IX - His Exaltation (verse 9)

Summary

διὸ ϰαὶ ὁ θεὸς αὐτὸν ὑπερύψωσεν

ϰαἰ ἐχαρίσατο αὐτῷ

τὸ ὄνομα τὸ ὑπὲρ πᾶν ὄνομα

(verse 9)

INTRODUCTION

Even to the reader of the English version of the text it is notice-able that, with the sentence of verse 9, a decisive turning-point in the story of the hymn has been reached. This is reflected in a distinct change in the language and thought. At this juncture the rôle of chief Actor in the drama of Incarnation and redemption changes. Attention has, up to this point, been focused upon the self-humbling and obedience of the God-become-Man, with the reflexive pronouns in verses 7 and 8 contributing to the emphasis. The name of God is, so to speak, incidental to and implicit in the drama, up to this stage.

But with verse 9 a shift of emphasis is apparent. Now it is God the Father who, as it were, takes the initiative and becomes the principal Actor in the new sequences of the second section of the hymn.

This new beginning is even more obvious in the Greek where the language, which up to verse 9 has been terse and economical with participial constructions (five in number) instead of main verbs, becomes ornate and full of echoes of Old Testament Semitic constructions and allusions.