Genesis A+B: Part 1
The Beginning of the Beginning
Here is the first part of the Genesis A text.
Pour yourself a cup of tea and enjoy the start of this ancient text.
A great duty is ours that we wordfully praise
the Heavens’ Ward, the Glory-King of Armies, and love him in our hearts!
He is the Strength’s Success, the Head of all High-Creation, the Almighty Lord.
There was never an origin for him, a start to his becoming, nor will there come an end of the Perpetual Lord — yet he will forever have dominion over the seats of heaven.
In high majesty he holds, truth-fast and treasure-strong, heaven’s embracing country, which was established far and wide for the children of glory by the might of God and the watchers of souls. They possess radiance and joy, the bands of angels, and the bright bliss of their creator.
Great was their prosperity! (ll. 1-14)
Beginnings
This is the beginning of Genesis A. Whereas the Book of Genesis begins with
Genesis 1 v 1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis A starts with a call to praise God and love Him. This language draws the hearer’s heart higher, directing them towards Heaven, the abode of God.
The first title given to God in this poem is the Glory-King of Armies. In the poet’s eyes, God is a military ruler. He is a thane who rules through an angelic host. He is the Almighty Lord and the One Above All Creation. Thereby saying, there is none equal to Him. Not in power, in armies or in strength.
Not only is He without beginning and end, so too is His rule over the Seats of Heaven. These seats are principalities over earthly kingdoms. You could say they are the representatives of each nation and tribe in the spiritual realm.
The first part of the poem tells us that God is truthful, but also protects His treasures.
Who are His treasures? The children of glory and the watchers of souls. In other words, the angelic hosts. This gives a sense that God loves His Creation.
Anglo-Saxon Biblical Interpretation
In this text, we see the Anglo-Saxons are marrying up their cultural understanding of how society works to the Christian worldview. They see their society, filled with thanes and warriors, is perfected in Heaven and under God’s rule as a Heavenly king.
We see this replicated in Christian societies throughout the World. Where, ancient practices remain, but are Christianised. Think about the Day of the Dead in Mexico.
The question I have is whether the old traditions are informing local Christian practice or is the light of Christ shining through the paganism and Christianising them?
I think the latter. As Christ is the ultimate archetype, His story can connect with all cultures. And therefore transform them from within.