"How Shall they Hear," Who Have Not Heard
How shall they hear, who have not heard
This hymn emphasizes the Lutheran doctrine of justification by faith and the necessity of hearing the proclaimed Word for faith to arise, directly echoing Romans 10:17 (fides ex auditu). It affirms the centrality of Gospel proclamation and the Church's obligation to bear witness to Christ's redemptive work.
History & Background
Albert Bayly composed this hymn in 1961 as a modern treatment of the Great Commission and missionary calling rooted in Romans 10:14-15. It was first published in Bayly's hymn collection and has become a standard contemporary hymn for missions and evangelism.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 821
- Lutheran Service Book — 831
Bulletin Note
Written by Albert Frederick Bayly in 1961, this hymn grounds missionary calling in Romans 10:17—faith arising from hearing the Word. A Reformation-era conviction sung for our evangelical age.
Preaching Connection
This hymn crystallizes the tension between Law (our imperative to witness) and Gospel (Christ's promise to empower us), making it ideal for sermons on missionary calling, the sufficiency of proclaimed Word, or Pentecostal empowerment.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- Of Justification Augsburg Confession
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From problem of spiritual isolation (stanzas 1-2) through imperative to action (stanza 3) to corporate missional response (stanza 4)
Themes
Mission and evangelism Proclamation of the Gospel Sending of believers Great Commission Word of God