What Is the World to Me
What is the world to me
What Is the World to Me is a hymn text by Martin Behm (1602) in 8.8.8.8.8.8 meter. Translated by Matthias Loy. Found in CW21 717, CW93 477, ELH 446, elw 738.
The hymn articulates the Lutheran distinction between the two kingdoms by affirming that earthly possessions and status are ultimately insignificant compared to Christ. It demonstrates how Christian faith reorients values toward eternal rather than temporal concerns, reflecting the sanctification emphasis of Lutheran theology.
History & Background
Martin Behm composed this hymn in German as 'Was ist mir die Welt zu gut' in 1602 during the early German Baroque period. Matthias Loy translated it into English in 1880, and it has remained a standard Lutheran hymn emphasizing spiritual detachment from worldly concerns.
Hymnal Appearances
- Christian Worship: Hymnal — 717
- Christian Worship — 477
- Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 446
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 738
- Lutheran Service Book — 730
- Lutheran Worship — 418
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 430
Translation
Bulletin Note
Martin Behm's 'What Is the World to Me' (1602) crystallizes Lutheran theology: earthly rank and riches fade, but Christ endures as the Christian's supreme inheritance and satisfaction.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the Lutheran two kingdoms doctrine by exposing the Law's judgment on worldly attachment while proclaiming the Gospel's singular answer: Christ as the Christian's true and lasting treasure.
In the Church Year
Hymn of the Day (Lutheran Service Book) for: Trinity 9; St. Matthew
Suggested in the one-year series
- Trinity 9 (7×)
- St. Matthew (1×)
- Trinity 23 (2×)
- Trinity 15 (1×)
- Trinity 5 (1×)
Suggested in the three-year series
- St. Matthew (1×)
- Proper 21 (2×)
- Epiphany 3 (1×)
- Proper 20 (1×)
- Proper 24 (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
Georg Michael Pfefferkorn, a Thuringian pastor and teacher, wrote this on 1 John 2:15-17. Each stanza ends 'What is the world to me!' It contrasts the world's pleasures with Christ the Treasure (st. 1); the world's transience with Christ the abiding Rock (st. 2); its hunger for praise (st. 3), wealth (st. 4) and honor (st. 5) with Christ as true praise, wealth and honor; its sinful pleasures (st. 6); its passing (st. 7); and ends with a litany of Christ's names (st. 8). It is a sustained meditation on Christian detachment, grounded in what Christ is, not in contempt for creation.
Central theme: Christ as the believer's true treasure, beside whom the passing world's pleasures, wealth and honor are nothing
Structure
Eight eight-line stanzas (6.7.6.7.6.6.6.6), each ending 'What is the world to me!' Christ the Treasure (1) — transience (2, 7) — praise (3) — wealth (4) — honor and reproach (5) — pleasures (6) — litany (8).
Law & Gospel Shape
Law: the world's vanity, greed and pride; its inability to banish death (2-7). Gospel: Christ abides, he is Treasure, Rock, Wealth, Honor (1-8).
Confessional Connections
The First Commandment: what the heart clings to is its god (LC I). Not contempt for creation — which is God's good gift (First Article) — but refusal to make it an idol. Bearing Christ's reproach (Heb 13:13). Christ as the abiding good.
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
General; Christian life; stewardship (st. 4); funerals; Trinity season.
Historical Notes
Pfefferkorn (1645-1732), pastor in Gräfentonna; published 1667. Crull translated it in 1923.
About the Tune
WAS FRAG ICH NACH DER WELT (Ahasverus Fritsch, 1679).
Scripture References
1 John 2:15-17 Matt 6:19-21 Matt 13:44 Phil 3:7-8 Jas 4:14 Ps 102:11 Ps 18:2 John 12:43 Isa 40:6-8 Matt 6:24 1 Tim 6:6-10 Heb 11:26 Heb 13:13 Luke 12:20-21 1 Cor 7:31 Col 3:11
Stanza by Stanza
What is the world to me with all its boasted pleasure, when you, Lord Jesus, and you alone are my treasure! You alone, dearest Lord, will be my soul's delight; you are my peace and rest — what is the world to me!
Christ the 'Treasure' (Matt 13:44; Phil 3:8). 'My Peace, my Rest' (Eph 2:14; Matt 11:28). Refrain: 'What is the world to me!' — not contempt for creation but freedom from its claims, because Christ is the treasure. The First Commandment: the heart's treasure is its god (Matt 6:21; LC I).
- Scripture
- Matt 13:44, Phil 3:8, Eph 2:14, Matt 11:28, Matt 6:21
- Imagery & language
- Treasure; delight; refrain.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — Christ the treasure.
- Connection to previous
- Treasure.
The world is like a cloud and a fleeting vapor, a lengthening shadow quickly retreating to its end. My Jesus remains though everything fades and flees; my everlasting Rock — what is the world to me!
Jas 4:14 ('a mist that appears for a little time'); Ps 102:11 ('my days are like an evening shadow'). Against this transience: 'My Jesus doth abide' (Heb 13:8), 'my everlasting Rock' (Ps 18:2; Isa 26:4).
- Scripture
- Jas 4:14, Ps 102:11, Heb 13:8, Isa 26:4, 1 John 2:17
- Imagery & language
- Cloud, vapor, shadow; Rock.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — Christ abides.
- Connection to previous
- Transience.
The world wants to be praised and honored by the mighty, yet never considers that they are frail and fickle. But what I truly prize above all is he — my Jesus, he alone — what is the world to me!
John 12:43: 'they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.' The mighty are 'frail and flighty' (Ps 146:3-4). Christ alone is the true object of esteem.
- Scripture
- John 12:43, Ps 146:3-4, Gal 1:10
- Imagery & language
- Praise of the mighty.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — vanity of human praise; Gospel — Christ prized.
- Connection to previous
- Praise.
The world pursues wealth and all that Mammon offers, yet is never content though gold fill its coffers. I have a higher good and will be content with it: my Jesus is my wealth — what is the world to me!
Mammon (Matt 6:24). Greed is never satisfied (Eccl 5:10). Contentment (1 Tim 6:6-10; Phil 4:11). 'My Jesus is my Wealth' — the riches of 2 Cor 8:9.
- Scripture
- Matt 6:24, Eccl 5:10, 1 Tim 6:6-10, Phil 4:11, 2 Cor 8:9
- Imagery & language
- Mammon; coffers; higher good.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — greed; Gospel — Christ our wealth.
- Connection to previous
- Wealth.
The world is deeply hurt whenever it is slighted or its hollow fame and honor are ruined. Christ, I bear your reproach as long as it pleases you; I am honored by my Lord — what is the world to me!
Heb 11:26: Moses 'considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth.' Heb 13:13: 'Let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.' Honor from Christ (John 12:26) outweighs the world's slights.
- Scripture
- Heb 11:26, Heb 13:13, John 12:26, 1 Pet 4:14
- Imagery & language
- Slight; reproach; honor.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — honored by Christ.
- Connection to previous
- Honor.
The world in its proud wantonness exalts its sinful pleasures and foolishly gives up heavenly treasures for them. Let others love the world with all its vanity; I love the Lord my God — what is the world to me!
Sinful pleasures traded for heavenly treasure (Heb 11:25; Luke 12:20-21). 'Love not the world' (1 John 2:15). 'I love the Lord, my God' — the First Commandment.
- Scripture
- Heb 11:25, Luke 12:20-21, 1 John 2:15-16, Deut 6:5
- Imagery & language
- Pride; pleasures; exchange.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — love of the world; Gospel — love of God.
- Connection to previous
- Pleasures.
The world does not last; it will vanish like a flash; with all its splendid pomp it cannot banish pale death; its riches pass away and its joys must flee; but Jesus remains — what is the world to me!
1 Cor 7:31: 'the present form of this world is passing away.' The world 'cannot banish' death — only Christ can (2 Tim 1:10). 'Jesus doth abide.'
- Scripture
- 1 Cor 7:31, 1 John 2:17, 2 Tim 1:10, Heb 13:8
- Imagery & language
- Flash; death unbanished.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — the world cannot save from death; Gospel — Jesus abides.
- Connection to previous
- Passing.
What is the world to me! My Jesus is my treasure, my life, health, wealth, friend, love, pleasure, joy, crown, my all, my bliss forever. Once more, I declare: what is the world to me!
A litany of Christ's names: Treasure, Life (John 14:6), Health, Wealth, Friend (John 15:15), Love, Pleasure, Joy, Crown, All (Col 3:11), Bliss. The refrain opens and closes the stanza. Everything the world promises falsely, Christ is truly.
- Scripture
- Col 3:11, John 14:6, John 15:15, Ps 16:11, Phil 1:21
- Imagery & language
- Litany of names.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — Christ all in all.
- Connection to previous
- Litany.
Themes
Renunciation of worldly values Christ as treasure Detachment from materialism Christian priorities