Symphony Of New Testament Hymns

A Symphony of New Testament Hymns opens a window of insight into familiar Scripture passages-poetic passages that were later often set to music. By showing that the composers of some of these traditional New Testament, pre-60 C.E. hymns intentionally created passages that are lyrical or hymnic within the prose, this work presents the sometimes hidden depth behind their construction and meaning.

Inspired by Roy Harris’ Folksong Symphony, Father Karris arranges his treatment of Philippians 2:6-11, Colossians 1:15-20, Ephesians 2:14-16, Timothy 3:16, 2 Timothy 2:11-13, Titus 3:4-7, and 1 Peter 3:18-22 in a way that faith-fully addresses today’s spiritual concerns, such as spirituality, ecology, reconciliation, baptism, and angels.

The first book in English in thirty years to study New Testament hymns, A Symphony of New Testament Hymns brings readers greater enjoyment of these lesser-known Pauline hymns and a deepening of faith. Father Karris contends we have much to learn from what these songs proclaimed about Jesus at a time when the four gospels hadn’t been published.