Lord Jesus, Think on Me

Lord Jesus, Think on Me is a hymn text by Synesius of Cyrene (430) in 8.8.8.8 meter. Translated by Allen William Chatfield. Found in ELH 496, ch95 583, elw 599, gtg 417. Sung to SOUTHWELL.

This hymn embodies the Lutheran understanding of Christ's perpetual intercession on behalf of sinners, reflecting the doctrine of justification by faith in Christ's merits. The prayer for remembrance and forgiveness aligns with Lutheran emphasis on penitence and the comfort of Christ's mercy in the confessional tradition.

History & Background

Written in the 5th century by Synesius, a Neo-Platonic Christian bishop of Cyrene, this Greek hymn was translated into English by A.W. Chatfield in 1876. It has become a standard penitential hymn in Lutheran and Anglican hymnals since the late 19th century.

Hymnal Appearances

• Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 496
• Chalice Hymnal — 583
• Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 599
• Glory to God — 417
• The Hymnal 1982 — 641
• Lutheran Book of Worship — 309
• Lutheran Service Book — 610
• Lutheran Worship — 231
• New Century Hymnal — 502
• Trinity Hymnal — 492
• The Lutheran Hymnal — 320
• United Methodist Hymnal — 488
• With One Voice — 640

Translation

Allen William Chatfield

Bulletin Note

Written by Synesius of Cyrene (430), a North African bishop and theologian. This hymn distills the early Church's faith in Christ's perpetual intercession and has anchored Christian penitence for nearly 1,600 years.

Preaching Connection

This hymn transforms the Law's conviction of sin into the Gospel's confidence in Christ's intercession, making it a powerful ally to any sermon on justification, forgiveness, or the sufficiency of Christ's mediation.

Catechism & Confessional Connections

• Of Justification Augsburg Confession

Stanza Arc

The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law (conviction of sin and need) progressing to Gospel (confident appeal for Christ's remembrance, guidance, and final salvation)

Background Research

Synesius of Cyrene was an aristocratic pagan philosopher who studied under the Neoplatonist Hypatia in Alexandria. He came gradually to Christianity, married a Christian wife (403), and was made Bishop of Ptolemais (c. 410). Dates vary: c. 365/375 – c. 414. Reportedly he accepted the bishopric only on condition that he could keep his wife, a detail from memory, not checked. The hymn comes from 'Mnoeo Christe', the last of his ten Greek odes, a short prayer that serves as the epilogue to the others. Allen W. Chatfield's English (1876) is a free expansion rather than a close translation. It first ran to 4 stanzas, later 8, and it adds the sin-and-darkness emphasis that the brief Greek original lacks. Chatfield's 1876 collection is usually given as 'Songs and Hymns of Earliest Greek Christian Poets'. That title is from memory; the praise.org page did not name it. Tune SOUTHWELL (Damon's Psalter, 1579).

Sources: praise.org.uk.

In the Church Year

Suggested in the one-year series

• Trinity 19 (4×)
• St. Mary Magdalene (1×)

Suggested in the three-year series

• Ash Wednesday (4×)
• Proper 14 (2×)
• Epiphany 6 (1×)
• Proper 22 (1×)

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

A free English paraphrase of a Greek ode by Synesius, a philosopher who became bishop of Ptolemais. Every stanza begins 'Lord Jesus, think on me' — echoing the thief's prayer 'Jesus, remember me' (Luke 23:42) — and asks for one thing: cleansing (1), rest (2), strength in battle (3), guidance (4), help in storm (5), the vision of glory (6), and eternal praise (7). It moves from repentance to heaven.

Central theme: The penitent's repeated plea for Christ's remembering mercy, from cleansing to glory

Structure

Seven stanzas with the same opening line; the petitions move from sin (1) through earthly trials (2-5) to heaven (6-7).

Law & Gospel Shape

Repentance (st. 1) leading to trust; Gospel in each petition.

Confessional Connections

Repentance and faith (AC XII). The prayer of the penitent thief as a pattern of saving faith.

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

Lent; Confession and Absolution; Ash Wednesday; times of trouble; funerals (st. 6-7).

Historical Notes

Synesius (c. 375-414) was a Neoplatonist philosopher consecrated bishop around 410. Chatfield (1808-1896), an Anglican vicar, published his paraphrases in 1876.

About the Tune

SOUTHWELL (Damon's Psalter, 1579) — short, plaintive.

Scripture References

Luke 23:42 Ps 25:7 Ps 51:2, 10 Matt 11:28-29 Eph 6:10-12 Ps 23:3 Isa 43:2 Rev 22:4-5

Stanza by Stanza

Themes

Christ's intercession Penitence and forgiveness Meditation on Christ Spiritual remembrance Grace and mercy

Look Further

• Search Hymnary.org for "Lord Jesus, Think on Me" ↗
• Search IMSLP for public-domain scores of "SOUTHWELL" ↗