiring the greater gifts. And Yet I will show you the most excellent way.(1 Corinthians 12:21-31).

Paul argues that every part of the body is important and serves its God-designed purpose. Every part should have equal concern for the other parts. He also says that no one has all the gifts. In contrast to the principle of humbling embracing God's calling and gifting, the Corinthian believers are clamoring for the greater gifts. 

In response to this Paul will spend the next two chapters delineating a right way to evaluate the value of gifts. It will be on the basis of love for others (chapter 13) and what will most build up the church (1 Corinthians 14). Thus, he completes chapter 12 with the words, "And yet I will show you the most excellent way..." 

Now, even if the first part of verse 31 is taken as an imperative (i.e. as a command), we should not understand this to mean that Paul was encouraging people to pursue the most powerful or showy gifts but rather to desire the gifts that will most build up the church in keeping with the purpose of gifts given in 1 Corinthians 12:7:

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

Therefore, whether one takes it in the indicative (descriptive) or the imperative (command) mood, the meaning is the same. The larger context suggests that Paul is teaching a correct way of evaluating spiritual gifts, namely on the basis of their purpose, which was to build up the body of Christ in love.