Come Ye Faithful Raise the Strain
Come ye faithful, raise the strain
Come Ye Faithful Raise the Strain is a hymn text by John of Damascus (1881) in 8.7.8.7.8.7 meter. Translated by John Mason Neale. Found in CW21 462, CW93 142, ELH 347, ch95 215. Sung to GAUDEAMUS PARITER.
This hymn embodies Lutheran Easter proclamation, celebrating Christ's victory over death and the liberation of believers through His resurrection, grounding Christian hope in historical redemptive fact. It reflects Luther's emphasis on the objective triumph of Christ and the renewal of all creation through the Paschal mystery.
History & Background
Originally composed as a Greek Easter hymn (Ὦδὴ Πασχαλική) by John of Damascus in the 8th century. John Mason Neale translated it into English in 1862, and it was published in his Hymnal Noted (1865), becoming a cornerstone of Anglican and Lutheran Easter hymnody.
Hymnal Appearances
- Christian Worship: Hymnal — 462
- Christian Worship — 142
- Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 347
- Chalice Hymnal — 215
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 368
- Glory to God — 234
- The Hymnal 1982 — 199
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 132
- Lutheran Service Book — 487
- Lift Up Your Hearts — 193
- Lutheran Worship — 141
- New Century Hymnal — 230
- Trinity Hymnal — 199
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 204
- United Methodist Hymnal — 315
- Voices Together — 270
Translation
Bulletin Note
Composed by John of Damascus (8th century), this Eastern hymn was translated for Lutheran worship in 1881. Its ancient tune GAUDEAMUS PARITER ('Let us rejoice together') echoes the church's unified, joyful witness to Christ's triumph.
Preaching Connection
This hymn crystallizes the Gospel's answer to Law: where sin and death accused us, Christ's resurrection declares us liberated—a proclamation that transforms despair into Easter confidence.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law to Gospel: bondage under sin's Pharaoh to liberation through Christ's resurrection; winter of sin melted by Easter victory
Background Research
John of Damascus (c. 675-749) gave away his possessions c. 730 and became a monk and priest at Mar Saba near Jerusalem. This is the first ode of his canon for St. Thomas Sunday (the Sunday after Easter), modelled on the Song of Moses (Exod 15): Israel's joy at the Red Sea becomes the joy of the Resurrection. Neale's English first appeared in Christian Remembrancer (April 1859), then Hymns of the Eastern Church (1862). Usual tunes: ST. KEVIN, AVE VIRGO VIRGINUM. Source: UMC Discipleship 'History of Hymns'.
In the Church Year
Suggested in the one-year series
- Easter 2 (3×)
- Easter 3 (3×)
- Easter Vigil (2×)
- All Saints (1×)
- Easter 4 (1×)
- Easter Tuesday (1×)
Suggested in the three-year series
- Easter 2 (6×)
- Easter 4 (1×)
- Easter 7 (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
From the first ode of John of Damascus's canon for St. Thomas Sunday (the Sunday after Easter), based on the Song of Moses at the Red Sea (Ex 15). Easter is the new Exodus: God has led his Israel from sadness to joy (st. 1), the winter of sin gives way to spring and no tomb could hold Christ (st. 2), and he stands among his own giving peace (st. 3, recalling John 20:19-26). The seasonal imagery — spring after winter — is characteristic of Eastern Easter hymnody.
Central theme: Easter as the new Exodus and the spring of souls, bringing Christ's peace
Structure
Exodus and spring (1); winter of sin, futile tomb (2); peace among his own (3, ending with st. 1's opening lines).
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel; 'winter of our sins' is overcome by Christ's light.
Confessional Connections
Exodus typology for redemption (1 Cor 10:1-4); Christ's peace given to the church (absolution, John 20:19-23).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Second Sunday of Easter (Thomas Sunday, John 20:19-31); Easter season.
Historical Notes
John of Damascus (c. 675-749) was a monk of Mar Saba near Jerusalem and a great defender of icons. Neale's translation appeared in 1859 and was collected in his 'Hymns of the Eastern Church' (1862).
About the Tune
SCHWING DICH AUF in TLH ('Sehwing' in index is a typo); GAUDEAMUS PARITER (Johann Horn, 1544) in LSB/ELW.
Scripture References
Ex 15:1-21 Song 2:11-12 Matt 27:62-66 John 20:19-26 Phil 4:7 Mal 4:2
Stanza by Stanza
The faithful are called to sing triumphantly, for God has brought his Israel from sadness to joy; today is the spring of souls; Christ has broken his prison and risen like the sun after three days in death.
The original begins with the Song of Moses: 'Let us all sing to the Lord who brought his people from the bitter bondage of Pharaoh' (Ex 15:1). 'God hath brought His Israel / Into joy from sadness' — the Exodus fulfilled in Christ's resurrection; the church is the new Israel (Gal 6:16). 'The spring of souls' — Easter falls in spring in the northern hemisphere, and John uses this as a sign of new creation. 'Burst His prison' — the tomb and death itself. 'Three days' sleep in death' — death as sleep (John 11:11). 'As a sun hath risen' — Mal 4:2 and the Easter dawn.
- Scripture
- Ex 15:1-2, Gal 6:16, Song 2:11-12, Acts 2:24, John 11:11, Mal 4:2
- Imagery & language
- Exodus song; spring; prison; sunrise.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — new Exodus.
- Connection to previous
- Opening call.
The long, dark winter of our sins flees from Christ's light, to whom we give endless praise; neither death's gates, the tomb's dark door, the guards, nor the seal could hold him as a mortal.
The memorable image 'winter of our sins' — sin as a long, dark, cold season, now fleeing before Christ's light (John 1:5; 8:12). Forgiveness is spring. The second half echoes the futility of the guards and seal (Matt 27:62-66) and death's gates (Matt 16:18). 'Hold Thee as a mortal' — Christ could not be held by death because he is God and because he died sinless (Acts 2:24).
- Scripture
- John 1:5, John 8:12, Matt 27:62-66, Matt 16:18, Acts 2:24, Rom 6:9
- Imagery & language
- Winter fleeing; light; gates, portal, watchers, seal.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — sin's winter ended; death unable to hold Christ.
- Connection to previous
- Expands the spring image.
Today Christ stood among his own, giving them his peace that is beyond understanding; the call to sing is repeated.
John 20:19, 26: the risen Christ stands among the disciples and says 'Peace be with you' — read on Thomas Sunday, for which the original was written. The peace 'which passeth human knowing' (Phil 4:7). With the peace he gives the authority to forgive sins (John 20:22-23), so Easter peace comes to the church through absolution. The closing lines repeat the opening, framing the hymn as an Exodus song.
- Scripture
- John 20:19-23, 26, Phil 4:7, John 14:27, Luke 24:36
- Imagery & language
- Standing among his own; peace.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — peace of the risen Christ.
- Connection to previous
- Returns to st. 1.
Themes
Resurrection Redemption through Christ Liberation from sin Paschal victory Liturgical celebration