The Heliand: The Saxon Gospel

by G. Ronald Murphy (Translator)

A spirited retelling of the Gospel story in a Germanic setting, the ninth-century A.D. Old Saxon epic poem The Heliand is at last available in English in Ronald Murphy's graceful new translation. Representing the first full integration and poetic reworking of the Gospel story into Northern European warrior imagery and culture, the poem finds a place for many Old Northern religious concepts and images while remaining faithful to the orthodox Christian teaching of the Gospel of St. Mark. Accessible to students of medieval and comparative literature, Murphy's introduction and notes provide valuable insight and a cultural context for this unique masterpiece.

Genres: Religion, Medieval, Poetry, Christianity, History, Christian, Classics

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 830

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over a thousand years ago an anonymous poet recast the Gospels into a form and images that were more comprehensible to Saxon listeners.

In this alliterative rhymed poem, Christ the great chieftain, the great warrior, the great magician, leads his loyal thanes across a landscape of hill forts.

Many small details are recast in signficant ways. For example: the dove representing the Holy Spirit does not "remain over" Jesus but rides on his shoulder like the ravens of thought rode Odin's. Again like Odin, Jesus is hung on a tree rather than a cross.

The bread and wine of communion possess magical power, and consuming them is a matter of honor.

[Kmd · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a bible geek you will LOVE, love LOVE! this book. It is a rendering of the New Testament in the sung story form of Saxons from the 10th century.

Yes, sung.

From the back cover:

"... one of the oldest of the great Northern epics...the life and deeds of Jesus, retold in an unexpectedly beautiful blending of the Germanic and the Christian. Bethlehem becomes a hill-fort, horses and horse-guards replace sheep and shepherds at the nativity, the prophets Simeon and Anna are soothsayers, and the twelve apostles are transformed into household warriors. Jesus himself both outfights his enemy and works powerful magic; he is the greatest of chieftains, the Chieftain of Mankind."

*swoon*

Tolkien geeks will love this.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading two other English translations of the Heliand and looking into the original text, I've finally come to the conclusion that this is the best English version available and the easiest and cheapest to obtain.
The Heliand was written in the 9th century and is essentially a retelling of the Gospel story. Written in the Old Saxon language and using Germanic alliterative verse forms, similar to to Beowulf and the Hildebrandslied. The narrative itself places Jesus and his disciples firmly in the setting of the Germanic heroic world, Jesus and the disciples are portrayed as a chieftain and his war-band, complete with swords and shields and Viking ships. The poem also uses Saxon phrases such as nazarethburg and concepts from Germanic pagan beliefs such as secret runes, sacred groves and fate. Instead of crucifiction, Jesus is hung from a tree, echoing the Norse myth of Odin hanging himself to obtain secret wisdom.
This edition also includes a small introduction, a study of the structure of the poem and a translation of Adam of Bremen's Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum on pagan rituals. The translator, Ronald G Murphy also published a companion study called The Saxon Savior.

[Mesoscope · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fascinating work brings into readable modern English the oddball Saxon gospel, which renders the Christian gospels into a narrative form suitable for the heathen Germanic Saxon peoples, lately defeated by Charlemagne and in sore need of conversion. Suffice to say, the peace-loving vibe of the Christ of Matthew was difficult for the Saxon to grok, steeped as they were in well over a thousand years of religious beliefs and practices that extolled the warrior virtues of courage and generosity to one's friends and comrades, and had little regard for mercy or compassion.

So here we have the ministry of Jesus presented in Saxon terms, with the Magi described as warrior-thanes, Bethlehem and Rome glossed as hill-forts, and Jesus presented as a mighty chieftain. Thus, when Judas led a mighty army into the mead-hall where Christ celebrated the Last Supper with his companions:

"Simon Peter, the mighty, the noble swordsman flew into a rage; his mind was in such turmoil that he could not speak a single word. His heart became intensely bitter because they wanted to tie up his Lord there. So he strode over angrily, that very daring thane, to stand in front of his Commander, right in front of his Lord. No doubting in his mind, no fearful hesitation in his chest, he drew his blade and struck straight ahead at the first man of the enemy with all the strength in his hands, so that Malchus was cut and wounded on the right side by the sword! His ear was chopped off, he was so badly wounded in the head that his cheek and ear burst open with a mortal wound! Blood gushed out, pouring from the wound!"

... "Then the Son of God spoke to Simon Peter and told him to put his sharp sword back into its sheath. 'If I wanted to put up a fight against the attack of this band of warriors, I would make the great and mighty God, the holy Father in the kingdom of heaven, aware of it so that He would send e so many angels wise in warfare that no human beings could stand up to the force of their weapons.... We are not to become enraged or wrathful against this violence, since whoever is eager and willing to practice the weapon's hatred, cruel spear-fighting, is often killed himself by the edge of the sword and dies dripping with his own blood."

Somewhat like an amalgam of the gospels and Beowulf, with disturbing notes of antisemitism and a constant iteration of its martial ethos, the Heliand Gospel stands as a fascinating document illustrating how religious symbols and stories are received and re-expressed as they pass from culture to culture, in terms of local beliefs and understanding. It makes for a lively and interesting read. Commendably translated and annotated by G. Ronald Murphy.

[Emily Maxson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read! A series of songs written by a monk (I gather) ministering to the Germanic peoples subdued by Charlemagne in the 9th Century. The author tells the story of the Gospels, adapting here and there to the Saxon cultural context. He takes many liberties and completely departs from orthodoxy at points, but I'd put it to the critic to do a better job sharing Jesus with 9th-century Saxon pagans. Furthermore, what begins as syncretism--acknowledging Fate and Time as ultimate forces for the Germanic sensibilities--through the course of the work turns slightly: the author gradually and subtly begins to supplant these assumptions by uniting the concept of what is fated, with that which God the Father has ordained. I'd love to re-read this after spending some time in Norse mythology.

The translation is a little clunky, but by virtue of transparency. Murphy's notes are helpful and enlightening (although, for a first read-through, somewhat distracting). Also, a warning: the manuscripts are incomplete in the last chapter, so unfortunately you don't get that end-of-the-story feeling when you finish.

[Irina Dumitrescu · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good translation that does the best it can to highlight the Old Saxon's author's adaptation of the Gospel to Germanic heroic ideals. Still, Murphy's footnotes explaining what everything might have meant in the context of the Frankish conversion of the Saxons become a bit too much. And, if you know the story, it's difficult to slog through a prose English translation of an Old Saxon poetic version that stays pretty close to the Latin original.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had an English professor of Germanic stock who liked to talk about how his ancestors worshiped an "ass-kicking" Jesus. Presumably he had this book in mind.

[Jeremiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really cool read, bringing charm and a different cultural lens to the epic story of the Gospel.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extraordinary localization of the Gospel, written in Old Saxon and translated by Georgetown Prof. G. Ronald Murphy. Its successors are obvious---from tribal localizations by Victorian missionaries to recent paraphrases like "The Message" and "The Book." The musical "Godspell" is its clear descendant, both in name and in spirit. I wonder if other cultures created a similar version of the story of Jesus.

This version of the gospel is nervy in its dismissal of the poor, yet it's exciting to read a unified (if editorialized) account of all four gospels. Highly recommended to anyone who likes Beowulf and the Gospel of Mark.

[Nathan Pyles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, the anglosaxon take of the gospels. My favorite is when the disciples as Jesus to "tell them the runes", to wit, The Lords Prayer. I read the Christmas story every Christmas out of this book to my 4 kids every Christmas celebrating our heritage!

[C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its the Gospel as told by the Saxons, which means Jesus is a feudal lord and the deciples kick lots off ass.

[a · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the wackiest books I've ever read. I can't believe it exists.

[Zachary Kreft · Rating 4 out of 5]

An English translation of a medieval Saxon translation/adaptation of the gospel story. The translator's notes help to explain the strange differences we find, the way that certain phrases, forms of expression, digressions, and changes helped to make the story and its theological content comprehensible to a medieval Germanic people. Its style can be accurately described as what it would sound like if the Vikings told the story of the life of Christ in their own style.

[Alexander Rolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

How had I never heard of this? I don't understand why it's so ignored. It's wild. It's fascinating to hear the gospel through the ears of medieval Saxon. It would make a great text for classes on cross-cultural missions.

Murphy's footnotes are often valuable, but too frequent; I wish he would just let me read in peace at least some of the time.

[Beattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since college I have been fascinated by pagan influences in early Christian writings found throughout Europe. This was an incredible read with great notes and an easy to understand translation. I highly recommend this!

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What this book is about and the history associated with it have each been addressed already. I will share that this was easy to read and very enjoyable. As you read this, you can almost picture yourself in a great hall hearing the Gospel sung in this rather quirky retelling.

[Carlos Ohler]

This was an interesting read, and I found the adaptation towards Saxon culture amusing.

[Matthew C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a treasure, and Murphy's annotations are a helpful guide along the way.

[T.D. Krupp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic, insightful commentary aside from the profound subject.

[Sarah Slachter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good translation. Definitely an interesting read.

[Michael Plas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this three times, and its great every time. I wish more cultures would do this, for it shows true missionary spirit.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never thought Christ could be envisioned as such a bad ass as he is here.

[Lulu]

first half of the 9th c. 830