Of the Father's Heart Begotten
- Renée Coventry
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
This is my favorite time of year, and I love Christmas hymns and carols. Unlike today, most of the older hymns were used to disciple people in the Christian faith. So, this year, in my countdown to Christmas, we will be looking at several Christmas hymns that address the truth of Christmas – the truth about God. Along with a brief note, there will be the words for your meditation, as well as a link to the song so you may enjoy the beauty of these lyrics.
During the fourth century, Arians propagated the heresy that Christ was not God but a mere man. Athanasius would argue that if Jesus is not God, then our salvation is in jeopardy. The oldest of the hymns was written by the Spanish poet and judge Aurelius Prudentius Clemens to combat this heresy. In this Christmas hymn, Clemens reinforces Christ, who was always with God and is forever with us, in Of the Father’s Heart Begotten. Notice the emphasis on Jesus as the Source of Life, His status as over every principality and power, His eventual return to judge the living and the dead, and the concluding verse which praises all three persons of the Trinity.
In a world that is focused on feelings, this song portrays the glorious truth of the One who loved us enough to become one of us that we might be reconciled to Him. This holy season, let us, with Peter declare His identity to the world around us.
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Matt. 16:16 NASB95
Of the Father’s Heart Begotten
Of the Father’s heart begotten ere the world from chaos rose,
He is the Alpha and Omega, He the Source and He the Close
Of whatever is, or has been or the future years disclose, Saeculorum saeculis. (Ages evermore)
At His word was all created; He commanded, it was done:
Earth, and heaven, and depths of ocean, in their threefold order one;
All that grows beneath the shining of the orbs of moon and sun, Saeculorum saeculis.
He assumed this mortal body, frail and feeble, doomed to die,
That the race from dust created might not perish utterly,
Which the dreadful Law had sentenced in the depths of hell to lie.
O that birth, for ever blessed! When the Virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, bore the Saviour of our race,
And the Child, the world’s Redeemer, first revealed His sacred face.
O ye heights of heaven, adore Him! Angel-hosts, His praises sing!
Powers dominions, bow before Him, and extol your God and King!
Let no tongue today be silent, every voice in concert ring.
This is He whom once the sibyls with united voice foretold,
His the birth that faithful prophets in their pages did unfold;
Let the world unite to praise him, long-desired, foreseen of old.
Hail, thou Judge of souls departed! Hail, thou King of them that thrive!
On the Father’s throne exalted non in might with thee may strive,
Who at last, to judge returning, sinners from Thy face shall drive.
O ye elders, lead the anthems: laud your God in ancient lays!
Youths and maidens, hymn His glory! Infants, bring your songs of praise!
Guileless voices, in sweet concord unto all the length of days,
Let the storm and summer sunshine, gliding stream and sounding shore,
Sea and forest, frost and zephyr, night and day their Lord adore;
All Creation joined to praise Thee through the ages evermore,
Christ, to Thee, with God the Father, And O Holy Ghost, to Thee,
High thanksgiving, endless praises, and eternal glory be;
Honour, power, and all dominion, and eternal victory.
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