The transition, therefore, to the canticles of the New Testament was easy
and perhaps inevitable. The _Benedictus_,
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel (_Luke 1:68-79_),
spoken by Zacharias, the _Nunc dimittis_,
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace (_Luke 2:29-32_),
by Simeon, and above all the _Magnificat_,
My soul doth magnify the Lord (_Luke 1:46-55_),
from the lips of the Virgin Mother, are among the most famous of early
Christian hymns, which, together with the song of the angelic host at the
birth of Jesus, the _Gloria in excelsis_,
Glory to God in the highest (_Luke 2:14_),
appear within the Gospel narratives.
In the remaining portions of the New Testament other hymn fragments are
found. Some of these are direct quotations from known sources.[10] In the
_Book of Revelation (4:8)_, reference is made to the words of _Isaiah
(6:3)_,
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty,
a passage which has survived in the Western Church in the expanded form
of the _Tersanctus_, and in the Eastern Church as the _Hymnus Angelicus_.
In the same Book (_Rev. 15:3_), the Song of Moses (_Ex. 15:1-10_) is
recalled. Some passages are considered parts of familiar pieces otherwise
unknown. The quotation in the _Epistle to the Ephesians_,
Awake thou that sleepest (_Eph. 5:14_),
may fall into this group or be considered a free rendering of certain
passages in Isaiah.[11] The "faithful sayings" from the Epistles to
Timothy and to Titus have also been viewed in this light.[12] The passage
opening
For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him (_II Tim.
2:11-13_),
possesses a marked lyrical character. The lines beginning
Who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of
lords (_I Tim. 6:15-16_),
reveal poetic features of a generally oriental style, framing the Old
Testament content. Certain digressions in the Epistles, in which formulas
of belief or of praise rise to a sure and effective climax, have the
qualities of sustained hymns:
God was manifest in the flesh,
justified in the Spirit,
seen of angels,
preached unto the Gentiles,
believed on in the world,
received up into glory (_I Tim. 3:16_),
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
who, when he was reviled, reviled not again;
when he suffered, he threatened not;-- -- -- --(_I Peter 2:22-25_),
above all,
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal
with God;
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a
servant-- -- -- --
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven,
and things in earth, and things under the earth;
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father (_Philippians 2: 6-11_).
Poetic refrains are obvious in the following:
For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be
glory for ever (_Rom. 11:36_),
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages,
world without end (_Eph. 3:21_),
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be
honour and glory for ever and ever (_1 Tim. 1:17_).
The Apostle Paul and other writers of the New Testament, who quote freely
from a variety of sources, have used fragments of hymns to reinforce
their teachings or with a devotional purpose. One gains from such
citations a text only, or a fragment of text. Singing is not implied. The
apocalyptic vision of the _Book of Revelation_, however, contains several
magnificent hymns of praise which testify not alone to the form and
content of the early hymn but also to the practice of worship in song.
The praises of the heavenly host are mirrored in the praises of the
congregation upon earth.[13] "And they sung a new song, saying,"
Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof
(_Rev. 5:9-10_),
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and
wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing (_Rev.
5:12-14_),
Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and
power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever (_Rev. 7:12_),
Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true
are thy ways, thou King of saints (_Rev. 15:3-4_),
Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth (_Rev. 19:6_).
From the point of view of the evolution of Christian hymns, the hymns in
the _Book of Revelation_ are perhaps the most significant in the New
Testament because they exhibit varied elements, from Judaism, from
Christianity and from the mingling of the two.[14]
It is interesting to re-read the New Testament in the search for hymns,
but one should remember that the field is controversial. Some
commentators would suggest that the entire 13th chapter of _I
Corinthians_ is a hymn, beginning,