Now Praise We Christ the Holy One
Now praise we Christ the Holy One
Now Praise We Christ the Holy One is a hymn text by Friedrich Rückert (1839) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Translated by Martin H. Behm. Found in CW93 39, lbw 349, lw 46, tlh 104. Sung to GELOBET SEIST DU.
This hymn articulates the paradox of the Incarnation—the eternal Son assuming human nature while retaining divine attributes—central to Lutheran Christology. It reflects the kenotic theology of Philippians 2, emphasizing Christ's voluntary self-emptying as the foundation of salvation.
History & Background
Originally written in German by Friedrich Rückert and published in 1839. The English translation by Martin H. Behm first appeared in Lutheran hymnals in the early twentieth century.
Hymnal Appearances
- Christian Worship — 39
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 349
- Lutheran Worship — 46
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 104
Translation
Bulletin Note
Friedrich Rückert's 1839 hymn captures Lutheran Incarnational theology in elegant Long Meter, sung to the sturdy tune GELOBET SEIST DU. Its power lies in confessing Christ's full humanity and divinity as the paradoxical source of our redemption.
Preaching Connection
This hymn's kenotic Christology—Christ's voluntary self-emptying in Philippians 2—transforms Law into Gospel by showing that God's justice and mercy meet in the Cross, where the eternal Son bears what we cannot bear.
Background Research
Luther's 'Christum wir sollen loben schon' (Erfurt Enchiridion, 1524), his German of the Christmas half of Sedulius's 5th-century abecedary 'A solis ortus cardine'. See TLH 131 (r1639) for the poem's history: 23 alphabetical stanzas on Christ's life, split into Christmas and Epiphany office hymns. Luther kept the chant melody (Zahn 297a–b; variant 297c in 1535), so Lutheran congregations sang a 5th-century hymn on its ancient tune. Theme: the virgin birth, the Creator taking a servant's form (Phil 2:7), the shepherds and the manger, then a Trinitarian doxology. Bach: chorale cantata BWV 121 (St Stephen's Day 1724), Orgelbüchlein BWV 611, and from memory BWV 696. The same tune carries John Ellerton's 'From east to west, from shore to shore'. Massie's English (1854), altered.
Sources: Wikipedia 'Christum wir sollen loben schon'.
In the Church Year
Suggested in the one-year series
- Easter 2 (1×)
- Holy Monday (1×)
- Visitation (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
Luther's German version (1524) of the Christmas portion of 'A solis ortus cardine,' an alphabetical Latin hymn by the 5th-century poet Sedulius, in Richard Massie's translation. It praises Christ, the Virgin's Son, from sunrise to the ends of the earth (st. 1); the Creator who took a servant's form to save his creatures (st. 2); the virgin's conception by God's power (st. 3) and John's leap in the womb (st. 4); the Lord of all fed with milk while he feeds the ravens (st. 5); angels proclaiming to shepherds the Shepherd who made the world (st. 6); and ends with the Trinitarian doxology (st. 7). Its paradoxes are the heart of Lutheran Christmas Christology.
Central theme: The Creator born of the Virgin as a servant, in poverty, to save his creatures — the paradoxes of the incarnation
Structure
Seven long-meter quatrains. Universal praise (1) — Creator as servant (2) — conception (3) — John's leap (4) — manger paradox (5) — Shepherd to shepherds (6) — doxology (7).
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel: 'save His creatures from their sin' (2). Christmas paradox throughout.
Confessional Connections
The communication of attributes in poetry: the Maker of all takes a servant's form (st. 2); 'With milk was fed the Lord of all, who feeds the ravens when they call' (st. 5) — the one infant is both nursed and the Provider of all creatures (FC VIII.9-12; SD VIII.24, Mary truly Theotokos). 'That He as man mankind might win' — he became man to save man (Nicene Creed; AC III). The doxology confesses the Trinity (AC I).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Christmas Day; Christmas season.
Historical Notes
Sedulius (fl. 5th century) wrote 'A solis ortus cardine' as a 23-stanza abecedary on the life of Christ; Luther rendered the first seven stanzas (the nativity portion) in 1524. Massie translated Luther's hymns in 1854.
About the Tune
CHRISTUM WIR SOLLEN LOBEN SCHON (plainsong, adapted; Enchiridion, Erfurt, 1524).
Scripture References
Phil 2:6-7 Ps 113:3 Mal 1:11 John 1:3 Col 1:16 Luke 1:35 Isa 7:14 Luke 1:26-38 Luke 1:41-44 Luke 2:7 Ps 147:9 Luke 12:24 Luke 2:8-14 John 10:11
Stanza by Stanza
Now let us praise Christ the Holy One, the blessed Virgin Mary's Son, as far as the glorious sun shines, even to the world's most distant edge.
The Latin opening 'A solis ortus cardine' — 'from the rising of the sun' (Ps 113:3; Mal 1:11). The praise is universal.
- Scripture
- Ps 113:3, Mal 1:11, Luke 1:31-35
- Imagery & language
- Holy One; Virgin's Son; world's confine.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — universal praise.
- Connection to previous
- Praise.
He who made all things himself consented to take a servant's form, so that as man he might win mankind and save his creatures from their sin.
Phil 2:6-7 (TLH's text). 'All things were made through him' (John 1:3; Col 1:16). The Creator becomes a creature to save creatures — 'as man… mankind might win.'
- Scripture
- Phil 2:6-7, John 1:3, Col 1:16, Matt 1:21
- Imagery & language
- Maker; servant's form; save His creatures.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — Creator as Savior.
- Connection to previous
- Creator as servant.
The grace and power of God the Lord were poured out on the mother; a pure and undefiled virgin wonderfully conceived a child.
'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you' (Luke 1:35). Isa 7:14.
- Scripture
- Luke 1:35, Isa 7:14
- Imagery & language
- Grace and power; virgin conception.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — God's wonderful work.
- Connection to previous
- Conception.
The noble mother bore a Son — as Gabriel had promised — whom John confessed, leaping for joy, before his own mother knew her boy.
Gabriel's promise (Luke 1:31). John leaps in Elizabeth's womb (Luke 1:41-44) — the first to 'confess' Christ. A favorite patristic detail Luther kept.
- Scripture
- Luke 1:26-38, Luke 1:41-44
- Imagery & language
- Gabriel's promise; John's leap.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — promise fulfilled.
- Connection to previous
- John's leap.
He lay content in poverty on a manger full of hay; the Lord of all, who feeds the ravens when they call, was fed with milk.
The paradox of the incarnation: the infant nursed by Mary is the God who 'gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry' (Ps 147:9; Luke 12:24). The communication of attributes (FC VIII).
- Scripture
- Luke 2:7, Ps 147:9, Luke 12:24
- Imagery & language
- Hay; milk; ravens fed.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the paradox of the God-man.
- Connection to previous
- Manger paradox.
The heavenly choirs rejoice and raise their voices to God in songs of praise. To humble shepherds is proclaimed the Shepherd who made the world.
Luke 2:8-14. Shepherds told of the Shepherd (John 10:11) — the Creator (John 1:3).
- Scripture
- Luke 2:8-14, John 10:11, John 1:3
- Imagery & language
- Heavenly choirs; shepherds and the Shepherd.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — announcement.
- Connection to previous
- The Shepherd.
Let all honor be paid to Christ, pure offspring of the favored maiden, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, until time is lost in endless time.
Trinitarian doxology (AC I). 'Favored' — 'Greetings, O favored one' (Luke 1:28).
- Scripture
- Luke 1:28, 2 Cor 13:14, Rev 5:13
- Imagery & language
- Doxology.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — praise.
- Connection to previous
- Doxology.
Themes
Incarnation Christology Humiliation of Christ Divine nature Redemption