We Walk by Faith and Not By Sight

We Walk by Faith and Not By Sight is a hymn text by Henry Alford (1844) in C.M. meter. Found in CW21 830, CWS 756, ch95 536, elw 635. Sung to MARYTON.

The hymn embodies Lutheran confidence in God's promises despite human uncertainty, emphasizing that faith itself constitutes genuine sight in the spiritual realm. It reflects the Reformation conviction that believers rest on God's Word and promises rather than empirical experience or works.

History & Background

Henry Alford wrote this hymn in 1844 as part of his biblical commentary work, drawing from 2 Corinthians 5:7. It was first published in his collection 'Poetic Interpretations and Other Pieces' and has since become a standard hymn in Lutheran and ecumenical worship.

Hymnal Appearances

• Christian Worship: Hymnal — 830
• Christian Worship: Supplement — 756
• Chalice Hymnal — 536
• Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 635
• Gather 4th Edition — 740
• Glory to God — 817
• The Hymnal 1982 — 209
• Lutheran Service Book — 720
• Lift Up Your Hearts — 859
• New Century Hymnal — 256
• Voices Together — 570
• With One Voice — 675

Bulletin Note

Written by Henry Alford, an English clergyman and biblical scholar, in 1844. This hymn exemplifies nineteenth-century Protestant confidence in God's promises over human perception, anchoring faith in revelation rather than experience.

Preaching Connection

This hymn embodies the Reformation conviction that believers are justified by faith alone in God's Word, not by empirical sight or works; it becomes a congregational echo of the Gospel's claim that we are hidden in Christ, yet fully known and beloved.

Stanza Arc

The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Christological foundation (stanzas 1-2) moving to eschatological hope (stanzas 3-4): Christ as Creator-Redeemer in present experience, Christ as Judge and Glorifier in future consummation

Background Research

LSB 720 (Hymn of the Day for St. Thomas, Dec 21). Henry Alford (1810–1871), son of an Anglican rector, priest and scholar, best known for his four-volume Greek New Testament, the fruit of some twenty years' work and a standard resource for most of the 19th century. The hymn retells Thomas's story as ours: faith resting on the Word (st. 1), Jesus' words to Thomas (st. 2, John 20:27–29), the 'verbal' Word (st. 3) and the 'visible' Word (st. 4), ending with sight in glory (st. 5; 1 Cor 13:12; 2 Tim 4:7–8). Date of the hymn not given in the study.

Sources: LCMS Worship, The Word in Song: Hymn of the Day Studies (Christopher I. Thoma).

In the Church Year

Hymn of the Day (Lutheran Service Book) for: St. Thomas

Suggested in the one-year series

• St. Thomas (1×)

Suggested in the three-year series

• Easter 2 (5×)
• Easter 3 (2×)
• Proper 15 (2×)
• Proper 25 (1×)

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

Overview

The Hymn of the Day for St. Thomas, Apostle, which makes Thomas's story ours. Like him, we do not see the risen Christ or touch his wounds; unlike him, we have not heard his voice in the flesh. Yet we are not worse off, because Jesus promised a blessing to those who have not seen and yet believe. The hymn locates the risen Lord where he has promised to be found, in his Word and Sacraments ('beneath the water and the Word, beneath the bread and wine'), and ends with the sight that faith awaits in glory.

Central theme: Faith receives the risen Christ where he has promised to be, in Word and Sacrament, until faith becomes sight

Structure

Five stanzas of Common Metre. St. 1 states the condition of faith; st. 2 retells Thomas and gives us his confession; st. 3 prays against unbelief and for faith to seek Christ where he is found; st. 4 names those places, the means of grace; st. 5 looks to full sight in glory. The LCMS study describes the movement as faith resting on the Word, the 'verbal' Word, the 'visible' Word, and sight.

Law & Gospel Shape

The Law is gentle but real: 'our unbelief', the temptation to seek Christ where he has not promised to be. The Gospel is his nearness, his promise, and his presence in the means of grace, and the final sight.

Confessional Connections

A clear confession of the means of grace: the risen Lord is 'found in means divine' (AC V: through Word and Sacraments as through means the Holy Spirit is given). This rejects both enthusiasm (seeking Christ in inward experience apart from the Word) and doubt that he is present at all. 'Beneath the bread and wine' confesses the real presence in sacramental union (FC SD VII: in, with and under). 'Help then, O Lord, our unbelief' is the prayer of Mark 9:24 and acknowledges that faith itself is God's gift (AC XVIII; SC II.3).

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

St. Thomas, Apostle (21 December, Hymn of the Day); Easter 2 (John 20:19-31); Baptism and Holy Communion; funerals (st. 5).

Historical Notes

Henry Alford, Anglican priest and scholar, best known for his four-volume Greek New Testament (LCMS study, Christopher I. Thoma). Hymnary lists the LSB form as '© 1984, 2006 GIA Publications', so the text as sung in LSB is a later revision of Alford's hymn.

About the Tune

LSB sets it to SHANTI, a Common Metre tune.

Scripture References

2 Cor 5:7 John 20:24-29 John 7:46 Mark 9:24 Isa 55:6 Rom 10:6-8 Matt 28:19-20 1 Cor 11:23-26 Rom 6:3-4 1 Cor 13:12 1 John 3:2 Heb 11:1 1 Pet 1:8

Stanza by Stanza

Themes

faith and trust Christian pilgrimage reliance on God's promises vision of eternity walking with Christ

Look Further

• Search Hymnary.org for "We Walk by Faith and Not By Sight" ↗
• Search IMSLP for public-domain scores of "MARYTON" ↗