O Come All Ye Faithful
O Come All Ye Faithful
{You have probably been enjoying Christmas music at church and on your radio since Thanksgiving – or not. For the next five days (December 20-25 excluding Saturday), I will be adding to your joy or misery by giving some context and historical background to a few of the most popular Christian Christmas hymns.}
While usually attributed to John Francis Wade, the authorship of this great Christmas hymn is uncertain. Wade is credited because the first printed copy of this song was in a collection of Wade’s manuscripts titled, “Different Songs for Sundays and Holidays Throughout the Year.” In saying this is a collection of Wade’s manuscripts, it needs to be clarified that Wade’s primary occupation was writing manuscripts of songs for churches and wealthy clients. The songs were already in existence. He was a scribe, so to speak. Because his calligraphy skills were so good, and his handwriting so beautiful, his manuscripts were akin to works of art. Therefore, his signature was usually more like an artist signing a painting, and not intended to claim authorship for the songs. Nevertheless, Wade still is most often credited with authorship.
The original was written in Latin and titled, “Adeste Fideles.” It included the first four verses. Most people are familiar with the first, third, and fourth. The second verse is often not included in most modern performances. That is a shame because it has some theological depth the other verses lack. The English translation of these four verses comes to us via Fredrick Oakeley. He gave it the title, “O Faithful, Approach Ye.” O Come All Ye Faithful” is definitely an improvement.
In the 18th century, Jean Francois Etienne Borderies added three additional verses. Another extra fourth verse exists. Its author is anonymous. These verses are rarely used. A song with 8 verses is too long for most people’s musical tastes.
Its enduring usage is a testament to the musical quality of the song and the way the poet takes us and leads us to the manger in Bethlehem and calls upon us to adore the Christ child. As I mentioned, the oft-omitted second stanza takes its language directly from the ancient Greek creeds of the fourth century and is a theological goldmine.
Here are the lyrics. You probably know about half of them but included all nine for you.
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him
Born the King of Angels:
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.
God of God, light of light,
Lo, he abhors not the Virgin's womb;
Very God, begotten, not created:
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above!
Glory to God, glory in the highest:
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.
Lo! The flock abandoned, the summoned shepherds
Hurry lowly to the cradle:
May we too make haste with exultant gait!
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.
A star leading, the Magi, worshipping Christ,
give gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.
May we proffer our hearts to the infant Christ!
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.
We shall see the eternal splendour
Of the Eternal Father, veiled in flesh,
The infant God wrapped in cloths.
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.
May we warm him, needy and lying on hay,
With our pious embraces:
Who does not love him who loves us thus?
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.
Sing now choir of angels hymns!
Sing now halls of the heavenly!
Glory to God in the highest!
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.
