Description
HYMNIC ELEMENTS IN THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT
In theory, “hymnic elements” are remnants or selections from pagan, Gnostic or Christian hymns that were incorporated into the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles of the New Testament and the Apocalypse. Because there are “sharp differences of opinion” on the issues of early “Christian hymns” among those who see these hymnic elements in the New Testament as to “the nature, structure, and purpose” of such hymns, it is necessary to give a full and detailed discussion of what is meant by “hymnic elements”.
Nearly all the premiere Biblical reference works available today assume that there are hymnic elements in the New Testament. These Biblical reference works are very valuable, but their common assumption that ere are hymnic elements is a falsifiable assumption. In this monograph, we offer the evidence which demonstrates that the hymnic elements assumption is incorrect and that the passages designated as “hymnic” are better explained as original parts of the literary genres where they appear.
What is at issue in dealing with hymnic elements in the New Testament? There are three Biblical Doctrines at issue: 1) the Doctrine of the God-breathed nature of the Scripture; 2) The Doctrine of the worship of the Lord God who reveals Himself as holy; 3) The Doctrine of the Person and Work of Christ and one’s answer to the question “What think ye of Christ, Who Son is He?” A correct or incorrect understanding of hymnic elements in the Greek New Testament impinges upon these three deep issues and this impingement gives the reason for writing this monograph.
