Hymns and the Cosmic Anxiety, Essay Example

Introduction

New Testament Hymns are designed to explain the nature of Chirst’s love to followers. What is called “Cosmic Anxiety” related to Jesus’ sacrifice and the relationship between Christ and the cosmos is in the focus of the below essay. In order to understand the texts, it is, however, important to examine contemporary views of the Universe.  The author of the current study is looking to reveal the relationship between New Testament Christological Hymns and Gaeco-Roman philosophy.

Philippians 2:6–11

In this passage, a hymn is presented to the audience of Paul’s letters explaining the role of Jesus further than the Evangelists do. The passage talks about how Jesus humbled himself, and how God lifted him up above those who were considered to be superior:

“God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Philippians, 2:5-9-10).

The above passage should be examined in context, however. Philippians 2 contains more than the hymn: it has narratives, as well as verses. One of the main reasons why Paul starts the hymn with describing how Jesus humbled himself is to explain how Christians should behave (Gray, 5). On the other hand, the author can also highlight the fact that the death of Jesus was not purposeless, and got rewarded by God. Humility and obedience is highlighted by Gray’s analysis, who states that Paul deliberately creates a contrast between Roman emperors and Jesus: “We see Jesus, a person of privilege, taking a subservient to elevate others, while the Roman emperors used their privilege to elevate themselves at the expenses of others” (Gray, 9).

Smith (135) also focuses on the message about Christ’s obedience: “Christ “became obedient” to the Father, and so likewise we must be obedient to the Father and the Son if we are to obtain the same blessings Christ did “.

The universal search for meaning is not only present in early Christianity, but also ancient Roman and Greek civilizations. Greek myths and tragedies in particular were created to find a meaning behind suffering. By explaining Jesus’ purpose, Paul answers the question of early Christians: what is the purpose of human suffering?

COL 1:15-20

The passage of the Colossians 1:15-20 also talks about the supremacy of Jesus, however, in a more transcendent form. Instead of stating that after suffering for the sins of humans, like the above analyzed hymn of the Philippians, this passage makes God’s and Christ’s supremacy absolute and unconditional. The relationship between Jesus and the cosmos is also explained in more detail: “For in him all things were created” (Col 1:16). Further, the author does not only say that the Universe and all things on Earth and Heaven were created in Jesus, but also through him. Jesus, therefore, is like an active creator, and is assigned with a new role. He is not only the person who took the initiative to save people from their sins, but also the originator of life.

References To Old Testament Texts

Pounds (8) finds an interesting connection between Genesis 2-3 1 and the Corinthians 15:20. According to the author, there is a clear contrast drawn between Adam and Jesus. Adam is the first son of God, but  Jesus is always called the last Adam by John (11:25-26), stating that Jesus is the resurrection, while Adam was the sinner who made death possible.  Jesus, on the other hand, is an instrument: through him believers can live forever. Corintihans 15:20 also reflects on the theme of comparing Adam with Jesus: “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive”.

Prophets of the Old Testament also refer to salvation as a sacrifice, and the  “required Lamb”. The sacrifice and the lamb can be translated to Jesus, and his status is confirmed by John the Baptist: “”Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Therefore, it is clear that the sacrifice of Jesus is predicted in the Old Testament, and the purpose of his suffering is clearly described: to rid people from sin.

Conclusion

Through reviewing the selected passages of the New and Old Testaments, it is clear that the purpose of suffering, and in particular Jesus’ suffering is explained in several places in the Bible. The universal search of humans for the purpose of life, creation, love, and compassion is  a major theme of all civilizations. Through his Christological Hymns, Paul clarifies not only the role and status of Jesus, but also shows early Christians how they can become true followers of Christ by being as obedient and humble as him. Paul, however, goes further than explaining the role of Jesus in salvation: he also depicts him as a creator of everything in Heaven and Earth, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit, addressing humanity’s “cosmic anxiety on a spiritual level, through poetic hymns.

Works Cited

Bible, Holy. “New international version.” Grand Rapids: Zondervan (1984).

David W. Smith, “Obedient to the Death of the Cross: The Christological Hymn in Philippians,” in BYU Religious Education 2010 Student Symposium(Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2010), 127–137

Gray, David R. “Christological hymn: The leadership paradox of Philippians 2: 5-11.” Journal of Biblical Perspectives in Leadership 2.1 (2008): 3-18.

Pounds, Wil. “Christ in the Old Testament.” Genesis12: 1-4.