Section 57
71This presupposes the spelling εἰς αὑτóν (with Griesbach) instead of εἰς αὐτóν (see p. 74 below, with n. 165).
72δɩ’ αὐτοῦ, repeated from the beginning of the verse, omitted by B D* F G etc., with the Latin and Sahidic versions, but present in P46 ℵ A C D1 and the majority of witnesses, with the Syriac and Bohairic versions.
73The pioneers in recognizing a structured hymn in these verses were E. Norden, Agnostos Theos (Berlin/Leipzig, 1913), pp. 250-54, and E. Lohmeyer, Die Briefe an die Philipper, an die Kolosser und an Philemon (Göttingen, 1930), pp. 40-68. Out of the vast and constantly increasing literature which has subsequently appeared (in addition to commentaries ad loc.) may be mentioned G. Harder, Paulus und das Gebet (Gütersloh, 1936), pp. 46-51; E. Käsemann, “A Primitive Christian Baptismal Liturgy” (1949), E.T. in Essays on New Testament Themes (London, 1964), pp. 149-68; C. Maurer, “Die Begründung der Herrschaft Christi über die Mächte nach Col 1, 15-20,”. in Wort und Dienst, Jahrbuch der Theologischen Schule Bethel, NF 4 (1955), 79-93; J. M. Robinson, “A Formal Analysis of Colossians 1:15-20,” JBL 76 (1957), 270-87; E. Bammel, “Versuch zu Col 1, 15-20,” ZNW 52 (1961), 88-95; H. Hegermann, “Der Hymnus in Col 1,” in Die Vorstellung vom Schöpfungsmittler im hellenistischen Judentum und Urchristentum, TU82 (Berlin, 1961), 88-157; E. Larsson, Christus als Vorbild (Uppsala, 1962), pp. 188-96; R. P. Martin, “An Early Christian Hymn (Col. 1:15-20),” EQ 36 (1964), 195-205; “Reconciliation and Forgiveness in the Letter to the Colossians,” in Reconciliation and Hope, ed. R. J. Banks (Exeter, 1974), pp. 104-24 (especially 108-16); “Some Reflections on New Testament Hymns,” in Christ the Lord, ed. H. H. Rowdon (Leicester, 1982), pp. 37-49; H. J. Gabathuler, Jesus Christus: Haupt der Kirche—Haupt der Welt (Zürich, 1965); R. Deichgräber, Gotteshymnus und Christushymnus in der frühen Christenheit (Göttingen, 1967), pp. 143-55; N. Kehl, Der Christushymnus im Kolosserbrief (Stuttgart, 1967); J. T. Sanders, The New Testament Christological Hymns (Cambridge, 1971), pp. 12-14, 75-87; P. Benoit, “L’hymne christologique de Col 1,15-20,” in Christianity, Judaism and Other Greco-Roman Cults, ed. J. Neusner, I (Leiden, 1975), 226-63; W. McCown, “The Hymnic Structure of Colossians 1:15-20,” EQ 51 (1979), 156-62; P. Beasley-Murray, “Colossians 1:15-20: An Early Christian Hymn Celebrating the Lordship of Christ,” in Pauline Studies, ed. D. A. Hagner and M. J. Harris (Exeter/Grand Rapids, 1980), pp. 169-83; M. Hengel, “Hymns and Christology,” E.T. in Between Jesus and Paul (London, 1983), pp. 78-96.