This book of Odes is also known as the Earliest Christian Hymnbook.  Specialists in the Odes now agree that it was composed in the early second century most likely before 125CE.There are obvious affinities between the Odes and the Gospel of St John.Both portray JesusAs the pre existent Word who took on flesh in human space and time.  Both place an emphasis on love and the importance of receiving eternal life through the drinking of “Living water”  Some passages are obviously Jewish, others tending to Gnosticism and others are influenced by Christian ideas and teachings.The odist is very close to the Christology of St John stressing the oneness of the Father and the Son.The Odes are important since they indicate a fork in the road in the development of western culture.  Rabbinic Judaism, Gnosticism and orthodox Christianity are the three ways in the road.  The Earliest Christian Hymnbook helps to restore the feminine. The Odist perceived the Spirit to be feminine and also describes God with feminine imagery.  There are many places which show the influence of the Song of Songs. It is a work which  offers imagery which will enable the reader to appreciate both the make and the female in spirituality thus enabling the recovery of the feminine in our lives and worship.