Nicolai Ludwig von Zinzendorf
1700–1760 · Germany · Baroque
Nicolai Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700-1760) was an 18th-century German religious reformer and bishop of the renewed Moravian Church, establishing the influential Herrnhut community as a center of Protestant pietism and spiritual renewal. A prolific hymn writer, Zinzendorf composed over 2,000 hymns that blended deep theological reflection with emotional immediacy, emphasizing personal faith and the centrality of Christ's redemptive work. His hymns, written in German and other languages, became foundational to Moravian worship and influenced broader Protestant hymnody throughout Europe and North America. Zinzendorf's poetic legacy reflects the Moravian tradition of uniting doctrine with devotion, making complex theological concepts accessible to congregational singers. His work secured the Moravian Church's distinctive musical and liturgical identity, establishing it as a major contributor to Christian hymnody during the Enlightenment era.
Hymn Texts (14)
- Jesus Still Lead On
- Lord Jesus Christ Will You not Stay
- My Maker Be With Me
- One Thing's Needful Lord This Treasure
- All Depends on Our Possessing
- Jesus Lead Us On
- Jesus, Lead Thou On
- Jesus, Once with Sinners Numbered
- Why do We Mourn Departing Friends
- I See Thee Standing Lamb of God
- All that I Was My Sin My Guilt
- Jesus Your Blood and Righteousness
- Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness
- Jesus, Your Blood and Righteousness