St. Paul’s Greatest Hits by Myra Kahn Adams for Town Hall
Happy Sunday, everyone, and thanks for joining our Bible study. Today we showcase the Divinely inspired, eternal wisdom of Paul. He was born a Jewish-Roman citizen in Tarsus (modern-day Turkey), and aside from Jesus, is most responsible for the explosive growth of early Christianity. Paul is credited with writing 13 of the 27 books that comprise the New Testament, all in the form of letters to his brethren. Since many of his verses have been incorporated into secular use, it is likely that people quote Paul without even knowing they are quoting the Bible.
For background on how Paul was miraculously transformed from his Jewish roots to the most significant Christian evangelist, refer to last week’s Vol. 60.
Today, my inspiration for showcasing Paul’s brilliance stems from readers’ positive feedback about “Jesus’s greatest hits” in Vol. 56. Similarly, now I am challenged with choosing Paul’s “greatest” in a quick Bible study with space limitations. Therefore, if I missed your favorite, please share it in the comment section for the benefit of others.
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Furthermore, quoting my suggestion from Vol. 56, “Do not passively read today’s study. Instead, imagine Paul saying these words to you. Then, pray about and reread the verses that most penetrate your soul and touch your heart.”
Now let’s review verses so rich, deep, meaningful, and beautifully written that they rival the world’s greatest poetry, doubling as self-help and self-improvement advice. Beginning with the wedding verse:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
Wow! I could end this study right here because God is Love, and Jesus tells us to “love one another,” but notice how God and Jesus are not mentioned as the root of love. This passage is so familiar and secular sounding that we tend to gloss over its holy magnificence.
