“Carmen Christi: The Story of Early Christians”

• Date: Wednesday, February 28th, 2024
• Time: 12:30–2 p.m.
• Location: USU East Conference Center - Lake View Terrace AB (formerly just A)

“The Bible is not a Christian owner's manual but a story-a diverse story of God and how his people have connected with him over the centuries, in changing circumstances and situations.” — Peter Enns

Phil 2:5-11 has been called Carmen Christi (Hymn to Christ) from the early years of Christianity. Yet it contains a story, a story of God becoming a human being and lowering himself to the lowest of the human existence and being lifted up to the highest position of the universe. The early Christians took this story as their master story for their own existence, imitating Christ (imitatio Christi), in his descension and ascension. The story also shows an anti-imperial proclamation since the Roman culture glorified the honorable ascension, dominating the enemies, and ruling their colonized subjects. The story of Christ demonstrates the true nature of God, the Father of Jesus Christ, who willingly took the human likeness and humbled himself. Therefore, the true victory that the early Christians was urged to attain was not the Roman imperial one but a humble one achieved by a Jewish peasant from Galilee (a colonized and impoverished area).

Dr. Johann D. Kim Visiting Professor of Biblical Studies Regent College