Jesus, the New Song

(Photo: Public Domain, Source: Wikipedia) 

My friend and former professor, Reggie Kidd (not pictured above!), writes for Worship Leader Magazine, and archives those articles at his blog.  This post is particularly interesting.  Reggie traces back the idea of Jesus being called the "New Song" to 3rd century Christian theologian Clement of Alexandria.


Reggie writes, quoting Clement:

“Because the Word lately took a name — the name consecrated of old and worthy of power, the Christ, I have called him a New Song.” And while ancient Greeks mythologize and fantasize about a revered hero of the past taming beasts through song, Christians know a more powerful Singer:

"He is the only one who ever tamed the most intractable of all wild beasts — human beings. For he tamed birds, that is, people who are flighty; reptiles, that is, those who are crafty; lions, that is, the passionate; swine, that is, those who are pleasure-loving; wolves, that is, the rapacious. … All these most savage beasts, … the heavenly song of itself transformed into gentle people. …See how mighty is the New Song! It has made … humans out of wild beasts. They who were otherwise dead, who had no share in the real and true life, revived when they heard the song."