@Ryanlauph Both the Gospel & the hymn refer to the preincarnate Christ as being with God from the beginning (John 1:2 "He was with God in the beginning" vs. hymn
"begotten ere the worlds began to be; He is alpha". John 1:3 ("Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made") is echoed directly in the hymn's 2nd verse, which describes Christ as the active Word of God's creative activity. "At His Word the words were framed."
@Ryanlauph It has everything to do with it. The prologue of John (John 1:1-14) is generally considered the most theologically profound statement about the Incarnation in the New Testament.This hymn probably is probably unrivaled in Christian hymnody in
theological profoundity about the Incarnation, precisely because it draws inspiration in part from that prologue. contd
I am an ELCA Lutheran from South Carolina. This is to all denominations: If Luke 1:46-55 is your Scripture for the Day, this is a good hymn to compliment it, along with Once in Royal David's City and The Bells of Christmas.
@Ryanlauph Both the Gospel & the hymn refer to the preincarnate Christ as being with God from the beginning (John 1:2 "He was with God in the beginning" vs. hymn
"begotten ere the worlds began to be; He is alpha". John 1:3 ("Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made") is echoed directly in the hymn's 2nd verse, which describes Christ as the active Word of God's creative activity. "At His Word the words were framed."
marysueeasteregg 2 months ago
@Ryanlauph It has everything to do with it. The prologue of John (John 1:1-14) is generally considered the most theologically profound statement about the Incarnation in the New Testament.This hymn probably is probably unrivaled in Christian hymnody in
theological profoundity about the Incarnation, precisely because it draws inspiration in part from that prologue. contd
marysueeasteregg 2 months ago
I am an ELCA Lutheran from South Carolina. This is to all denominations: If Luke 1:46-55 is your Scripture for the Day, this is a good hymn to compliment it, along with Once in Royal David's City and The Bells of Christmas.
mkl62 2 months ago
@faithngod100 What significance does this verse have to do with this?
This is a beautiful piece of music, those are beautiful words, but that does not have anything to do with this.
Ryanlauph 2 months ago
Love this
benfmordecai 3 months ago
Beautiful and charming. I use this as a prelude today.
accousticdecay 3 months ago
in the beginng was the word....and the word was god john1:1
faithngod100 1 year ago
The guy presenting this is the current Dean of Derby, The Very Revd Dr Jeff Cuttell
jkbmedic 2 years ago
Absolutely beautiful hymn, with words from the 5th century Roman Christian poet Aurelius Prudentius.
nanigo58 2 years ago
And it's a cracking arrangement! Willcocks has done it again.
YKW2 2 years ago