It has been contended that the value system and terminology o f Old English heroic poetry were not suitable vehicles fo r the later religious poetry, that their Germanic garb ill-fitted the Christian poems. This view, however, does not take cognisance o f the the fact that there exists a Christian heroism in its own right. Only Christian scholarship can fully account fo r this phenomenon and show how the subject matter o f this poetry is consonant with the heroic diction and formulae in which

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... is couched. Three Old English poems dealing with aspects o f Christ' saving ministry will be examined to show that Christ is depicted as a hero bringing victory through suffering in God' s plan o f salvation, rather than as a heroic warrior as he is usually regarded, fighting in the armour o f the Germanic hero. A close study o f these poems shows that the authors understood Christian heroism to mean more than brave battling on the side o f God; rather, it is complete submission to the will o f God.