O How Shall I Receive Thee
O how shall I receive thee
This hymn exemplifies Lutheran Advent piety, combining eschatological longing with personal appropriation of Christ's coming. It reflects the Lutheran emphasis on personal faith-response to Christ's incarnation and the role of preparation through penitence and joy.
History & Background
Martin Behm composed this hymn in German as 'O wie soll ich dich empfangen' around 1610, making it one of the most beloved Advent hymns of the Lutheran tradition. Catherine Winkworth translated it into English in 1863, and it has remained a staple of Lutheran hymnals since the nineteenth century.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 261
- Glory to God — 92
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 92
- Lutheran Service Book — 334
- Lift Up Your Hearts — 61
- Lutheran Worship — 37
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 90
- Voices Together — 178
Translation
Bulletin Note
Martin Behm (1557–1622), German Lutheran pastor, composed this hymn during the turbulent Thirty Years' War. Its meditation on preparing the heart for Christ became a touchstone of Lutheran Advent piety and spiritual preparation.
Preaching Connection
This hymn crystallizes the Advent movement from Law to Gospel: the sinner's anguished question about unworthiness gives way to the joyful certainty that faith itself—not moral achievement—is the only preparation Christ requires.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Proclamation of Christ's resurrection → Historical redemptive work → Congregational response in praise → Cosmic significance of salvation
Themes
Advent expectation Christological joy Preparation for Christ Personal devotion Incarnation