Where Christian Morality Starts
Morality, Article 2
I entered the college seminary as a sophomore at the age of 19, having spent one year as an English major at North Central College in Naperville. I found that difficult, seeing as (at the time) I really didn’t like to read or write. That said, I do find the construction of language fascinating and, having discovered many topics that make me actually want to read and write, it turns out there’s a lot to say.
Have you ever heard of a literary chiasm? “Chi” is the greek letter ‘X’, and is half the word “chi-roh” which refers to this thing:
In writing there is a tool that authors use called a chiasm (chiasmus, chiastic structure) to help tell a complete story. It’s more common than you might realize, and is a great device in prose, poetry, speeches, and basically any kind of writing. It works with both “pithy” phrases and longer passages. A chiasm follows the structure A1-B1-X-B2-A2. JFK1 was a master of the Chiasm. Consider these examples from his 1961 inaugural address:
A: Ask not what your country
B: can do for you
B: Ask what you
A: can you do for your country.
A: Let us never negotiate
B: out of fear
B: But let us never fear
A: to negotiate.
The entire plot of Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs & Ham is a chiasm (this is fun for me, so you can skip it if you’re not fun).
A Sam I am
B Do you like green eggs and ham?
C Here or there?
D In a house? with a mouse?
E In a box? with a fox?
F In a car? You may like them. You will see. In a tree?
G A train!
H In the dark!
I In the rain?
J With a goat?
K A boat?
L You do not like them. Try them! And you may, I say.
L’ I will try them. You will see. Say! I like green eggs and ham!
K’ A boat.
J’ With a goat.
I’ In the rain.
H’ In the dark.
G’ A train.
F’ In a car. In a tree. They are so good, you see!
E’ In a box; with a fox.
D’ In a house; with a mouse.
C’ Here and there.
B’ I do so like green eggs and ham!
A’ Sam I am!”
Biblical Chiasm
There are also plenty of chiastic structures in both in the Old and New Testaments:
Some authors argue that the Pentateuch (first five books of the Old Testament) are chiastic, with the Book of Leviticus as the linchpin…and some go even further by arguing that Leviticus itself is chiastic, and that the linchpin of Leviticus (chapter 16) is also chiastic.
Other biblical examples include Jeremiah 8:8-21 and Matthew 23:12.
The Chiasm that Makes Christian Morality
There is one example of the chiastic structure in the New Testament that provides the basis of all of Christian morality. It’s in Philippians 2:5-11, and known as the “Philippians Hymn.” Most scholars agree that it wasn’t actually written by Paul, but instead Paul is quoting a very early Christian hymn or formula of faith used to express (chiastically!) the Lordship of Christ. Check it out:
A: Though he was in the form of God
B: Jesus did not deem equality with God something to be taken advantage of;
C: Rather, he emptied himself, taking on the form of a slave.
D: Being born in the likeness of men, he was found human in estate.
E: He humbled himself, becoming obedient
D: to the point of death, even death on a cross.
D: Therefore, God highly exalted him,
E: and bestowed on him a name that is above every name
D: That at the name of Jesus
C: every knee should bend - in heaven and on the earth and under the earth -
B: and every tongue confess, to the glory of God the Father,
A: Jesus Christ is Lord.
This post will be followed in a couple of days with way more on the centrality of the Lordship of Christ and the Philippians hymn in the context of Christian morality, but spend some time in prayer with Phil. 2:5-11 and let it wet your whistle a bit.
Coming up…it’s the basis of Christian morality because it provides the two things one needs to live the Christian life: 1) the acknowledgement and worship of Jesus as Lord and Christ and 2) the pattern of Christ’s kenosis - complete self-emptying - as the means of the total fulfillment of his identity and exaltation before God, a pattern that every Christian is asked to follow.
Stay tuned!
*lol his speechwriter