CĂTĂLIN VARGA, The Pauline hymn of love (1 Corinthians 13) - a rhetorical construction?
This study deals with the purpose of 1 Corinthians 13 and the way it was made, because never a piece
of writing has been so highly appreciated like this hymn of love. Saint Paul wrote it in order to correct
the errors that endangered the welfare of the Church in Corint, were the abuse of spiritual gifts
was an unnecesary fashion among the believers. The examination of spiritual gifts section revealed
that in his attempt to correct the christian’s understanding of spirituality, St. Paul shifted thematically
and stylistically. Hence the research endeavoured to fi nd out, how the use of rhetorical strategies
in 1 Corinthians 13 was helpful in persuading the Corinthians that a person is found spiritual
on the basis of love rather than spiritual gifts.
Keywords: poem, rhetorics, persuasive, love agapē, spiritual gifts.

CĂTĂLIN VARGA