How can we understand 1 Corinthians 12 without contradiction

Question

To my reading, 1 Corinthians 12:4-30 could be summed up as: "Be content with the gifts/role God has given you because in his sight all the functions of the body of Christ are of equal importance".

Why then does the chapter end with:

But earnestly desire the higher gifts.  _ESV

Which Paul goes on to restate at the beginning of chapter 14:

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy  _ESV

Given the principle of letting scripture interpret scripture, how should we interpret chapter 12 in a way that does not let Paul contradict himself

Answer 1

It's quite possible that by "the greater gifts" he means faith, hope, and love, which he discusses next, especially since he ends that discussion with the same word "greatest".

Regardless, in chapter 14, he clearly considers prophesy "greater" (verse 5) than tongues. Therefore, one must modify one's understanding of chapter 12, from "all the functions are equal" to "all the functions are allotted, proper, and honorable". It is not on the basis of equality that various gifts are to be honored; indeed, honor has much more to do with inequality. The less respectable parts of the body receive more honor. The point is not lack of dissension through homogeneity but through a diversity ordained by the Spirit.