Song Of Songs And 1 Corinthians 13

In reading the Bible, as many interpretations can be extracted from the pages as there are readers of the contents. To establish a greater understanding of what is printed, it is important to understand the context and purpose of the text itself. Though two scri ptural writings may appear similar, there can be great variations in their application and function. In the case of Song of Songs and 1 Corinthians 13, both concern themselves with love, however in what manner do they do this, and how does their contextual surroundings and substance being them closer or draw them apart must be considered.

The Song of Songs (Song of Solomon) is part of the Hebraic tradition and is considered to have been produced in the 4th Century B.C.E. This is considered true as King Solomon is commonly ascribed authorship, and that the grammar and syntax fits it into this time period. Meanwhile Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians is a component of one of the Pauline letters which is backbone of the New Testament. It is considered to have been written 52 - 55 C.E, the time that Paul was in Ephesus, as stated at the beginning of 1 Corinthians and Acts (19: 1-10). It may be the case that timeframe for 1 Corinthians is far more concise as record keeping had far surpassed that of the four centuries previous. The contextual purpose of these two Biblical texts also demonstrates societal change. In regards to Song of Songs, evidence points towards it being exclusively used for festivals. This is narrowed down further with the connection with Passover. The purpose of 1 Corinthians appears as a letter of guidance for the Church in Corinth, which Paul is said to have founded in 51 C.E. The cultic dramatization of Song of Songs and the almost departmental handing of the Corinthians by Paul demonstrates a possible change in attitudes to faith. The common feature between these two texts is the topic of love. Song of Songs as a whole and the thirteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians deals with the abstract notion. Song of Songs is commonly referred to as a "collection of love poems" , where an unfixed number of smaller poetic pieces form the greater text. Without a confirmed number of poems, the reader may interpret where the separations can take place, thus creating a greater or smaller collection within Song of Songs. There has also been a similar breakdown of 1 Corinthians 13; as it is considered to be part the Pauline letter as a whole, while also being taken as an independent point of reference. It has therefore been suggested that it also a text made up other sources, in this case letters. Both Biblical texts therefore share a common feature, that of being created from previously rendered writings. The approach which Song of Songs and 1 Corinthians have with regards to love can be divided into the dualistic nature of love itself, the physical and the emotions/ abstract. For the initial text (Song of Songs), the love which is being conveyed is motivated by physicality. This is particularly clear in Chapter 4, where the man is describing in great detail, with equally grandiose language, the physical features of the female he so admires. As a result, some scholars are inclined to describe the verses as very sensuous. However, the text also tackles the absence of the physical. Chapter 3 (1-4) is concerned with the longing of the female for the man to be there. Despite the void left by the absence of the man, the love is still maintained as physical. This is all to the contrary of 1 Corinthians 13, which is more concerned with the abreaction and emotion which love brings. Verses 4-7, which may be considered here a separate component of the chapter, uses an array of adjectives to describe the positives and negatives associated with love. These are notions which are more relating to an anthropomorphic perception of love, as if the abstract may become a real entity. In doing so Paul creates a being which all others, particularly the Corinthians, should endeavour to emulate. The love which concerns Paul is that of 'agape', divine love. This being the case, then there is a connection between the love which Paul is wishing others to feel, and that which is given unto humans from G_d. Yet in Verse 3 considers sacrifice, in this case the burning of oneself by others, is worthless without love. This is to claim that martyrdom is in vain without this agape/ love. Meanwhile in Verse 13, Paul includes 'trust' and 'hope' alongside the love which he had been concerned with. The purpose of this may be in the outlining of some of the Pauline virtues which were connected with Christianity. The opposite may be said of Song of Songs as, despite being linked with festivals and the religious holiday of Passover, the presence of G_d is clearly lacking. It may then be considered as a secular text , and seem out of place in scri pture. Yet there are those from both Judaic and Christian backgrounds who, upon reading Song of Songs, will link it to some form of a relationship. For Jews this is the relationship between the people of Israel and G_d; while Christians read it as the connection between Church/ Christian and G_d/ Jesus Christ. However this can be countered in highlighting the dangers of making the symbolism too "far-fetched", and acting without any "restraint and limit" too how far you take the symbolic interpretations. This can all cause the text to loose what it is saying, the love felt between people.

The scri ptural texts of Song of Songs and 1 Corinthians 13 are both well-established within the pages of the Bible. However, like any other written component of this holy book, it can be understood in various ways. Though both have been shown to centre on love, their purposes and contents are clearly polarised. While the initial is one of carnal and physical love between individuals, the latter is indulgent of spiritual and abstract devotion. Though cultural and sociological influences appear to play a part, it would appear that the sheer interpretation of the reader is the crux of any interpretation. The spiritual reason for reading these passages will always outweigh the academic understanding of these, sometimes mystical, writings.