Wednesday 21 August 2024

Psalm 44:1-8

Background
Today’s Bible passage comes from a letter to the young church in Colossae (in modern-day Turkey). It follows immediately on the heels of three verses in which the author of this describes God’s saving work through his son (Christ), made available to his Church: those who are ‘in Christ’. (Colossians 1:12-14)

The word ‘He’ which begins this passage is referring to Christ. It follows immediately from verses 13 and 14: "He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." And in the original Greek, the first word of verse 15 is not ‘he’ but ‘who’.

The whole passage is among the best known – and arguably most poetic and beautiful – in the New Testament. The adjective ‘poetic’ is important. The passage makes some extraordinary and cosmic statements about Christ: he is the "image of the invisible God" and the "firstborn of all creation" (v. 15); he is the one in whom "all things hold together"(v. 17) and "in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell" (v. 19).

These are 'Christological' claims: declarations about the person and work of Christ. They were written at a point when the Church was still working out its Christology (a task that would continue for another four centuries or so). However, the passage offers no detailed indication of what these ways of describing him mean and presents no cogent arguments to support them. This suggests that, rather than introducing a Christological discussion, these verses are here because they are already familiar to the earliest Christians. It’s possible that this passage is essentially lyrical and possibly liturgical – for use in worship – as an expression of the profound significance of Christ for everything, everywhere, always – 'Christ the heart of creation’ (to borrow the title of a recent book by Rowan Williams). At the same time, they speak of trust in Christ as both Lord of the Church and the one through whose death God redeems the whole created order. (v. 20)

To Ponder:

• Is there one of the descriptions of Christ in this passage which particularly speaks to you? You might like to reflect on why it appeals and connects with your own faith or experience.
• Which poem, hymn, Bible passage or song communicates Christology – who Christ is and what Christ does – most satisfyingly for you? Why?

Bible notes author: The Revd Dr Carole Irwin
Carole is a presbyter and has served in circuits in Kent and Bradford, and on the staff of Wesley House. She is currently stationed in the Cambridge Circuit and is leading a research project for a Christian community of people with and without intellectual disabilities, of which she is also a member.