Smith, Kevin G.2022-10-042022-10-04https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14194/2606Never a piece of writing has been so appreciated like 1 Corinthians 13. Biblical scholars of various backgrounds acknowledge it as the best master piece Paul ever wrote. In our days, it is read in memorable occasion such as the wedding whether for believer or not (Stott 1999). This thesis joins those who interested about its kind of literature have gone beyond simple enjoyment and sought to investigate what it is made up with. Among the problems that endangered the welfare of the Corinthian church were the abuse of spiritual gifts and a special consideration of a certain category of gifts. The examination of spiritual gifts section revealed that in his attempt to correct the Corinthian believers’ understanding of spirituality Paul shifted thematically and stylistically. Hence the research endeavoured to find out, how the use of rhetorical strategies in 1 Corinthians 13 was it helpful in persuading the Corinthians that a person is found spiritual on the basis of love rather than spiritual abilities. For that purpose, the study has first of all examined the whole epistle for a full understanding of the situation within the church in order to know the purpose of the chapter under consideration. This led to establish the relationships between Corinthian Christians and Paul and with one another. Love was also explored at this level since the matter is the object of an entire chapter and is also found elsewhere in the epistle. Then the study moved to the textual criticism to see the kind of literature 1 Corinthians 13 is. Many procedures were used mainly the translation and the diagramming of the text followed by the examination of its literary features. The study thus, aims to determine the literary genres of 1 Corinthians 13 by providing evidences from rhetorical perspectives. It showed that the chapter was also meant to touch the Corinthians’ emotions. In so doing, the research purposed to establish a framework of rhetorical research of the N. T text.105pLeadership in the BibleThesis