Jesus My Truth My Way

Jesus my Truth, my Way, my Life

Jesus My Truth My Way is a hymn text by Oswald Allen (1858) in 8.8.8.8 meter. Found in tlh 433.

This hymn embodies Lutheran emphasis on Christ as the sole mediator and source of salvation, life, and truth. It reflects the confessional principle that all Christian doctrine and life centers on Christ's person and redemptive work.

History & Background

Written by Oswald Allen in 1858 as a hymn expressing the centrality of Christ based on John 14:6. It appeared in various 19th-century English and American hymnals and was included in The Lutheran Hymnal (1941) at #433.

Hymnal Appearances

The Lutheran Hymnal — 433

Bulletin Note

Composed by Oswald Allen in 1858, this hymn distills the Lutheran confessional conviction that Christ alone is mediator, source of salvation, and center of all Christian doctrine and life.

Preaching Connection

This hymn powerfully witnesses to Christ as the Gospel's answer to the Law's verdict: separated from God by sin, we are made whole through Jesus who is simultaneously our truth-teller, our guide, and our life-giver.

AI-assisted draft These study notes were drafted with AI from the hymn text and have not yet been reviewed line by line. Treat them as a starting point and check them against the sources.

Overview

A cento from Charles Wesley built on John 14:6 and the Psalms' titles for God. Jesus my Truth, Way and Light (st. 1); Wisdom, Guide, Counselor (st. 2); Power, Refuge, Fortress, Tower (st. 3); Horn, Rock, Buckler, Savior and God (st. 4). Then the turning point: 'Myself I cannot save, / Myself I cannot keep; / But strength in Thee I surely have' (st. 5); 'having loved Thine own, / Wilt love me to the end' (st. 6).

Central theme: Christ as the believer's every resource, because 'myself I cannot save, myself I cannot keep'

Structure

Six short-meter quatrains. Truth and Way (1) — Wisdom and Guide (2) — Power and Refuge (3) — Rock and Savior (4) — I cannot save myself (5) — loved to the end (6).

Law & Gospel Shape

Law: 'feeble soul'; 'feebleness'; 'Myself I cannot save' (1, 3, 5). Gospel: 'strength in Thee I surely have'; 'Wilt love me to the end' (5-6).

Confessional Connections

John 14:6 (TLH's text): 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life.' St. 4 applies Ps 18:2's titles of Yahweh ('my rock… my shield, and the horn of my salvation') to Jesus, who is 'My Savior and my God' — the deity of Christ (AC III). St. 5 is the confessional heart: 'Myself I cannot save, / Myself I cannot keep' — neither conversion nor perseverance is in our power (FC II.7; FC XI.45-46). St. 6: 'having loved his own… he loved them to the end' (John 13:1).

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

Trinity season; confirmation; general trust.

Historical Notes

From Charles Wesley's Hymns and Sacred Poems (1749); TLH's text is a cento.

About the Tune

SWABIA (Johann M. Spiess, 1745).

Scripture References

John 14:6 John 8:12 1 Cor 1:30 Isa 9:6 Ps 46:1 Ps 18:2 Ps 61:3 Eph 2:8-9 1 Pet 1:5 Ps 121:3-4 John 13:1 Ps 31:5

Stanza by Stanza

1 Jesus, my Truth, my Way,…

Jesus, my Truth, my Way, my sure, unerring Light, I rest my weak soul on you, and you will lead it rightly.

'I am the way, and the truth, and the life' (John 14:6). 'I am the light of the world' (John 8:12).

Scripture: John 14:6, John 8:12
Imagery & language: Truth; Way; Light; feeble soul.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — Christ leads.
Connection to previous: Truth and Way.

titles of Christ guidance

2 My Wisdom and my Guide,…

You are my Wisdom and my Guide, my Counselor; never let me leave your side or depart from your paths!

'Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God' (1 Cor 1:30). 'Wonderful Counselor' (Isa 9:6).

Scripture: 1 Cor 1:30, Isa 9:6
Imagery & language: Wisdom; Guide; Counselor; never leave.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — Christ our wisdom.
Connection to previous: Wisdom and Guide.

titles of Christ perseverance

3 Thou seest my feebleness;…

You see my weakness; Jesus, be my Power, my Help and Refuge in distress, my Fortress and my Tower.

'God is our refuge and strength' (Ps 46:1). 'You have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy' (Ps 61:3).

Scripture: Ps 46:1, Ps 61:3
Imagery & language: Feebleness; Power; Refuge; Fortress; Tower.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — strength in weakness.
Connection to previous: Fortress.

protection weakness

4 Give me to trust in Thee;…

Let me trust in you; be my sure dwelling-place; be my Horn and Rock and Shield, my Savior and my God.

'The LORD is my rock and my fortress… my shield, and the horn of my salvation' (Ps 18:2) — applied to Jesus, 'My Savior and my God' (John 20:28).

Scripture: Ps 18:2, John 20:28, Ps 90:1
Imagery & language: Trust; Abode; Horn, Rock, Buckler; Savior and God.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — Christ as God.
Connection to previous: Rock and Buckler.

deity of Christ trust

5 Myself I cannot save,…

I cannot save myself, I cannot keep myself; but I surely have strength in you, whose eyelids never sleep.

'By grace you have been saved… not your own doing' (Eph 2:8-9). 'Guarded through faith' (1 Pet 1:5). 'He who keeps you will not slumber' (Ps 121:3-4). FC II, XI.

Scripture: Eph 2:8-9, 1 Pet 1:5, Ps 121:3-4
Imagery & language: Cannot save; cannot keep; strength in Thee; never sleeping.
Law / Gospel: Law — inability; Gospel — Christ keeps.
Connection to previous: Cannot save myself.

sola gratia perseverance monergism

6 My soul to Thee alone…

So now I commit my soul to you alone. Jesus, having loved your own, you will love me to the end.

'Into your hand I commit my spirit' (Ps 31:5). 'Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end' (John 13:1).

Scripture: Ps 31:5, John 13:1
Imagery & language: Soul commended; loved to the end.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — love to the end.
Connection to previous: To the end.

assurance love of Christ

Themes

Christ as Way Truth Life Following Christ Personal faith and devotion Redemption Discipleship

Look Further

Search Hymnary.org for "Jesus My Truth My Way" ↗