The stories behind the writing of hymns often give depth of meaning to the hymns we sing. At Christmas, I like to look into the background of Christmas hymns.
“Of the Father’s Love Begotten” wasn’t sung by my church denomination at Christmas during my formative years. I’m not sure when the hymn first came to my attention. From my brief Internet research, I learned that it has been a part of worship for more than 1,500 years.
The Latin poet Aurelius Prudentius, a devout Roman Catholic, was born in 348 and is called “the first great poet of the Latin church.” A lawyer and judge of prominence, at age 57 he decided to fight heresy in the church through his poetry. That Jesus was created by God and, although divine, not co-equal with the Father was a heresy propagated by Arius (c.250-336). In his poem “Corde natus,” Prudentius restated the orthodox doctrine that Jesus Christ has always been and will always be one with and equal to the Father. The last verse of the poem/song is a doxology, extolling Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to be equally worthy of honor and praise.
The version in my hymnal is a 19th century translation by John Mason Neale and Henry W. Baker. The original poem had nine stanzas. The tune “Divinum mysterium,” called a plainsong chant, is not the original tune.
1. Of the Father’s love begotten, Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, He the Source, the Ending He,
Of the things that are, and have been, And that future years shall see,
Evermore and evermore!
2. O ye heights of heav’n adore Him; Angel hosts, His praises sing;
Pow’rs, dominions, bow before Him, And extol our God and King;
Let no tongue on earth be silent, Ev’ry voice in concert ring,
Evermore and evermore!
3. Christ, to Thee with God the Father, And, O Holy Ghost to Thee,
Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving And unwearied praises be;
Honor, glory, and dominion, And eternal victory,
Evermore and evermore!
(https://www.umdiscipleship.org; https://americanmagazine.org; https://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com)
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (LSB)
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