Christ the Lord is Risen Again

Christ the Lord is Risen Again is a hymn text by Michael Weisse (1531) in 8.8.8.8 meter. Translated by Catherine Winkworth. Found in CW21 459, CW93 155, ELH 344, elw 373. Sung to CHRIST IST ERSTANDEN.

This hymn proclaims the central Christian affirmation of Christ's bodily resurrection as the foundation of salvation and Christian assurance. The text reflects Lutheran emphasis on the objective, historical reality of the Resurrection as the defeat of sin, death, and the devil.

History & Background

Michael Weisse, a Bohemian Brethren hymnodist, wrote this Easter hymn in German as 'Christ ist erstanden' around 1531. Catherine Winkworth translated it into English in 1863 for her influential collection, making it widely available to English-speaking Lutherans.

Hymnal Appearances

• Christian Worship: Hymnal — 459
• Christian Worship — 155
• Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 344
• Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 373
• The Hymnal 1982 — 184
• Lutheran Book of Worship — 139
• Lutheran Service Book — 461
• Lift Up Your Hearts — 197
• Lutheran Worship — 147
• The Lutheran Hymnal — 190

Translation

Catherine Winkworth

Bach Cantatas

• BWV 6: Stay with us for evening is coming (1725)
• BWV 66: Rejoice, you hearts (1724)

Bulletin Note

Composed by Michael Weisse in 1531, this German Reformation hymn captures the joyful certainty of Christ's bodily resurrection. Its sturdy melody and direct proclamation made it a cornerstone of Lutheran Easter worship.

Preaching Connection

This hymn transforms the abstract proclamation of resurrection into lived assurance, embodying how the Gospel of Christ's victory over sin and death moves the hearer from fear to confidence and praise.

Stanza Arc

The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law (death's chains) → Gospel (resurrection victory) → Exhortation (new life in Christ) → Doxology (cosmic praise)

Background Research

TLH 190. German: "Christus ist erstanden von des Todes Banden" by Michael Weisse, in Ein New Geseng buchlen (1531), the first German hymnal of the Bohemian Brethren, which he edited. He modelled it on the older German Easter Leise "Christ ist erstanden", which goes back to the Victimae paschali laudes sequence of about 1100 (Wikipedia). Winkworth first translated it in 1858 as "Song of Triumph" in Lyra Germanica II and attributed it to the Bohemian Brethren. Her version is a free recreation rather than a literal translation; the 1863 Chorale Book version is CCEL Chorales h058. Tunes: CHRIST IST ERSTANDEN is the most common, but TLH uses WÜRTTEMBERG; LLANFAIR is also used. John Rutter's 1971 choral setting has made the text familiar to choirs.

Overview

Michael Weisse's Bohemian Brethren Easter hymn, expanding the medieval German 'Christ ist erstanden.' Christ has broken death's chain; angels sing (st. 1); the one who gave his life is our Paschal Lamb (st. 2); the comfortless sufferer now lives and intercedes (st. 3); he has descended into hell, bound the strong man and is crowned (st. 4); the Lamb is King of kings (st. 5); he sends us to proclaim forgiveness (st. 6); and the hymn ends with a Communion prayer: 'Christ, today Thy people feed' (st. 7). Every stanza ends with Hallelujah.

Central theme: The risen Paschal Lamb who conquered hell, reigns, intercedes, sends the Gospel out and feeds his people

Structure

Seven five-line stanzas (7.7.7.7 + Hallelujah). Risen (1) — Paschal Lamb (2) — intercessor (3) — descent and binding (4) — King (5) — mission (6) — feeding (7).

Law & Gospel Shape

Gospel throughout: life given for us; strong man bound; 'the penitent forgiven'; 'take our sins and guilt away.'

Confessional Connections

Mark 16:6 (TLH's text). St. 4: the descent into hell — 'He whose path no records tell' — treated as FC IX does: Christ, body and soul, descended after his burial, conquered the devil and destroyed hell's power, which we confess simply without speculating on the manner (FC IX.2-3). The strong man bound (Matt 12:29; Col 2:15). St. 3: the ascended Christ intercedes (Rom 8:34; AC III). St. 6: 'How the penitent forgiven' — repentance and forgiveness preached in his name (Luke 24:47; AC XII). St. 7: 'Thou our Paschal Lamb… today Thy people feed' — the Easter Supper, where the Lamb gives himself (1 Cor 5:7; AC X).

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

Easter Day and season; Communion at Easter.

Historical Notes

Weisse (c. 1480-1534), former Franciscan and leader among the Bohemian Brethren, edited their first German hymnal (Ein New Gesengbuchlen, 1531). Luther thought highly of his hymns.

About the Tune

CHRISTUS IST ERSTANDEN (the 'Christ ist erstanden' melody, c. 1100, related to the sequence Victimae paschali laudes).

Scripture References

Mark 16:6 Acts 2:24 Rev 5:11-12 1 Cor 5:7 John 1:29 Heb 7:25 Rom 8:34 1 Pet 3:18-19 Col 2:15 Matt 12:29 Luke 11:21-22 Phil 2:9-11 Rev 17:14 Luke 24:46-47 Mark 16:15 John 6:51 Rev 19:1-6

Stanza by Stanza

Themes

Resurrection of Christ Victory over death Easter joy Redemption Christian hope

Look Further

• Search Hymnary.org for "Christ the Lord is Risen Again" ↗
• Search IMSLP for public-domain scores of "CHRIST IST ERSTANDEN" ↗