You Are God; We Praise You
You are God; we praise you
This hymn embodies Lutheran theology of God's transcendence and the Church's apostolic continuity with early Christian worship. It expresses the sufficiency of Christ's redemption and the Church's response of joyful adoration grounded in the Reformation's recovery of patristic theology.
History & Background
This is the opening section of the ancient Latin hymn Te Deum laudamus, traditionally attributed to Nicetas of Remesiana, a 4th-century bishop. Carl Dotson's 1974 English translation modernized the language while maintaining the dignity and liturgical function of this patristic text for Lutheran worship.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 785
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 3
- Lutheran Service Book — 939
- Lutheran Worship — 269
Translation
Bulletin Note
Attributed to Nicetas of Remesiana (late 4th century), this hymn's patristic theology was recovered by the Reformation. Set to the majestic tune TE DEUM, it expresses Lutheran confidence in God's grace and the Church's apostolic continuity.
Preaching Connection
This hymn's proclamation of God's transcendent majesty and Christ's redemptive sufficiency provides a powerful liturgical response to the Gospel's declaration that sinners are justified by grace through faith, not works.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- Of Justification Augsburg Confession
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Ascriptive praise of the Triune God → Universal cosmic worship → Trinitarian confession → Christological judgment and mercy petition
Themes
Trinity Praise and worship Church universal Divine glory Eternal God