By Pastor Dave Farmer
You must all [as a church] continue pursuing after this Christ-like love; as previously stated you [as a church] are to continue desiring spiritual gifts but especially that you [as a church] would have the gift of prophecy [during this pre-canon period].
Numbers in brackets [ ] refer to the Strong's numbering system whereby Greek words are assigned a number "Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship." Those who study the Scripture from the original languages are familiar with this lexicon.
A. Pursuing The Goal Of Christ-likeness
14:1a] Διώκετε τὴν ἀγάπην " You must all [as a church] continue pursuing after this Christ-like love until it becomes a habit...".
Our verse begins with the present active imperative 2nd person plural of the verb DIOKO [1377] which means TO PURSUE AFTER, TO DO SOMETHING WITH INTENSE EFFORT, TO STRIVE TOWARD A GOAL. Regarding the imperative mood, this chapter contains twenty- one, over half the verses, and they are all in the present tense.
Rules of Grammar: Syntax of Present Imperatives 1
Present imperatives are used to communicate general precepts. These commands may be (1) Ingressive - Progressive expressed by "begin and continue" or (2) The Customary which focuses on the habits that should characterize our behavior expressed by a simple "continue" with an added gloss "until it becomes a habit or (3) The Iterative which focuses on repeated action, "do it again and again" .
Sometimes it is difficult to choose between the customary and iterative. Normally, a good rule of thumb is that when an attitude is commanded, the force of the present imperative will either be ingressive-progressive or customary; when an action is commanded, the force of the present imperative will usually be iterative.
Our first imperative of command is a customary present. We are to pursue the goal of Christ-like love until it becomes a habit, with every intense effort or with a definite purpose. We are to pursue it with earnestness or with dogged determinism. Certainly, Dr. Wuest had that in mind in his translation, "Be constantly pursuing this love, earnestly endeavoring to acquire it." The present imperative is often a character-building command "make this your habit or train yourself in this way."
For instance, Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, "Always rejoice, pray without ceasing, give thanks in everything." These are all present imperatives and fall into the category of the iterative present, the tense of repeated action. Paul is encouraging the Thessalonians to pursue these grace virtues and establish spiritual habits in these areas. As he says in the passage, "For this is the will of God." The Christian way of life is designed for us to become in character a joyous, prayerful, and thankful kind of person so that we might be like Jesus who was all of these things in full measure. No person has ever been more joyous, thankful, or prayerful as our Lord Jesus Christ. We are to become like Him in character and conduct. He sets the pattern, and we are to emulate Him. This is something that the Corinthians were lacking - a Christ-like love.
Paul uses this same verb in the Book of Philippians:
Philippians 3:13,14
13] Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
14] I PRESS ON toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
"I press on" in the Philippians passage is the same verb, DIOKO [1377]. It has an iterative force [repeated action] in this passage. Paul is a plugger. He will strive toward the goal with every ounce of energy. Only through a daily sustain effort can we hope to reach spiritual maturity. Paul failed at times, but he didn't quit.
The verb in the active voice explains that the Corinthians are to meet the goal of Christlikeness daily. They produce the action of the verb. No one can live your Christian life for you. The verbal idea also contains the second person plural which is not brought out in the translation. This was address to the entire congregation, ALL OF YOU [as a church] KEEP ON PURSUING AFTER.
This is followed by the articular accusative singular direct object from the noun AGAPE [26]. The article acts as a demonstrative pronoun, THIS love. It specifically points to something that is in near at hand; such as 1 Corinthians 13:13, "the greatest of these is love." This love is special because it is a Christ-like love. See 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 for a picture of that love. We need to adjust the translation to bring out this use of the article, THIS CHRIST-LIKE LOVE. The first sentence in this opening verse says, " You must all begin and continue pursuing after this Christ-like love until it becomes a habit...".
B. Prepare To Use Your Spiritual Gift To Bless Others
14:1b] ζηλοῦτε δὲ τὰ πνευματικά "...as previously stated, you [as a church] are to continue desiring spiritual gifts...".
We start with the postpositive conjunction DE [1161]. The conjunction DE is used here to resume the discourse that was interrupted at the end of chapter 12:31 so it comes to mean AS PREVIOUSLY STATED. After talking about the virtue of Christ-like love in chapter 13, he now returns to the subject of spiritual gifts. These small conjunctions are important to understanding for they help show connections between the writer’s thoughts and ideas.
Then we get the present active imperative 2nd person plural of the verb ZELOO [2206] meaning TO STRIVE EARNESTLY AFTER, OR TO DESIRE SOMETHING EARNESTLY. Our English word "zealous" comes from this. This is the second of the 31 present imperative in this chapter. It follows the same pattern as DIOKO. It is a customary present indicating to take actions that lead to habits. Paul wants to limit the use of the gift of tongues and prophesy, but he doesn't want anyone to get the wrong idea that spiritual gifts are not important. He does not want to leave them with that impression. Eagerness shown for spiritual gifts is not a bad thing, in fact imperative! The second person plural indicates that this is addressed to the whole church, not just one or two individuals. In the active voice, the believer produces the action of the verb, and that means each one is responsible for identifying their spiritual gift and employing it for God's glory.
With the verb, we also have the articular accusative plural direct object of PNEUMATIKOS [4152] which means SPIRITUAL GIFTS. The article is generic and specifies spiritual gifts as a category. Not a reference to any particular gift but all spiritual gifts in general.
Rules of Grammar: The Substantival Use Of The Adjective 2
1. The adjective is frequently used independently of a noun. That is, it can function as a substantive (in which case it either implies a noun or takes on the lexical nuance of a noun).
Syntax: PNEUMATIKOS is the direct object of the verb.
2. Usually, though not always, such a substantival adjective will have the article with it to point out that its use is indeed substantively.
Syntax: PNEUMATIKOS has an article. The article is anaphoric which is pointing back to 1 Corinthians12:31, "But earnestly desire the greater GIFTS...".
3. Furthermore, when the adjective is substantival, its gender is generally fixed by sense rather than by grammatical concord. That is to say; if it refers to a male, it will usually be masculine; if it refers to a female, it will usually be feminine; if it refers to an entity or concept, it will be neuter.
Syntax: PNEUMATIKOS is neuter but so is GIFTS of verse 12:31 to which it points.
C. Paul's Preference Is Prophecy Not Tongues
14:1c] μᾶλλον δὲ ἵνα προφητεύητε “...but especially that you [as a church] would have the gift of prophecy [during this pre-canon period]."
We begin this sentence with an idiomatic expression MALLON [3123] DE [1161] used to indicate a preference, BUT ESPECIALLY OR PREFERABLY. The remainder of the chapter contains Paul's arguments as to why he prefers the gift of prophecy over the gift of tongues.
Next comes a direct object clause introduced by HINA [2443] translated THAT. This is followed by the present active subjunctive 2nd person plural of the verb PROPHETEUO [4395] which means TO PROPHESY.
Rules of Grammar: ἵνα + the Subjunctive mood 3
In this type of construction [HINA plus the subjunctive mood] gives content to the main verb ZELOO. In this respect, it answers the question "What" rather a "Why." In this usage it is often combined with verbs commanding, urging, and praying. The Corinthians are being urged to seek after the gift of prophecy, so it comes to mean THAT YOU [as a church] WOULD HAVE THE GIFT OF PROPHESY.
Present tense is the progressive present used to indicate the present of past action still in progress. In the past, the church had great teachers, and he hoped that would continue. The potential mood is used here to express Paul's doubt. Maybe they will, maybe they won't, it depends on other factors. At this time their emotions are ruling. The 2nd person plural of the verbal idea addresses the entire church. The church must have teachers if the people are to grow spiritually, but will they eagerly desire teachers [subjunctive mood]?
In summary, we must note that Paul's preference for Corinth, as well as all the churches that they are characterized by the teaching of the Word of God.
ENDNOTES
1 Wallace, D. B. (1996). Greek Grammar beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament (p. 485 - 487). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
2 Op. Cit. p. 294.
3 Op. Cit. p. 475.