Not What My Hands Have Done
Not what my hands have done
This hymn exemplifies the Lutheran doctrine of justification by grace through faith, emphasizing salvation as entirely Christ's work rather than dependent on human effort or merit. It reflects the Reformation principle of *sola gratia* while addressing the persistent human tendency to trust in works rather than divine mercy.
History & Background
Written by Scottish Free Church minister Horatius Bonar in 1861, this hymn became one of his most enduring contributions to Protestant hymnody. It was included in his collection 'Hymns of Faith and Hope' and has been widely adopted in Lutheran, Reformed, and evangelical traditions.
The famous Scottish preacher and hymn author Horatius Bonar (b. Edinburgh, Scotland, 1808; d. Edinburgh, 1889) wrote this text in twelve four-line stanzas, each beginning with the line “Not what these hands have done.” He first published the text in his Hymns ofFaith and Hope (2nd series, 1861). The Psalter Hymnal collates the most popular stanzas and includes minor textual changes. 400 ULOMINSTER J = 58 Scripture References st. 1= Tit. 3:5 st. 2 = Eph. 1:7 Eph. 2:8-9 Heb. 9:11-12 st. 3 =John 14:19 IJohn 4:10,19 CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS Bonar subtitled the text “Salvation through Christ alone,” and that is surely its theme: my salvation is entirely due to the grace of God, my own works have no merit at all, and nothing but the blood of Christ will do (st. 1-2); my natural response, then, is praise, for “my Lord has saved my life” (st. 3)! Bonar was a staunch Calvinist; in writing this hymn he stood resolutely behind John Calvin in the Calvin-Arminius controversy (see the introduction to the Canons of Dort in the Psalter Hymnal for a brief explana tion about Calvin’s and Arminius’s teachings). Bonar was educated at the University of Edinburgh. At the age of thirty he became a preacher in the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, a church that underwent a schism — “The Disruption”— in 1843. A major question in the controversy was whether a minister could be forced on a congregation by an aristocratic sponsor. Many church leaders and the government agreed that he could, but one-third of the ministers, including Bonar, disagreed, and in 1843 this group formed the Free Church of Scotland. Bonar was a prolific, popular author of tracts, sermons, and hymns (even though his congregation sang exclusively psalms during much of his life). One of Bonar’s great interests was biblical prophecy and the return of Christ, an interest reflected in some of his hymns. He published several hundred hymns in collections such as TheBibleHymn Book (1845), Hymns ofFaith and Hope (1857,1861), and Hymns of theHatwity (1879). Many were written casually, illustrating very little interest in poetic finesse, but a few have had staying power and are still found in many modern hymnals.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 566
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 406
- Lutheran Service Book — 565
- Lutheran Worship — 362
- Psalter Hymnal — 260
- Trinity Hymnal — 461
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 343
Liturgical Use
Service of confession and forgiveness—either sing all three stanzas without interrup tion (since the hymn basically moves through confession/forgiveness/response) or intersperse spoken words between the stanzas. 401
Bulletin Note
Written by Scottish minister Horatius Bonar in 1861, this hymn crystallizes the Protestant understanding of justification by faith alone, offering weary souls relief from the tyranny of earning God's approval through merit.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the Reformation cry of *sola gratia*—it answers the Law's crushing verdict with the Gospel's liberating truth that Christ's work, not ours, accomplishes our salvation.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- Of Justification Augsburg Confession
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Christ's advent and universal reign: from his anointed coming through his subduing of evil, merciful renewal of creation, establishment of peace and justice, to the eternal kingdom worshipped by all nations
Themes
Justification by grace Salvation by Christ alone Works vs. faith Assurance of salvation Christian confidence