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The Advent of Our God

The Advent of our God

The Advent of Our God is a hymn text by Charles Coffin (1736) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Translated by John Chandler. Found in CW21 309, CW93 1, ELH 99, elw 331. Sung to CONDITOR ALME SIDERUM.

The hymn emphasizes the tension between Christ's redemptive first advent and His future coming in judgment, calling believers to vigilant repentance and faithful expectation. Lutheran theology celebrates both the grace of incarnation and the eschatological hope of final resurrection, reflected in this text's balance of penitential urgency and joyful anticipation.

History & Background

Charles Coffin composed this Latin hymn for the Advent season in early 18th-century France as part of the Roman Breviary tradition. John Chandler translated it into English in 1837, and it has remained a standard Advent hymn in Lutheran hymnals since the 19th century.

Hymnal Appearances

  • Christian Worship: Hymnal — 309
  • Christian Worship — 1
  • Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 99
  • Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 331
  • Lutheran Book of Worship — 22
  • Lutheran Service Book — 331
  • Lutheran Worship — 12
  • The Lutheran Hymnal — 68

Translation

John Chandler

Bulletin Note

Charles Coffin's Latin hymn (1736) paired with the haunting medieval tune CONDITOR ALME SIDERUM expresses the Church's ancient two-fold Advent longing: gratitude for the Incarnation and vigilant hope for Christ's return.

Preaching Connection

This hymn holds Law and Gospel in creative tension: the solemn call to repentance before Christ's coming judgment meets the liberating proclamation that redemption is already ours through His incarnation.

Stanza Arc

The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law (human darkness and sin) → Gospel (Christ's redemptive light) → Doxology (Trinitarian glory)

In the Church Year

Suggested in the one-year series

  • Advent 1 (3×)
  • Advent 4 (1×)

Suggested in the three-year series

  • Advent 1 (4×)
  • Advent 2 (2×)

From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.

Themes

Christ's coming Repentance and preparation Resurrection and judgment Christian hope Divine majesty

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