Our Father Who Are in Heaven—I
Our Father who art in heaven
This hymn embodies Luther's understanding of the Lord's Prayer as the Christian's fundamental prayer containing all necessary petitions and expressing complete dependence on God's provision and grace. It reflects Lutheran catechetical emphasis on prayer as essential Christian practice rooted in God's revealed word.
History & Background
Luther wrote this hymnic paraphrase of the Lord's Prayer as catechetical instruction, publishing it in the Large Catechism (1529) and later including it in hymnals. It expands each petition of the Prayer into a full stanza for pedagogical and devotional purposes.
Hymnal Appearances
- Lutheran Service Book — 957
Translation
Bulletin Note
Luther (1539) composed this hymn to embed catechetical instruction in congregational song, making the Lord's Prayer itself a sung confession of faith and a school of prayer for all ages.
Preaching Connection
This hymn teaches the Law's true work—exposing our helplessness and hunger—before it opens us to the Gospel's promise: God the Father answers every petition of His children with the generosity of grace.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- The Fourth Commandment Small Catechism — Ten Commandments
- The Fourth Petition Small Catechism — The Lord's Prayer
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law to Gospel: from human dependence and sinfulness through petition for daily provision and forgiveness, to confident trust in God's fatherly care and doxological affirmation of the Trinity
Themes
The Lord's Prayer Christian prayer God's fatherhood Petition and intercession Catechetical instruction