Carmen Christi: Philippians 2:5-11 in Recent Interpretations and in the Setting of Early Christian Worship

by Ralph P. Martin

Philippians 2:5-11, long cherished and mined for its riches, has shaped the very language and architecture of orthodox Christian confession of Christ. Yet few scriptural texts have generated as much interpretive comment and controversy. Ralph Martin's study of this passage was originally published in 1967 under the title Carmen Christi and then reissued in 1983 with a new preface. Now reissued as A Hymn of Christ, this classic work includes a new preface that brings readers abreast of critical issues in the interpretation of this text since 1983.

Genres: Theology

367 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1983

About the author

Ralph Martin (1925-2013) was a distinguished New Testament scholar and a significant figure in the post-World War 2 resurgence of British evangelical scholarship. Born in Anfield, Liverpool, England, his early education was interrupted in 1939 by the war, and he was conscripted to work in the coal mines of Lancashire. After the war he pursued ministerial training at Manchester Baptist College and in 1949 earned his B.A. at the University of Manchester. In 1963 he completed his Ph.D. at King’s College, University of London. In 1969 Martin joined the faculty of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, where he would serve as professor of New Testament from 1969 to 1988, and director of the graduate studies program beginning in 1979. He resumed his teaching there in 1995 as Distinguished Scholar in Residence. Throughout his academic career he stayed involved in preaching, teaching laypeople and other pastoral ministry. He was the author of numerous studies and commentaries on the New Testament, including Worship in the Early Church, the volume on Philippians in The Tyndale New Testament Commentary series, and 2 Corinthians and James in the Word Biblical Commentary, for which he also served as New Testament editor.

Reviews

[Matteo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cherish this passage of the New Testament even if I don't understand it. Martin argues that it may show us a glimpse of what the earliest Christians prayed.

Good philology.

[Zach · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a survey of all the different ways to interpret Philippians 2:5-12, this is an excellent book. If that’s what you’re looking for, this is for you.

On the other hand, the book suffers in the minimal conclusions the author ever draws. In each chapter, roughly thirty pages of survey ends in a page or two of argument for a specific reading. Some of these readings are helpful (I think he fairly demolishes the idea that the purpose of the hymn is the imitation of Christ) but some are less helpful (it seems totally unconvincing to me that the purpose of the hymn is to comfort those fearful of astrological powers that Christ can rescue them from the evil spirits, if this interpretation necessitates that we discount the possibility of a two Adams Christology or references to Isaiah’s suffering servant, as Martin does).

Finally, Martin’s view that the hymn was most likely passed on to the church by Stephen seems a stretch. Each argument he produces for Stephen’s authorship would apply equally well to Paul- and Martin is absolutely convinced Paul incorporated the hymn rather than wrote it.

Over all it’s a fine intro to the literature on the topic, while weak in some of the positive conclusions drawn.

[Seth Mcdevitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Pastor Friends. This is an excellent resource. If you teach through Philippians, get this book and start reading it when you begin, and about the time you come to the Christ hymn, you'll finish the book. Its fairly technical, and portions of it were beyond my ability, but it answered a lot of questions before they were even asked. A great Resource.

[Dan Lacich]

Academic book. Knowledge of Greek and Hebrew is crucial. Reading this in preparation for a sermon on Philippians 2:4-11