Theologian Karl Barth was once asked to sum up his life's work. Instead of quoting from one of his many books, sermons, or university lectures, he responded with the words of a children's song: "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so." Whether we sing a children's song like "Jesus Loves Me," or a great hymn of the church like "How Firm A Foundation," the songs we sing can express what we believe. In turn, they also shape our understanding of God, of who we are as human beings, and of the world around us.

One of the ancient hymns that expressed the theology of the early church and shaped its understanding is found in the first part of our scripture reading for today. Colossians 1:15-23 is written in regular paragraph form in some English versions of the Bible, but many scho…