Saul at his best was capable of celestial music. Take chapter thirteen of First Corinthians.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

This has all the marks of a polished speech that Saul has memorized for frequent recital.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing.
  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing.

The medieval scholars who broke the Christian scriptures into chapters did a sensitve job of defining this piece as a distinct entity: Saul in his first letter to the Corinthians has effected a smooth job of construction in tying it to other material concerning the spiritual body of Christ and concerning various spiritual gifts; but this remains a separate item, a crown jewel, in a setting that is merely workmanlike.

  Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up;
  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

This is the only oration in all the scriptures, Hebrew and Christian, that is given to us in the speaker's own words. Elsewhere, noble sentiments are put in speakers' mouths, in the mode of the time. These may catch the general tone of the original, but there is no substitute for authenticity.

  Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

What is most compelling is the mixture of high faith with genuine modesty in the face of the mysterium tremedum:

  For now we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

Only someone who held the Almighty's hand, like an infant in his parent's grasp, could confess:

  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

And only someone with immense faith, wisdom and love could conclude:

  And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

There: that is Saul's Imitation of Christ.

© Contents copyright the author. Graphics copyright Sinister Designs Server powered by e-smith.