Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing
Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing is a hymn text by Charles Wesley (1739) in C.M. meter. Found in bh08 58, ch95 5, elw 886, gtg 610. Sung to AZMON.
This hymn exemplifies Methodist emphasis on personal conversion experience and the assurance of salvation through Christ's redemptive work, themes well-received in Lutheran tradition. Its focus on Christ's power to transform and redeem aligns with Lutheran soteriology and the Gospel's transformative power.
History & Background
Written by Charles Wesley in 1739, originally titled 'For the Anniversary Day of One's Conversion' and containing 18 stanzas, this hymn became Wesley's personal testimony of his own conversion experience. It has been adapted for congregational use, typically appearing in hymnals with 3-5 selected stanzas, and remains one of the most beloved Methodist and evangelical hymns.
In 1739, for the first anniversary of his conversion, Charles Scripture References Wesley wrote an eighteen-stanza text beginning st. 1-2 = Ps. 145:10-12 “Glory to God, and praise and love.” It was published in Hymns st. 2 = Luke 4:18-19 and Sacred Poems (1740), a hymnal compiled by Wesley and his Isa. 61:1-2 brother John. The familiar hymn “Oh, for a Thousand st. 3 = Acts 3:16 Tongues” comes from stanzas 1 and 7-12 of this longer text Rom. 5:1 (this pattern already occurs in Richard Conyers’s Collection of st. 4 = Col. 2:14 Psalms and Hymns, 1772). Stanza 7 is the doxology stanza that st. 5 = Heb. 2:4 began the original hymn. Wesley acquired the title phrase of st. 6 = Matt. 11:5 this text from Peter Bohler, a Moravian, who said to Wesley, “If Isa. 35:6 I had a thousand tongues, I would praise Christ with them all” Acts 3:8 (Bohler was actually quoting from Johann Mentzner’s German st. 7 = Rev. 5:13 hymn “O dass ich tausend Zungen hatte”). Through this jubilant, partly autobiographical text Wesley exalts his Redeemer and Lord. With its many biblical allusions it has become a great favorite of many Christians.
Hymnal Appearances
- Baptist Hymnal — 58
- Chalice Hymnal — 5
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 886
- Glory to God — 610
- The Hymnal 1982 — 493
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 559
- Lutheran Service Book — 528
- Lift Up Your Hearts — 168
- Lutheran Worship — 276
- New Century Hymnal — 42
- Psalter Hymnal — 501
- Trinity Hymnal — 164
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 360
- United Methodist Hymnal — 57
- Voices Together — 879
- With One Voice — 651
Liturgical Use
Many types of services; profession of faith; baptism; other times of renewal; Pentecost.
Bulletin Note
Charles Wesley's 1739 hymn celebrates the Methodist conviction that Christ's name transforms the human heart. Sung by Lutherans and countless traditions, it remains a testament to the Gospel's power to unite all believers in praise.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the Law-Gospel movement perfectly: our human longing and limitation give way to the boundless sufficiency of Christ's redemptive name, inviting congregations to rest in grace rather than strive in their own strength.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- The Second Article (Concerning Redemption) Small Catechism — The Apostles' Creed
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law to Gospel: human inability to praise adequately (stanzas 1-2) → Christ's redemptive power transforming sinners (stanzas 3-5) → Trinitarian doxology (stanza 6)
Overview
Written for the first anniversary of Wesley's evangelical conversion (May 21, 1738). The original had 18 stanzas; the familiar opening was its seventh. TLH's cento is unusually strong on justification: it praises the Redeemer (st. 1), asks help to proclaim his name (st. 2), celebrates the name of Jesus (st. 3), the power of his blood (st. 4), and then states the Gospel outright — 'Look and be saved through faith alone, / Be justified by grace' (st. 5) — and universal atonement (st. 6), before a doxology (st. 7).
Central theme: Praise and proclamation of the Redeemer whose blood cleanses and who justifies by grace through faith alone
Structure
Praise (1); mission (2); the name (3); the blood (4); invitation to the nations (5); universal atonement (6); doxology (7).
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel throughout; 'fallen race' and 'foulest' sinners named as recipients of grace.
Confessional Connections
Justification by grace through faith alone (AC IV; 'faith alone' is explicit in st. 5). Universal atonement (st. 6, against limited atonement). The communion of saints (st. 7).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Reformation; opening hymn; anniversaries; missions; confirmation.
Historical Notes
Published 1740 in 'Hymns and Sacred Poems.' Wesley's opening line reportedly echoes a remark by the Moravian Peter Böhler: 'Had I a thousand tongues, I would praise Christ with them all.'
About the Tune
BEATITUDO (John B. Dykes, 1875) in TLH; AZMON (Carl G. Gläser, arr. Lowell Mason, 1839) in ELW.
Scripture References
Ps 35:28 Acts 4:12 Phil 2:9-11 Rom 6:6-14 Isa 61:1 1 John 1:7 Isa 45:22 Rom 3:24-28 Isa 53:6, 10 1 John 2:2
Stanza by Stanza
If only I had a thousand tongues to praise my great Redeemer, the glories of my God and King, and the triumphs of his grace!
A wish for more voices than one can have — praise exceeds capacity (Ps 35:28; 145:21). Christ is named 'Redeemer' (his work), 'God and King' (his person and rule). 'The triumphs of His grace' — grace is victorious; it conquers sin and the sinner's resistance (Rom 5:20-21). The hymn opens with the personal 'my,' rooted in Wesley's own experience of assurance.
- Scripture
- Ps 35:28, Ps 145:21, Rom 5:20-21, Job 19:25
- Imagery & language
- Thousand tongues; triumphs.
- Law / Gospel
- Doxology.
- Connection to previous
- Opening wish.
My gracious Master and God, help me proclaim and spread your name's honor throughout the earth.
Praise becomes mission: proclaiming his name to all the earth (Ps 96:3; Mark 16:15). 'Master and… God' (John 20:28). 'Assist me' — even proclamation depends on God's help (Acts 4:29-31).
- Scripture
- Ps 96:3, Mark 16:15, John 20:28, Acts 4:29-31
- Imagery & language
- Spreading abroad; honors of the name.
- Law / Gospel
- Prayer for mission.
- Connection to previous
- From praise to proclamation.
The name of Jesus calms our fears, ends our sorrows, is music to sinners, and brings life, health, and peace.
The name 'Jesus' means 'the LORD saves' (Matt 1:21). Its sound comforts because of its meaning. 'Music in the sinner's ears' — the Gospel is good news specifically for sinners (Luke 5:32). 'Life and health and peace' — salvation in its fullness (Acts 4:12; Rom 5:1).
- Scripture
- Matt 1:21, Acts 4:12, Luke 5:32, Rom 5:1, Prov 18:10
- Imagery & language
- Charm; music; life and health.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the saving name.
- Connection to previous
- The name.
He breaks the power of sin already forgiven, frees the prisoner; his blood can make the worst sinner clean, and his blood avails for me.
A remarkably precise line: 'canceled sin' — sin's guilt already forgiven (Col 2:14) — still has 'power' in the believer's life, and Christ breaks that power (Rom 6:6-14). Justification and sanctification are distinguished and joined. 'He sets the prisoner free' (Isa 61:1; Luke 4:18). 'His blood can make the foulest clean' (1 John 1:7; Isa 1:18). The final line, 'His blood avails for me,' is the pro me of faith — Luther's 'for you.'
- Scripture
- Col 2:13-14, Rom 6:6-14, Isa 61:1, Luke 4:18, 1 John 1:7, Isa 1:18
- Imagery & language
- Broken power; prisoner freed; blood.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — forgiveness and liberation.
- Connection to previous
- The blood.
Nations, look to him; fallen humanity, acknowledge your God; look and be saved through faith alone and be justified by grace.
Isa 45:22 ('Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth!'). 'Look' is the posture of faith — like the Israelites looking at the bronze serpent (Num 21:8-9; John 3:14-15). 'Through faith alone… justified by grace' states the Reformation doctrine almost verbatim (Rom 3:24, 28; Eph 2:8-9; AC IV). It is rare to find 'faith alone' so explicit in an English hymn.
- Scripture
- Isa 45:22, Num 21:8-9, John 3:14-15, Rom 3:24-28, Eph 2:8-9
- Imagery & language
- Looking; fallen race.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — justification by faith alone.
- Connection to previous
- Invitation to the nations.
See all your sins laid on Jesus; the Lamb of God was slain; his soul was offered once for every human soul.
Isa 53:6 ('the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all') and 53:10 (his soul an offering for sin). 'The Lamb of God was slain' (John 1:29; Rev 5:6). 'For every soul of man' — universal atonement (1 John 2:2; 2 Cor 5:14-15), which Lutherans confess against the Calvinist doctrine of limited atonement (FC XI). Wesley, an Arminian, and Lutherans agree here.
- Scripture
- Isa 53:6, 10, John 1:29, Rev 5:6, 1 John 2:2, 2 Cor 5:14-15, 1 Tim 2:6
- Imagery & language
- Sins laid on; slain Lamb; offering.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — universal atonement.
- Connection to previous
- Ground of the invitation.
Glory, praise, and love to God forever from saints on earth and in heaven, the church in both.
The original first stanza of Wesley's hymn. 'Saints below and saints above, / The Church in earth and heaven' — one church, militant and triumphant (Heb 12:22-24; Eph 3:15). Praise unites them.
- Scripture
- Heb 12:22-24, Eph 3:15, Rev 5:13
- Imagery & language
- Saints below and above.
- Law / Gospel
- Doxology.
- Connection to previous
- Doxology.
Themes
Praise and adoration Redemption through Christ Proclamation of Gospel Conversion and testimony