Meditation 17

In what ways are the similarities between St. Paul’s “Letter to the Corinthians” and John Donne’s “Meditation 17” actually very different? These two theological readings seem to teach us the same thing, but in truth their authors seem to express different values of the same subject. While the much older St. Paul writes about the body of the church and it’s people as not only suffering together, but also celebrating, supporting, and teaching one another how to lead a better life to get closer to God. The much younger John Donne writes about the body of the church and it’s people introducing a stronger focus on suffering and our eventual death being the way to get closer to God instead. Despite the fact that these readings seem very similar on the surface, a closer look reveals their simple differences and core values. In St. Paul’s “Letter to the Corinthians” Paul emphasizes that each individual part of the body is different and unique, as …show more content…
In this teaching it is believed that God employs several translators; some pieces are translated by age, sickness, war, and justice, with God’s hands in each one. Unlike Paul, John does not teach that each member is individual or different, instead, this meditation teaches that each member is the same, more like another clod of dirt on a continent than a unique body part. It also states that the suffering of each person benefits the whole body and in this suffering every member of the body gets closer to God. Unlike Paul, John’s meditation expresses little to no sense of celebration in the community, or even taking joy in God’s love. In short John’s “Meditation 17” delivers a message that is much weaker in community values, individuality, and love than Paul’s “Letter to the