The Worship Quote of the Week for (01/09/2007):

The Earliest Christian Hymn Not including the actual words or paraphrases of Scripture, what do you think is the oldest Christian song or hymn? Today’s WORSHIP QUOTE is thought to be the earliest Christian hymn to survive in its entirety. I came across this while reading a brand new book about the early church's view of music. What an encouragement to imagine Greek-speaking believers in the third century singing these words to our great Savior (who is the same yesterday, today, and forever). JESUS, OUR MIGHTY LORD Jesus, our mighty Lord, our strength in sadness, the Father's conquering Word, true source of gladness; your name we glorify, O Jesus, throned on high; you gave yourself to die for our salvation. Good shepherd of your sheep, your own defending, in love your children keep to life unending. You are yourself the Way: lead us then day by day in your own steps, we pray, O Lord most holy. Glorious their life who sing, with glad thanksgiving, true hymns to Christ the King in all their living: all who confess his Name, come then with hearts aflame; the God of peace acclaim as Lord and Savior. —Clement of Alexandria (c. 150-215), from his treatise THE TEACHER, English translation by F. Bland Tucker (1982), as collected by Calvin R. Stapert in A NEW SONG FOR AN OLD WORLD: MUSICAL THOUGHT IN THE EARLY CHURCH. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007, pp. 167-68. ISBN 978-0-8028-3219-1. Have a great week, Chip Stam Director, Institute for Christian Worship School of Church Music and Worship Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky www.wqotw.org www.sbts.edu/icw =========================== WORSHIP QUOTE OF THE WEEK: To subscribe, unsubscribe, or view a complete index of worship quotes, please visit http://www.wqotw.org ===========================