1 Corinthians 14:1 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, &c.— Or, pursue, &c. St. Paul,in this chapter, concludes his answer to the Corinthians concerning spiritual men and their gifts; and having told them that those were most to be preferred which tended most to edification, and particularly shewn that prophesy was to be preferred to tongues, he gave them directions for the decent, orderly, and profitable exercise of their gifts in their assemblies. The word διωκετε, rendered follow after, properly signifies,"Topursue,withaneagernesslikethat with which hunters follow their game;" and it may be intended to intimate how hard it is to obtain and preserve such a truly benevolent spirit, in the main series of life; considering, on the one hand, how many provocations we are likely to meet with; and, on the other, the force of self-love, which will, in so many instances, be ready to break in upon it. But to true evangelical faith nothing is impossible. Instead of follow, we may read, pursue.