Chief of Sinners Though I Be

Chief of Sinners Though I Be is a hymn text by William McComb (1824) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Found in CW21 578, CW93 385, ELH 429, elw 603. Sung to JESUS LOVES ME.

The hymn exemplifies Lutheran emphasis on justification by grace alone, contrasting human sinfulness with Christ's unmerited love and sacrifice. It reflects the certainty of forgiveness through faith in Christ's redemptive work.

History & Background

Written by Scottish minister William McComb in 1824, this hymn expresses profound penitence and confidence in Christ's redemptive work. It gained widespread use in Lutheran hymnals beginning in the 20th century.

Hymnal Appearances

• Christian Worship: Hymnal — 578
• Christian Worship — 385
• Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 429
• Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 603
• Lutheran Book of Worship — 306
• Lutheran Service Book — 611
• Lutheran Worship — 285
• Trinity Hymnal — 550
• The Lutheran Hymnal — 342

Bulletin Note

Written by William McComb in 1824, this hymn anchors Lutheran theology of justification by grace alone, holding together honest acknowledgment of sin and unshakeable confidence in Christ's redemptive work and resurrection.

Preaching Connection

This hymn powerfully embodies the Law-Gospel movement: the Law exposes us as chief of sinners; the Gospel announces that Christ's blood and obedience have already paid the price and satisfied all justice on our behalf.

Catechism & Confessional Connections

• Of Justification Augsburg Confession

Stanza Arc

The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law-Gospel movement: human righteousness exposed as insufficient (stanzas 1-2), Christ's alien righteousness imputed and clothing the believer (stanzas 3-4), concluding in faith-alone boasting

Background Research

William McComb (1793–1873), born at Coleraine, son of a linen draper. In Belfast he started one of the city's earliest Sabbath schools, set up in opposition to a Tom Paine (freethinkers') school in Smithfield. He trained with the Kildare Place Society and ran the Brown Street school from 1821, then opened a High Street bookshop in 1828. He published orthodox works against Arianism, including the monthly The Orthodox Presbyterian (from 1829) and Henry Cooke's controversial writings. He was nicknamed 'the poet laureate of the Presbyterian Church' and edited the Presbyterian Almanack (from 1840). He co-founded the Ulster Institute for the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind and taught blind children. His shorter poems were collected in The Poetical Works of William M'Comb (1864). Hymnary gives the hymn's original title as 'Christ All and All'. No first-publication date was found yet; next lead is Julian's Dictionary or the 1864 Poetical Works. The anti-Arian background fits the hymn's insistence on Christ as the sinner's all.

Sources: presbyterianhistoryireland.com; hymnary.org (McComb_W).

In the Church Year

Hymn of the Day (Lutheran Service Book) for: Trinity 22; Conversion of St. Paul

Suggested in the one-year series

• Trinity 22 (3×)
• Trinity 19 (5×)
• Trinity 11 (3×)
• Ash Wednesday (2×)
• Trinity 4 (1×)

Suggested in the three-year series

• Conversion of St. Paul (1×)
• Easter 5 (3×)
• Proper 13 (2×)
• Proper 19 (2×)
• Ash Wednesday (1×)
• Proper 5 (1×)

From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.

Overview

A personal hymn of assurance based on 1 Tim 1:15 ('Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost'). The singer confesses he is chief of sinners yet Christ died for him (st. 1), marvels at Christ's love that found him (st. 2), lists the gifts only Jesus gives (st. 3), confesses Christ as all in all (st. 4), and prays for preservation by Spirit and Word (st. 5). Its theology is simple and clear: grace for the worst sinner.

Central theme: Assurance of Christ's love and salvation for the chief of sinners

Structure

Confession and assurance (1); love that seeks (2); gifts (3); Christ all in all (4); prayer (5).

Law & Gospel Shape

Law (chief of sinners) immediately answered by Gospel (Jesus shed His blood for me).

Confessional Connections

Justification of the ungodly (Rom 4:5; AC IV); prevenient grace ('Found me when I sought Him not'); Word and Spirit (AC V).

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

Confession and Absolution; Lent; communion; times of guilt or doubt.

Historical Notes

McComb (1793-c. 1870) was a Belfast bookseller and poet. Published 1864.

About the Tune

GETHSEMANE (Richard Redhead, 1853).

Scripture References

1 Tim 1:15 Rom 5:8 John 15:5 Song 2:16 Eph 3:18-19 Luke 19:10 Gen 5:24 Col 3:3-4, 11 Heb 4:16

Stanza by Stanza

Themes

Grace Repentance Christ's love and sacrifice Assurance in Christ Forgiveness of sins

Look Further

• Search Hymnary.org for "Chief of Sinners Though I Be" ↗
• Search IMSLP for public-domain scores of "JESUS LOVES ME" ↗