Spread Oh Spread Almighty Word
Spread, oh, spread, Almighty Word
The hymn reflects Lutheran commitment to the proclamation of the Gospel as central to Christian mission and the life of the Church. It affirms the transformative power of God's Word and the Christian's responsibility to share faith boldly.
History & Background
Written by Jonathan Friedrich Bahnmaier, a German Reformed minister and hymnodist, the hymn was published in 1827 and emphasizes the power and necessity of spreading the Gospel. Kate Utility Wilkinson translated this German text into English in 1883, making it accessible to English-speaking Lutheran congregations.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 663
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 379
- Lutheran Service Book — 830
- Lutheran Worship — 321
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 507
Translation
Bulletin Note
Written by Jonathan Friedrich Bahnmaier in 1827, this hymn captures the missionary zeal of 19th-century Lutheran pietism while grounding confidence in God's Word rather than human effort—a distinctly Lutheran vision of mission.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the Lutheran insistence that the Gospel's power lies not in human persuasion but in God's Word itself—a trust that should anchor our preaching and witness against fear of the world's opposition.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law to Gospel: from the demand of belief and baptism, through Christ's redemptive work and Spirit-empowered perseverance, to doxological assurance of eternal inheritance
Themes
Gospel proclamation Missionary zeal Word of God Evangelism Divine power