"zeloute" in 1 Cor 12:31 is one of the few "ambiguous" verbs in the New Testament Greek.

Three entries for "zeloute" in the Zondervan Analytical Greek Lexicon:

zeloute in the Zondervan Analytical Greek Lexicon

The exact ambiguous word form of "zeloute" occurs four other times in the New Testament:

1. In 1 Cor. 14:1 where the context calls for the imperative mood and every translation I have checked correctly translates "zeloute" as the "imperative" of "command"

2. In 1 Cor. 14:39 where the context also calls for the imperative mood, and again, virtually all English versions correctly translate "zeloute" as the "imperative" of "command"

3. In Gal. 4:17 where the context calls for a "subjunctive", "maybe yes, maybe no" mood, and every translation that I have checked correctly translated "zeloute" as "subjunctive".

4. And in James 4:2 where the translators virtually all agree that it should be translated in the "indicative", or "reality" mood.

Only in 1 Cor 12:31 do I see a serious problem with this rare ambiguous verb form.

Many commentators and Bible editors, in their references to 1 Cor 12:31 point to "zeloute" in 1 Cor 14:1 - where Paul states "Follow after charity, (agape love) and desire (zeloute) spiritual [gifts], but rather that ye may prophesy", as "justification" for translating "zeloute" in 1 Cor 12:31 in the "imperative" mood of "command". But, the word "gifts" in 1 Cor 14:1 is in "italics" and is not in the Greek text, but has been added by the translators. 1 Cor 14:1 is stating "seek to be spiritual", or "seek spiritual things", and "zeloute" there is correctly translated in the "imperative" mood, but it does not state for us to seek, or choose spiritual "gifts".