Cosmic Leap of Faith An Authorial, Structural and Theological Investigation of the Cosmic Christology in Col 1 15-20

Among the array of christologies embodied within New Testament literature, the so-called hymn of Colossians 1:15-20 offers a unique and invaluable contribution to contemporary theological and inter-religious discourse. This is because it conveys what is arguably the highest christological affirmation within the canon. Pizzuto contends that the hymn is a creative and faith-filled composition by the same deutero-Pauline author of the Colossians epistle itself and demonstrates that there is an inextricable relationship between the chiastic structure of Col 1:15-20 and a proper understanding of its provenance, authorship and theology. Although the hymn echoes theological motifs consistent with Second Temple Judaism and loosely reflects a number of syncretistic influences, it is fundamentally the novelty of the Christ-event, - the historical impact of Jesus of Nazareth - that has been most influential in determining the christological categories of Col 1:15-20 and its larger epistolary framework. Pizzuto thus defends the overall integrity of the hymn against those who would assert that it reflects a pre-Christian or pre-Colossians origin. He concludes that Col 1:15-20 represents something of a leap beyond Pauline christology into a new and unequivocal conviction of the cosmic implications of the Cross.Pizzuto, Vincent A. is the author of 'Cosmic Leap of Faith An Authorial, Structural and Theological Investigation of the Cosmic Christology in Col 1 15-20', published 2006 under ISBN 9789042916517 and ISBN 9042916516.