Among all the writings of Saint Paul, few chapters have achieved the universal familiarity of 1 Corinthians 13. Its words are recited at weddings, memorial services, and public ceremonies, yet their familiarity has often obscured their true setting. The apostle did not compose these verses as a meditation upon romance, nor as an isolated hymn to affection; rather, he addressed a divided and vainglorious church whose members had turned spiritual gifts into occasions for rivalry, display, and pride. Into that contentious atmosphere Paul introduces ‘a more excellent way’ (1 Cor. 12:31): the way of charity [ … ]
Saint Paul
Saint Paul | Apostle Of The Gentiles | Early Life, Conversion and Ministry | Who Was Saint Paul? | Journey To Damascus | Journeys Of Saint Paul | Acts Of The Apostles
Saint Paul, whose birth name was Saul, was born in Tarsus in the first century. Saint Paul was a member of the Jewish diaspora, meaning that he grew up outside of Palestine, in a community of Jews living in the Roman Empire. This would be in the Hellenic lands, meaning that these were Greek-speaking areas, as such dating from the conquests of Alexander the Great. Saul’s parents were both devout Jews, and he was raised in a strict religious environment that emphasized obedience to the Jewish law and traditions [ … ]