Oh Come All Ye Faithful
Oh come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant
This hymn proclaims the joy of the Incarnation and invites all believers to witness and worship the Christ Child, emphasizing the universal invitation to salvation through Christ's birth. Its theological emphasis on joyful pilgrimage and faithful adoration reflects the Lutheran understanding of grace drawing believers to Christ in worship.
History & Background
Originally composed in Latin as 'Adeste Fideles' by John Francis Wade around 1751, this hymn was first published in a manuscript hymnal. Frederick Oakeley's English translation appeared in 1841 and became the standard version in English-speaking churches.
Scripture References In this well-known and loved Christmas hymn, we are invited as st. 1 = Luke 2:4-7 God’s faithful people to go to Bethlehem and adore Christ the Lord (st. 1). We sing words borrowed from the Nicene Creed to st. 3 = Luke 2:13-14 st. 4= John 1:14 express the Christian faith about the incarnation (st. 2). Then after exhorting the angels to sing their praise (st. 3), we greet Christ on his birthday (st. 4). The text has two unusual features for such a popular hymn: it is unrhymed and has an irregular meter. John Francis Wade (b. England, c. 1711; d. Douay, France, 1786) is now generally recognized as both author and composer of this hymn, originally written in Latin in four stanzas. The earliest manuscript signed by Wade is dated about 1743. By the early nineteenth century, however, four additional stanzas had been added by other writers. A Roman Catholic, Wade apparently moved to France because of discrimination against Roman Catholics in eighteenth-century England—especially so after the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745. He taught music at an English college in Douay and hand copied and sold chant music for use in the chapels of wealthy families. Wade’s copied manuscripts were published as Cantus Diversi pro Dominicis etFestis per annum (1751). The translation in the Psalter Hymnal is based primarily on the work of Frederick Oakeley (b. Shrewsbury, Worcester, England, 1802; d. Islington, London, England, 1880), who translated the text for use at the Margaret Street Chapel (now All Saints’, Margaret Street) in London (1841). It is also based on translations found in both F. H. Murray’s A Hymnalfor Use in the English Church (1852) and William Mercer’s Church Psalter and Hymn Book (1854). Educated at Christ Church, Oxford, England, Oakeley was ordained in the Church of England in 1826. He served at Balliol College, Lichfield Cathedral, Whitehall, and Margaret Street Chapel in London. Influenced by the Oxford Movement, Oakeley and Richard Redhead , organist of Margaret Chapel, instituted “high” liturgies there, eliciting the charge of “Romanism.” Oakeley also asserted in a pamphlet that even though he would not “teach,” he certainly should be allowed to “hold” all Roman Catholic doctrines. These views caused him to be suspended from his office. Rather than retract his statement, he joined the Roman Catholic Church in 1845 and associat ed himself with John Henry Newman. Following his reordination in the Roman Catholic Church, Oakeley worked among
Hymnal Appearances
- Baptist Hymnal — 86
- Chalice Hymnal — 148
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 283
- Glory to God — 133
- The Hymnal 1982 — 83
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 45
- Lutheran Service Book — 379
- Lift Up Your Hearts — 76
- Lutheran Worship — 41
- New Century Hymnal — 135
- Psalter Hymnal — 340
- Trinity Hymnal — 208
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 102
- United Methodist Hymnal — 234
- Voices Together — 267
Translation
Liturgical Use
Christmas Day; a “must” hymn for a Christmas festival of lessons and carols (especially in more elaborate performances involving choir and instruments).
Bulletin Note
Composed by John Francis Wade in 1751, this hymn's Latin origins and enduring melody unite Christians across centuries in the ancient cry: "O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord."
Preaching Connection
This hymn transforms the Law's demand for faithfulness into the Gospel's joyful summons: all are invited not by their worthiness but by grace alone to adore the Incarnate Lord.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Summons to faithful pilgrimage (Law) → Christological affirmation of Incarnation (Gospel) → Heavenly witness and worship (Gospel) → Personal greeting and submission (Gospel response)
Themes
Incarnation Nativity of Christ Joy in salvation Worship and adoration Pilgrimage of faith