Come Oh Come Thou Quickening Spirit
Come, oh come, thou Quickening Spirit
Come Oh Come Thou Quickening Spirit is a hymn text by Martin Behm (1610) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Translated by Catherine Winkworth. Found in elw 406, lbw 478, lw 165, tlh 226.
The hymn expresses Lutheran pneumatology by calling upon the Holy Spirit as the agent of sanctification and renewal in believers' lives, consistent with the doctrine of justification by faith working through the indwelling Spirit. It reflects the Protestant emphasis on the Spirit's work in conversion and Christian living as distinct from but inseparable from justification.
History & Background
Martin Behm composed this German hymn in the early 17th century as a prayer for the Holy Spirit's presence and power in Christian life. Catherine Winkworth provided the English translation in 1858, making it accessible to English-speaking Lutheran congregations and establishing it as a standard Pentecost hymn.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 406
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 478
- Lutheran Worship — 165
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 226
Translation
Bulletin Note
Composed by Martin Behm (1610), this German Pentecost hymn reflects Lutheran pneumatology, emphasizing the indwelling Spirit's sanctifying power. Its tune, Komm Gott Schöpfer, draws from medieval liturgical tradition.
Preaching Connection
This hymn amplifies Gospel proclamation by naming the Spirit as the agent who transforms the verdict of justification into the reality of sanctification—moving hearers from the despair of spiritual death toward confident petition for daily resurrection.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- Of Justification Augsburg Confession
Overview
A Pentecost hymn by Heinrich Held, a Silesian lawyer and poet, translated by the American Lutheran Charles Schaeffer. It is a catalog of the Spirit's work in the Christian life: dwelling in us with truth and light (st. 1); giving wisdom and overthrowing error (st. 2); bringing back the straying and working repentance (st. 3); witnessing that we are God's children even under the rod (st. 4); praying in us with sighs (st. 5); comforting the despondent who cry 'How long?' (st. 6); arming us against the evil Foe (st. 7); guarding faith so that 'though our flesh cry ever: Nay! be Thy Word to us still Yea!' (st. 8); and assuring the dying of glory (st. 9).
Central theme: The Holy Spirit's work in the believer from enlightenment through repentance, prayer, trial and death
Structure
Nine six-line stanzas (8.7.8.7.7.7). Indwelling (1) — wisdom (2) — repentance (3) — adoption under the cross (4) — prayer (5) — comfort in despair (6) — warfare (7) — faith kept by the Word (8) — dying (9).
Law & Gospel Shape
Law: trespass, straying, falling, the rod, despondency, the Foe, the flesh's 'Nay' (3-8). Gospel: sins cast behind God, witness of sonship, the Spirit's sighs, the Word's 'Yea' (3-5, 8).
Confessional Connections
SC Third Article in full: the Spirit 'calls… enlightens… sanctifies and keeps.' 'Work repentance when we fall' — repentance is the Spirit's work, not ours (FC II; AC XII). The cross 'is for our good' (Ap XII.151ff). The Spirit's intercession (Rom 8:26). St. 8: 'Though our flesh cry ever: Nay! Be Thy Word to us still Yea!' — faith clings to the external Word against feelings and the flesh (SA III.8: God gives the Spirit only through the external Word; 2 Cor 1:20). Final perseverance (FC XI).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Pentecost; Pentecost season; confirmation; general.
Historical Notes
Held (c. 1620-c. 1659) studied law and practiced in Altdamm (Pomerania); his hymns were published after his death. Schaeffer (1813-1896) was a Pennsylvania Lutheran pastor and seminary professor.
About the Tune
KOMM, O KOMM, DU GEIST DES LEBENS (TLH credits J. Christoph Bach, 1680).
Scripture References
Rom 8:15 John 6:63 John 14:16-17 Isa 11:2 Eph 1:17 Isa 38:17 Mic 7:19 Ps 23:3 Rom 8:16-17 Heb 12:5-11 Rom 8:26-27 Ps 13:1-2 2 Cor 1:3-4 2 Cor 5:17 Phil 1:6 Eph 6:10-17 Rom 8:38-39 Gal 5:17 2 Cor 1:20 Rom 8:11 2 Cor 4:17
Stanza by Stanza
Come, life-giving Spirit, God from all eternity! May your power never fail us; live in us always. Then truth, life and light will banish all the gloom of night.
'Quickening' — life-giving (John 6:63; Nicene Creed: 'the Lord and Giver of life'). 'God from all eternity' — the Spirit's deity (AC I). Indwelling (John 14:16-17).
- Scripture
- John 6:63, John 14:16-17, Rom 8:15, 1 Cor 3:16
- Imagery & language
- Quickening; truth, life, light.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the Spirit's coming.
- Connection to previous
- Come.
Give our hearts in fullest measure wisdom, counsel and purity, so that they may always seek only what pleases you. Let your knowledge spread and grow, overthrowing error.
Isa 11:2: 'the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel.' Eph 1:17. 'Error's overthrow' — the Spirit leads into truth (John 16:13) through the Word.
- Scripture
- Isa 11:2, Eph 1:17, John 16:13, Col 1:9-10
- Imagery & language
- Wisdom; counsel; error overthrown.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the Spirit's gifts.
- Connection to previous
- Wisdom.
Show us the path of blessing, Lord; when we trespass on our way, throw our sins behind you and be with us every day. If we stray, Lord, call us back; work repentance in us when we fall.
'You have cast all my sins behind your back' (Isa 38:17; Mic 7:19). 'He restores my soul' (Ps 23:3). 'Work repentance' — contrition and faith are the Spirit's work (AC XII; FC II).
- Scripture
- Ps 23:3, Isa 38:17, Mic 7:19, Luke 15:4-7, 2 Tim 2:25
- Imagery & language
- Path; sins behind; recall.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — straying; Gospel — sins cast away.
- Connection to previous
- Repentance.
Bear witness with our spirit that we are sons of God who rely on him alone when we pass under the rod; for we know, as children should, that the cross is for our good.
Rom 8:16: 'The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.' Rom 8:15 (TLH's text). The 'rod' — fatherly discipline (Heb 12:5-11). 'The cross is for our good' (Rom 8:28).
- Scripture
- Rom 8:15-17, Heb 12:5-11, Rom 8:28
- Imagery & language
- Witness; rod; cross for good.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — adoption under the cross.
- Connection to previous
- Witness.
Move us, Lord, to come before him and pray with a childlike heart; Holy Spirit, sigh in us when we do not know what to say. Then our prayer is not in vain, and our faith will gain new strength.
Rom 8:26: 'we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.' Childlike prayer (SC Lord's Prayer introduction).
- Scripture
- Rom 8:26-27, Gal 4:6, Matt 18:3
- Imagery & language
- Childlike prayer; Spirit's sighs.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the Spirit prays in us.
- Connection to previous
- Prayer.
If our soul finds no comfort and despondency grows strong, so that the heart cries out in anguish, 'My God, how long, how long?' then comfort the aching heart and give us courage, patience and rest.
Ps 13:1-2: 'How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?' The hymn makes room for real depression of spirit (Anfechtung). The Spirit is the Comforter (John 14:16; 2 Cor 1:3-4).
- Scripture
- Ps 13:1-2, Ps 6:3, John 14:16, 2 Cor 1:3-4
- Imagery & language
- Despondency; 'How long?'
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the Comforter.
- Connection to previous
- How long?
Holy Spirit, strong and mighty, you who make all things new, complete your work in us and subdue the evil enemy. Give us weapons for the fight and crown our life with victory.
New creation (2 Cor 5:17; Rev 21:5). 'He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion' (Phil 1:6). The armor of God (Eph 6:10-17).
- Scripture
- 2 Cor 5:17, Phil 1:6, Eph 6:10-17, Rev 2:10
- Imagery & language
- Renewal; weapons; victory.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the Spirit's victory.
- Connection to previous
- Weapons.
God, guard our faith forever; let neither Satan, death nor shame ever separate us from our Savior; Lord, your name is Refuge. Though our flesh keeps crying 'No!', let your Word still be 'Yes!' to us.
Rom 8:38-39. 'The name of the LORD is a strong tower' (Prov 18:10). The flesh's 'Nay' against the Word's 'Yea': 'all the promises of God find their Yes in him' (2 Cor 1:20). Faith rests on the external Word, not on what the flesh feels (SA III.8; Gal 5:17).
- Scripture
- Rom 8:38-39, Prov 18:10, 2 Cor 1:20, Gal 5:17, 1 Pet 1:5
- Imagery & language
- Flesh's Nay; Word's Yea.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — the flesh resists; Gospel — the Word's Yes.
- Connection to previous
- The Word's Yea.
And when life's fragile thread is breaking, assure us more and more, as heirs of unending life, of the glory waiting there — glory never yet expressed, the glory of the saints at rest.
The Spirit's assurance at death (Rom 8:11, 16-17). 'An eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison' (2 Cor 4:17). Rest (Heb 4:9; Rev 14:13).
- Scripture
- Rom 8:11, 16-17, 2 Cor 4:17, Heb 4:9, Rev 14:13
- Imagery & language
- Frail thread; unspoken glory.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — assurance in death.
- Connection to previous
- Dying.
Themes
Holy Spirit invocation Sanctification Spiritual renewal Grace and mercy Pentecost celebration