Hardly anyone who is somewhat familiar with the Bible has not come across the famous encomium on love, which is found in 1 Corinthians 13, 1-13. Love always remains a fascinating and polemical subject to ponder upon and talk about. What is love and how is it portrayed in this hymn of praise composed by St Paul to the church in Corinth?

In order to answer this question it is very important to see what the needs of Paul’s addressees were. By reading this letter carefully, one can easily conclude that the Christian community of Corinth was torn by a spirit of factionalism and dislike of some by others. Paul takes the opportunity of reminding them to love other members of the Christian assembly. Not only that, but their love should be extended to all people, as he says in his first letter to the Thessalonians: “increase and abound in love to one another and to all men” (1 Thess 3, 12).

The word for love which Paul uses is agapç. This type of love is eschatological. It is the gift par excellence since it is the result of the Spirit of God who is at work. In Paul’s view, love is God’s power as he writes in his letter to the Romans “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us” (Rom 5, 5). Because it is the direct intervention of the Holy Spirit in person, “love builds up” (1 Cor 8,1).

Love is recognised from its ways of being and doing. It “is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Cor 13, 4-7). The greatest thing about love is that it “never ends” (1 Cor 13, 8). This is understandable because who can extinguish God’s saving Spirit from working? Can one ever stop him from his redemptive activity?

Another way which I suggest reading this text, is by simply omitting the word love and putting the word “Holy Spirit” in its place. In such a reading the person of the Holy Spirit stands out more. This also accords with what St Ambrose wrote in his book on the Holy Spirit: “the love of God is also shed abroad through the Spirit” (On the Holy Spirit, Book 1, 94). Thus, the Holy Spirit is patient and kind, not jealous or boastful, not arrogant or rude, inspires and allows diversity, is not irritable or resentful, does not rejoice at wrong doing, rejoices in the right, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Paul’s novel understanding of love is a gateway to the person of the Holy Spirit himself. No wonder then, that love, in 1 Cor 13, 1-13 is said to be the greatest! (see 1 Cor 13, 13). It is the active and sanctifying presence of the Holy Spirit!

Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap

San Gwann