For Me to Live Is Jesus
For me to live is Jesus
For Me to Live Is Jesus is a hymn text by Kristian Ostian Gjellerup (1889) in 8.7.8.7 meter. Translated by George A. T. Ryberg. Found in CW21 848, CW93 606, ELH 473, elw 458. Sung to HAMBURG.
The hymn embodies core Lutheran theology by making Christ the singular focus of Christian existence and life's meaning, reflecting the doctrine of justification by faith. It expresses the paradox of Christian living—that dying to self and living for Christ constitutes true life—central to Lutheran understanding of sanctification.
History & Background
Written by Danish hymnist Kristian Ostian Gjellerup in 1889, the hymn reflects Scandinavian Lutheran piety emphasizing Christ as the center of Christian life. Translated into English by George A. T. Ryberg in 1929, it entered Lutheran hymnals through The Lutheran Hymnal and has remained a staple of Lutheran worship.
Hymnal Appearances
- Christian Worship: Hymnal — 848
- Christian Worship — 606
- Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 473
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 458
- Lutheran Service Book — 742
- Lutheran Worship — 267
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 597
Translation
Bulletin Note
Written by Danish author Kristian Gjellerup in 1889, this hymn reflects a Lutheran conviction that Christ's redemptive work transforms dying to self into the Christian's supreme gain, making Him life itself.
Preaching Connection
This hymn powerfully embodies the Gospel's reversal: the Law strips away false life-securities, while the Gospel reveals that losing everything for Christ means gaining everything that truly matters—a paradox Luther knew well.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- Of Justification Augsburg Confession
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law reveals emptiness of worldly gain and pride; Gospel proclaims Christ's sacrificial love as sole worthy object of devotion; believer responds with total surrender of self and possessions
Background Research
'Christus, der ist mein Leben', anonymous, in use before 1608, probably at Jena; Melchior Vulpius gave it its tune in 1609. Later wrongly credited to S. Graff (Schemelli, 1736) and Josua Stegmann (1628). A favorite death-and-dying hymn of the Thirty Years' War era. Bach built the opening of cantata BWV 95 (1723) on it, harmonized it (BWV 281, 282), and may have used it in the lost funeral cantata BWV 1142. Source: bach-cantatas.com.
In the Church Year
Suggested in the one-year series
- Trinity 16 (6×)
- Trinity 24 (1×)
Suggested in the three-year series
- Proper 20 (2×)
- Proper 6 (2×)
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
An anonymous German hymn for the dying, first printed in 1609 with Melchior Vulpius's tune, built on Philippians 1:21: 'For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.' It moves from willing acceptance of death (st. 1) and departure to be with Christ the Brother (st. 2) to the peace of sins covered by his merit (st. 3). St. 4-7 form one long prayer for the deathbed itself — when breath is heavy, words fail, and the mind flickers like a dying light — asking for a soft sleep anchored on God's will and a waking in heaven. St. 8 is the Amen.
Central theme: Christ is life, so death is gain; a prayer for faithful perseverance through the last hour
Structure
Eight short stanzas (7.6.7.6). Confession (1-3) — prayer for the deathbed, one sentence across st. 4-7 — Amen (8).
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel throughout. Sin is named only as covered by Christ's merits (3); death is named with realism (4-5).
Confessional Connections
Peace with God through Christ's merit (st. 3; AC IV; Rom 5:1). Perseverance in faith through death as God's gift (FC XI). The Spirit's help when we cannot pray (Rom 8:26). Lutheran ars moriendi: the dying are comforted by Christ's merit, not by their own works or feelings — even when 'mind and thought… flicker,' they are 'anchored on Thy will.'
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Funerals; visitation of the dying; Last Sundays; evening.
Historical Notes
First printed at Jena (1609) with Vulpius's tune; TLH's dates '1609, 1612' reflect additional stanzas. Bach used the chorale, notably in Cantata 95, 'Christus, der ist mein Leben.'
About the Tune
CHRISTUS, DER IST MEIN LEBEN (Melchior Vulpius, 1609).
Scripture References
Phil 1:21-23 Ps 31:15 Heb 2:11 John 14:3 Ps 32:1 Rom 5:1 Rom 8:26 Isa 42:3 Heb 6:19 Ps 4:8 1 Thess 4:14 Luke 23:43 2 Cor 1:20 Rom 8:14
Stanza by Stanza
For me to live is Jesus, and to die is gain; so whenever he pleases, I meet death willingly.
Phil 1:21 (TLH's text) almost verbatim. 'Whensoe'er He pleases' — our times are in his hand (Ps 31:15). Willingness to die is not stoicism but trust in Christ who is life (John 11:25).
- Scripture
- Phil 1:21, Ps 31:15, John 11:25-26
- Imagery & language
- Life and gain.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — Christ as life.
- Connection to previous
- Life and gain.
For Christ, my Lord and Brother, I leave this dim world and gladly seek the other, where I will be with him.
Christ 'is not ashamed to call them brothers' (Heb 2:11). 'Where I shall be with Him' — John 14:3; Phil 1:23. The goal of heaven is Christ himself.
- Scripture
- Heb 2:11, John 14:3, Phil 1:23, 1 Cor 13:12
- Imagery & language
- Brother; dim world.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — with Christ.
- Connection to previous
- With Him.
My woes are nearly over, though the road has been long and dark; his merits cover my sin, and I have peace with God.
The theological center: 'My sin His merits cover' (Ps 32:1; Rom 4:7) — imputed righteousness. 'I have peace with God' (Rom 5:1). The dying Christian rests on Christ's merit, not on the record of the 'long and dark' road.
- Scripture
- Ps 32:1, Rom 4:7-8, Rom 5:1, Rev 21:4
- Imagery & language
- Dark road; covering.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — sins covered; peace.
- Connection to previous
- Merit covers sin.
Lord, when my strength fails, my breath comes heavily, and words are no use, hear my sighs to you!
The deathbed described with realism. When words fail, sighs are prayers — Rom 8:26 ('groanings too deep for words'); Ps 38:9.
- Scripture
- Rom 8:26, Ps 38:9, Ps 71:9
- Imagery & language
- Failing powers; heavy breath; sighs.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — sighs heard.
- Connection to previous
- Failing.
When my mind and thought, Savior, flicker like a light wavering back and forth before it goes out completely,
A striking image of the dying mind, which may include dementia or delirium. Isa 42:3: 'a faintly burning wick he will not quench.' Faith does not depend on mental clarity; Christ holds those who can no longer hold him. The sentence continues into st. 6.
- Scripture
- Isa 42:3, Matt 12:20, 2 Tim 2:13
- Imagery & language
- Flickering light.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — Christ does not quench the wick.
- Connection to previous
- Flickering.
in that last hour grant me to sleep softly and quietly, with no doubts to trouble or haunt me, safely anchored on your will;
Prayer against Anfechtung at the end. 'Safe anchored' — Heb 6:19: hope as 'a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.' The anchor is God's will (his promise), not our feelings. Ps 4:8.
- Scripture
- Heb 6:19, Ps 4:8, Ps 31:5
- Imagery & language
- Soft sleep; anchor.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — anchored on God's will.
- Connection to previous
- Anchored.
and so, still clinging to you through all the agony of death, to fall asleep believing and wake in heaven with you.
'Fall asleep believing' (1 Thess 4:14) and 'wake… with Thee' (Luke 23:43; Phil 1:23). The three stanzas of petition end in the hope of waking.
- Scripture
- 1 Thess 4:14, Luke 23:43, Phil 1:23, Dan 12:2
- Imagery & language
- Cleaving; sleep and waking.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — waking in heaven.
- Connection to previous
- Sleep and wake.
Amen! You, Christ my Savior, will grant me this. Let your Spirit always lead me so that I fare well.
'Amen' — the certainty that the prayer is heard (2 Cor 1:20; SC: 'Amen, amen means Yes, yes, it shall be so'). The Spirit's leading (Rom 8:14).
- Scripture
- 2 Cor 1:20, Rom 8:14, Ps 143:10
- Imagery & language
- Amen; Spirit's leading.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — certainty.
- Connection to previous
- Amen.
Themes
Christ-centeredness Sanctification Living faith Christian devotion Christological focus