In the Name which Earth and Heaven
In the name which earth and heaven
In the Name which Earth and Heaven is a hymn text by Heinrich Bone (1847) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Translated by Catherine Winkworth. Found in tlh 632. Sung to CANONBURY.
This hymn reflects the Lutheran emphasis on the centrality of Christ's name as the source of salvation and the means by which believers approach God in prayer. It connects to the invocation of God's name in the Small Catechism's explanation of the Lord's Prayer and emphasizes the efficacy of prayer offered in Jesus' name.
History & Background
Originally written in German by Heinrich Bone in 1847, this hymn emphasizes the power of Christ's name in prayer and worship. Catherine Winkworth's English translation appeared in 1863 and became standard in Lutheran hymnody through The Lutheran Hymnal (1941).
Hymnal Appearances
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 632
Translation
Bulletin Note
Written by German pastor Heinrich Bone in 1847, this hymn embodies the Lutheran principle that Christ's name is the believer's surest access to God—a theme Martin Luther developed extensively in his catechetical writings on prayer.
Preaching Connection
This hymn develops the Gospel's central promise: that Christ's exalted name grants sinners direct access to God's throne, transforming desperate prayer into confident petition and restoring what the Law condemns.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From divine calling to missionary commission: the believer receives God's Word, develops compassionate hearts for the lost, practices faithful intercession, and participates in God's redemptive work until all creation glorifies Him
Overview
John Ellerton's hymn for a church dedication or cornerstone laying. In the name of the Triune God we have built a house, laid on the faith of Christ (st. 1). As the builders set stone on stone, may Jesus build us up in grace on himself, the one Foundation (st. 2). The beautiful building will turn passers-by toward heaven, and sinners will bring their burdens 'to the Absolver's feet' (st. 3). Its truer beauty is the Church as Christ's Bride, robed in salvation (st. 4). Here prayer will rise, the Word be spoken, the child of God be sealed, and the Bread of Heaven be broken 'Till He come' (st. 5). Praise to the Master Builder, Father, Son and Spirit (st. 6).
Central theme: The church building as the place where Christ builds his living temple through absolution, Word and Sacraments
Structure
Six eight-line 8.7.8.7 D stanzas. Trinitarian foundation (1); stones and living stones (2); the building's witness and absolution (3); the Bride's adornment (4); the means of grace (5); Trinitarian praise (6).
Law & Gospel Shape
Law implied: 'Weary hearts and troubled spirits'; 'Sinful souls… their burden' (3). Gospel: 'the Absolver's feet'; 'garments of salvation'; 'the Word of Life… the child of God be sealed… the Bread of Heaven' (3-5).
Confessional Connections
2 Chr 6:20 (TLH's text): Solomon's dedication prayer, 'that your eyes may be open day and night toward this house.' St. 2 makes the building a parable: 'stone and living stones' bound to 'the one Foundation' (1 Cor 3:11; 1 Pet 2:5). The true temple is the people built up in grace. St. 3: 'Sinful souls shall bring their burden / Here to the Absolver's feet' means private and public absolution (AC XI, XXV; John 20:23), with the pastor's word heard as Christ's own. St. 5 lists the marks of the Church where Christ is present (AC VII): prayer, the 'Word of Life… spoken', Baptism ('the child of God be sealed', Eph 1:13), and the Lord's Supper ('the Bread of Heaven be broken, / "Till He come," Himself revealed', with 'Himself' pointing toward the Real Presence; AC X; 1 Cor 11:26).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Church dedication; cornerstone laying; anniversary of a congregation.
Historical Notes
Ellerton (1826-1893), Anglican hymn writer and hymnologist, wrote it in 1871, probably for the laying of a foundation stone (verify).
About the Tune
O DU LIEBE MEINER LIEBE (Musikalischer Christenschatz, Basel, 1745).
Scripture References
2 Chr 6:20 Matt 28:19 Ps 127:1 1 Cor 3:10-11 Zech 4:7 Eph 2:20-22 1 Pet 2:4-6 Col 2:10 Ps 84:1-2 Matt 11:28 John 20:22-23 Rev 19:7-8 Isa 61:10 Eph 5:27 Acts 2:42 Phil 2:16 Eph 1:13 1 Cor 11:26 John 6:51 Heb 11:10 Eph 4:3-6
Stanza by Stanza
In the name that earth and heaven always worship, praise and fear, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we have built a house here. Here, with prayer, its deep foundations were laid in the faith of Christ, trusting by his help to crown it with the top-stone in its time.
'Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit' (Matt 28:19). 'Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain' (Ps 127:1). 'He shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of Grace, grace to it!' (Zech 4:7).
- Scripture
- Matt 28:19, Ps 127:1, Zech 4:7, 2 Chr 6:20
- Imagery & language
- Triune Name; house built; prayer; faith of Christ; top-stone.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel: built in God's name.
- Connection to previous
- In the Name.
As the builders placed stone on stone here in proper order, so we pray, Jesus, build us up in grace, unseen but surely, until, as in these finished walls, we are found complete in you, and stone and living stones are bound to you, the one Foundation.
'No one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ' (1 Cor 3:11). 'You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house' (1 Pet 2:5). 'You have been filled [made complete] in him' (Col 2:10).
- Scripture
- 1 Cor 3:10-11, 1 Pet 2:4-6, Eph 2:20-22, Col 2:10
- Imagery & language
- Stone on stone; built up in grace; complete in Thee; one Foundation; living stones.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel: Christ builds his people.
- Connection to previous
- Living stones.
Your earthly temple will be beautiful; here the careless passer-by will be reminded by its beauty of the holier house above. Weary hearts and troubled spirits will find a quiet retreat here; sinful souls will bring their burden here to the feet of the one who absolves.
'How lovely is your dwelling place' (Ps 84:1). 'Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden' (Matt 11:28). 'If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them' (John 20:23). AC XI, XXV.
- Scripture
- Ps 84:1-2, Matt 11:28, John 20:22-23
- Imagery & language
- Fair temple; passer-by; holier house; still retreat; Absolver's feet.
- Law / Gospel
- Law: burdened souls. Gospel: absolution.
- Connection to previous
- Absolver's feet.
Yet, Lord, we pray, adorn this house with a truer and nobler beauty, where your Bride, your redeemed Church, dresses for her wedding morning, clothed in garments of salvation and rich with jewels of heavenly grace, the Spouse of Christ, adorned and waiting until she may see his face.
'He has clothed me with the garments of salvation… as a bride adorns herself with her jewels' (Isa 61:10). 'His Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen' (Rev 19:7-8). 'Without spot or wrinkle' (Eph 5:27).
- Scripture
- Isa 61:10, Rev 19:7-8, Eph 5:27, Rev 22:4
- Imagery & language
- Truer beauty; Bride; marriage morn; garments of salvation; behold His face.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel: the Church robed in Christ.
- Connection to previous
- The Bride.
Here, in proper and solemn order, her unceasing prayer will rise; here songs of holy gladness will lift her heart above the skies; here the Word of Life will be spoken; here the child of God will be sealed; here the Bread of Heaven will be broken, 'until he comes,' Christ himself revealed.
'They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching… the breaking of bread and the prayers' (Acts 2:42). 'Holding fast to the word of life' (Phil 2:16). 'Sealed with the promised Holy Spirit' (Eph 1:13). 'You proclaim the Lord's death until he comes' (1 Cor 11:26). AC VII, X.
- Scripture
- Acts 2:42, Phil 2:16, Eph 1:13, 1 Cor 11:26, John 6:51, 1 Cor 14:40
- Imagery & language
- Due order; prayer; gladness; Word of Life; child sealed; Bread broken; Till He come.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel: the means of grace.
- Connection to previous
- Word and Sacrament.
Praise to you, Master Builder, Maker of earth and sky; praise to you, in whom your temple lies, joined together; praise to you, eternal Spirit, binding all that lives into one, until our earthly praise is over and the eternal song begins!
'The city… whose designer and builder is God' (Heb 11:10). 'In whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple' (Eph 2:21). 'The unity of the Spirit' (Eph 4:3).
- Scripture
- Heb 11:10, Eph 2:21, Eph 4:3-6, Rev 5:13
- Imagery & language
- Master Builder; temple fitly framed; Spirit binding; eternal song.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel: Trinitarian praise.
- Connection to previous
- Master Builder.
Themes
The Name of Jesus Prayer and Intercession God's power and majesty Reverence and worship