We Know that Christ is Raised
We know that Christ is raised and dies no more
This hymn exemplifies Lutheran sacramental theology by connecting Christ's resurrection directly to believers' baptismal participation in his death and resurrection, making eschatological hope concrete and personal. It articulates the pastoral comfort of justification through faith as the power that breaks sin's dominion over believers.
History & Background
John Brownlow Geyer wrote this hymn in 1982 for the English Hymnal Society, and it was first published in that year. The text quickly gained acceptance in Lutheran hymnals, appearing in the LBW (1982) and later in LSB (2006).
The author, John B. Geyer, writes, Scripture References st. 2 = Rom 6:3-5 ‘We Know That Christ Is Raised” was written in 1967, when I Col. 2:12 was tutor at Cheshunt College, Cambridge, U.K At that time a good deal of work was going on ’round the corner (involving a number of American research students) producing living cells (“the baby in the test tube”). The hymn attempted to illustrate the Christian doctrine of baptism in relation to those experiments. John B. Geyer (b. Wakefield, Yorkshire, England, 1932) is an Old Testament scholar who has written widely in his field. He wrote a commentary on The Wisdom of Solomon (1973) as well as a number of hymns that were first published in various British supple mentary hymnals. Educated at Queen’s College, Cambridge, and Mansfield College, Oxford, he also studied Old Testament under Gerhard von Rad in Heidelberg. In 1959 Geyer was ordained in the Congregational Union of Scotland. He served as a chaplain at the University of St. Andrews, pastor of Drumchapel Congregational Church in Glasgow, Scotland, and a college tutor. In 1969 Geyer became minister in the (now) United Reformed Church in Little Baddow. Since 1980 he has served as pastor at Weoley Hill, Birmingham, and as chaplain at the University of Birmingham, England. The text was first published in the British Methodist supplementary hymnal Hymns and Songs (1969) but has since been altered in various other hymnals, including the Psalter Hymnal. The controlling thought comes from Romans 6:3-5, in which Paul teaches that in baptism we are united with Christ in his resurrection—that is the basis for our new life. Like 269, this song ends each stanza with a note of praise—in this case with an “alleluia” refrain line.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 449
- Glory to God — 485
- The Hymnal 1982 — 296
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 189
- Lutheran Service Book — 603
- Lift Up Your Hearts — 412
- New Century Hymnal — revival
- Psalter Hymnal — 271
- Voices Together — 481
Liturgical Use
Infant or adult baptism; Easter.
Bulletin Note
Composed in 1982 by John Brownlow Geyer, this hymn embodies contemporary Lutheran sacramental theology, connecting resurrection faith directly to baptismal incorporation into Christ's dying and rising.
Preaching Connection
This hymn makes the resurrection proclamation sacramentally concrete: it moves hearers from the Gospel's declaration of Christ's victory into the Gospel's application through baptismal participation, transforming eschatological hope into present comfort.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- The Definition & Command of Baptism Small Catechism — Holy Baptism
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Psalm 23 Christological transformation: establishment of Christ's sovereign care (1-2) → confession of human waywardness and divine retrieval (3) → victory over death through Christ's passion (4) → sacramental communion and eschatological promise (5-6)
Themes
Resurrection of Christ Baptismal identity Liberation from sin Dying and rising with Christ Hope in eternal life