newliturgies

Philippians 2 contains what is very likely one of the oldest extant fragments Christian liturgy.

Tradition claims that the Apostles’ Creed goes back to the apostles themselves. That’s debatable. But the 2nd chapter of Philippians undoubtedly dates to the apostolic age for obvious reasons (no serious scholar disputes that the apostle Paul wrote the book of Philippians). As wonderful as the Apostles’ Creed is, Philippians 2:5-11 is, by definition, an apostle’s creed, and it likely predates Paul’s use.

Here it is in the English of the NRSVUE:

⁵ Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

⁶ who, though he existed in the form of God,
    did not regard equality with God
    as something to be grasped,
⁷ but emptied himself,
    taking the form of a slave,
    assuming human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a human,
⁸     he humbled himself
    and became obedient to the point of death—
    even death on a cross.

⁹ Therefore God exalted him even more highly
    and gave him the name
    that is above every other name,
¹⁰ so that at the name given to Jesus
    every knee should bend,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue should confess
    that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Note that “not something to be grasped” does not mean “not something to be understood.” It means “not something to be clung to.” That struck me. Here’s a modern translation that you are welcome to use in worship or study. It started as an attempt to recreate something of a creed from the incipit; it became more of a liturgical poem by the end, but I’ve worked to match the images and language of the various Greek possiblities with a more modern tone.

Philippians 2:5–11: A Modern Translation for Worship

So, let the same mind be in you that we share in Christ,
who, though he was Lord,
did not lord above us
but emptied himself, made himself nothing.

Christ could have clung
to his Godhood;
instead, we clung
to power and smallness;
our grasping hands
fashioned a cross.

In Christ, flesh and blood,
God lifted God
above the high places
of every mere idol
and made a new name for Godself:
“I Am. I Save You.”

Finally, we lower
ourselves
in response;
every bone
every body
relents.