I Am Content My Jesus Liveth Still
I am content my Jesus liveth still
I Am Content My Jesus Liveth Still is a hymn text by Cornelius Elven (1837) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Found in lsb 468, lw 145, tlh 196.
This hymn expresses the Lutheran doctrine that Christ's living presence and resurrection power provide certainty and comfort to the believer facing mortality and loss. It anchors Christian hope not in human works but in Christ's finished work and ongoing intercession.
History & Background
Written by Cornelius Elven, an English clergyman, and first published in 1837 as a meditation on Christ's resurrection. The hymn became widely adopted in Lutheran hymnals and is a classic expression of Easter confidence.
Hymnal Appearances
- Lutheran Service Book — 468
- Lutheran Worship — 145
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 196
Bulletin Note
Written by English clergyman Cornelius Elven in 1837, this hymn draws from the German Lutheran tradition of resurrection hymns. Its steady long-meter melody (JESUS LIVES) underscores the unchanging certainty of Christ's living presence.
Preaching Connection
This hymn proclaims the Gospel's answer to the Law's accusation of death: Christ's resurrection life becomes the believer's present possession and eternal inheritance, transforming fear into contentment.
Overview
An Easter hymn of contentment and assurance, translated for the Missouri Synod by August Crull. Each stanza begins 'I am content!' and ends with the same refrain, and each grounds contentment in a title of the risen Christ: he lives, having fulfilled the Law and appeased wrath (st. 1); he is my Head, so his resurrection subdues death for me (st. 2); he is my Lord who prepares a home for his servant (st. 3); he is my Light, the Easter Sun of grace (st. 4); and so I pray to be drawn to him and raised (st. 5). It is a model of Lutheran Easter theology: the resurrection as the Father's seal on Christ's finished work and the pledge of ours.
Central theme: Contentment in the risen Christ, who fulfilled the Law, appeased wrath, conquered death and will raise his members
Structure
Five stanzas (10.6.10.6.9.9.4) with the framing 'I am content!' Living Savior (1) — Head (2) — Lord (3) — Light (4) — prayer (5).
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel throughout. The Law is named only as fulfilled: 'He hath fulfilled the Law of God for me, God's wrath He hath appeased' (1) — a compact statement of active and passive obedience.
Confessional Connections
Christ's active obedience (fulfilling the Law) and passive obedience (appeasing wrath) both imputed to us (FC III.14-16, 56-58). Christ's resurrection as our justification (Rom 4:25). The Head-members union guarantees our resurrection (AC XVII). Contentment as fruit of faith (First Article: God provides).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Easter season; funerals; times of trouble.
Historical Notes
August Crull (1845-1923), Missouri Synod professor and translator. The German attribution given by TLH should be verified against the TLH Handbook; LSB credits the text differently.
About the Tune
ES IST GENUG (Johann Rudolf Ahle, Mühlhausen; the tune Bach harmonized in Cantata 60).
Scripture References
John 11:25-26 Rom 4:25 Rom 10:4 Gal 4:4-5 Rom 3:25 John 14:19 Rom 6:9 Eph 1:22-23 1 Cor 12:27 John 19:30 1 Cor 15:20-23 Isa 9:6 John 14:2-3 Mal 4:2 John 12:32 1 Thess 4:16-17 2 Cor 5:1-8 Phil 4:11
Stanza by Stanza
I am content! My Jesus still lives, in whom my heart delights. He has fulfilled God's Law for me and appeased God's wrath. Since he could never perish in death, I also shall not die forever. I am content!
The refrain 'I am content!' frames each stanza; contentment rests on Christ, not circumstances (Phil 4:11-13). 'My Jesus liveth still' — the Easter confession (Luke 24:5-6). Two lines then summarize the whole doctrine of redemption: 'He hath fulfilled the Law of God for me' (active obedience, Gal 4:4-5; Rom 10:4) and 'God's wrath He hath appeased' (passive obedience, propitiation, Rom 3:25). The Formula of Concord teaches that both are reckoned to us as righteousness (FC III). The resurrection is the proof: he 'could perish never' because death had no claim on the sinless one whose work was complete (Acts 2:24). 'I also shall not die forever' — John 14:19, 'because I live, you also will live.'
- Scripture
- Luke 24:5-6, Gal 4:4-5, Rom 10:4, Rom 3:25, Acts 2:24, John 14:19, John 11:25-26, Rom 4:25
- Imagery & language
- Living Jesus; Law fulfilled; wrath appeased.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — complete obedience and propitiation, sealed by the resurrection.
- Connection to previous
- Opening.
I am content! Jesus is my Head; I will be his member. He bowed his head when he died on the cross with cries of agony. Now by his resurrection death is brought into subjection for me too. I am content!
The Head-member relationship (Eph 1:22-23; 1 Cor 12:27): what happens to the Head happens to the body. The stanza plays on 'head': the Head of the Church 'bowed His head' in death (John 19:30). Because the Head is risen, death is subdued 'for me, too' (1 Cor 15:20-23). This is a classic Lutheran argument for the resurrection of believers: the Head cannot rise and leave his members dead (compare TLH 206:2).
- Scripture
- Eph 1:22-23, 1 Cor 12:27, John 19:30, Mark 15:34, 37, 1 Cor 15:20-26, Col 1:18
- Imagery & language
- Head bowed; head and members.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — union with the risen Head.
- Connection to previous
- Grounds the 'I shall not die' of st. 1 in union.
I am content! Jesus is my Lord, my Prince of Life and Peace; his heart longs for my future bliss and my soul's release. The home where he, my Master, lives he also gives to his servant. I am content!
'My Lord' — the Second Article: 'Jesus Christ… is my Lord.' 'Prince of Life' (Acts 3:15) and 'Prince of Peace' (Isa 9:6). His 'heart is yearning' for our bliss — the risen Christ desires our salvation (John 17:24, 'Father, I desire that they also… may be with me where I am'). The servant receives the Master's home (John 14:2-3; 12:26) — pure grace, since servants do not normally inherit.
- Scripture
- Acts 3:15, Isa 9:6, John 17:24, John 14:2-3, John 12:26, Luke 12:37
- Imagery & language
- Lord and servant; home given.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the Lord shares his home.
- Connection to previous
- From union (2) to the promised home.
I am content! Jesus is my Light, my radiant Sun of grace; his cheering rays send out blessings for all — comfort, hope and peace. This Easter sun brings salvation and everlasting joy. I am content!
Christ the 'Sun of righteousness' (Mal 4:2) — the Easter sunrise is a natural image, since the women came 'when the sun had risen' (Mark 16:2). 'For all' — the blessings of the resurrection are universal in intent (1 Tim 2:4). Comfort, hope and peace are the fruits of the risen Christ's first greeting, 'Peace be with you' (John 20:19). 'Everlasting exultation' — joy without end.
- Scripture
- Mal 4:2, Mark 16:2, John 8:12, John 20:19-21, 1 Pet 1:3, 1 Tim 2:4
- Imagery & language
- Easter sun; rays of blessing.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — light, comfort, hope, peace.
- Connection to previous
- Another title of the risen Christ.
I am content! Lord, draw me to you and wake me from the dead so that I may rise to be with you forever, my living Head. Sever the fetters of my body; then my soul will rejoice forever. I am content!
The hymn ends in prayer: 'draw me' (John 12:32; Song 1:4). 'Wake me from the dead' — death as sleep and resurrection as waking (1 Thess 4:14-17; Dan 12:2). 'My living Head' returns to st. 2. 'The fetters of my body sever' refers to the release of the soul at death (Phil 1:23; 2 Cor 5:8), followed by the resurrection of the body; it should not be read as contempt for the body, which will be raised and glorified (1 Cor 15:42-44; Phil 3:21).
- Scripture
- John 12:32, Song 1:4, 1 Thess 4:14-17, Dan 12:2, Phil 1:23, 2 Cor 5:1-8, 1 Cor 15:42-44, Phil 3:21
- Imagery & language
- Drawing; waking; fetters severed.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — hope of resurrection and eternal joy.
- Connection to previous
- Final prayer.
Themes
Resurrection of Christ Confidence in Christ Eternal life Victory over death Christian assurance