Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle
Sing, my tongue, the Savior's glory
The hymn celebrates Christ's redemptive work on the Cross as the ultimate victory over sin, death, and the devil, making it central to Lutheran understanding of substitutionary atonement. Its meditation on the 'glorious battle' transforms suffering into triumph, reflecting Lutheran theology of the Passion as cosmic conquest.
History & Background
Written by sixth-century Latin poet Venantius Fortunatus for the feast of the Cross, this hymn represents one of Christianity's most important medieval Latin texts. It appears in numerous hymnals and has been translated into English multiple times, with Marchmont's translation being widely adopted in Lutheran hymnody.
Hymnal Appearances
- Chalice Hymnal — 208
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 355
- Glory to God — 225
- The Hymnal 1982 — 165
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 118
- Lutheran Service Book — 454
- Lutheran Worship — 117
- New Century Hymnal — 222
Translation
Bulletin Note
Written by Venantius Fortunatus (c. 530–609), a Roman poet and bishop, this sixth-century masterpiece shaped medieval Holy Week devotion. Its meditation on the cross as victorious 'battle' reflects patristic theology central to Lutheran soteriology.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the heart of Lutheran theology: the law reveals our bondage to death, but the Gospel announces Christ's 'glorious battle' on the cross as the sole source of our justification and resurrection hope.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- Of Justification Augsburg Confession
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Incarnational mystery → Eucharistic presence → Trinitarian doxology; from Christ's redemptive flesh to sacramental encounter to eternal praise
Themes
Passion of Christ Redemption through the Cross Triumph over sin and death Incarnation Atonement