Until we're singing #533 today (Jesus has come) and we reached the third verse:
Jesus has come as the mighty Redeemer.
See now the threatening strong one disarmed.
Jesus breaks down all the walls of death's fortress,
Leads forth the prisoners triumphant, unharmed.
Satan, you wicked one, own now your Master!
Jesus has come, He the mighty Redeemer.
The harrowing of hell. Right there. In a Lutheran chorale. LOVE IT! Totally using the pictures and language of Luther's famous homily for Holy Saturday.
Yep. Enjoyed singing that for TO. Almost wanted to shout it.
ReplyDeleteMakes a good Hymn of the Day for Oculi Sunday. That's what I'm using, anyway.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking this reflects more Luke 11:21-23 than the harrowing of hell--at least the German certainly seems to.
ReplyDeleteAlso, written by a bonafide Pietist, and sung with great gusto by German Moravians to this very day, the "strong" and "stronger one" language of Luke 11 is a likely source.
Interestingly, the music is in the style of a soloistic aria of the day. Yet it is a wonderful text and tune, rich theologically and musically. Definitely one of my favorites!
Viekerhaus
Compare, though, Jon, to the sermon in House Postil I, par. 12 par 19. It was a very famous and influential sermon, no?
ReplyDeleteCan you demonstrate that Luther's sermon was an influential sermon on Allendorf, the author of the hymn? Or even on Franke, with whom he studied? That would be how one might attempt to connect the historical dots and perhaps flesh out the background of author's intent.
ReplyDeleteOf course, we can (and do) read (and translate) all kinds of different things into hymns beyond with the original author may have intended. But that's another story. :)
Viekerhaus
It would be an interesting enterprise: to discover the ongoing influence of the Postils in the pietists. I really don't know Franke well enough to guess; but I do know a later day pietist (Walther) knew them inside and out. A sermon on the descent from one of the Franke school would likely yield clues. Any ideas on where to find such?
ReplyDeleteWalther knew them, I would guess, because he spent most of year sick in bed as a young adult reading Luther. I am doubtful that he learned of Luther's postils from his pietist teachers. Full-bodied Luther and Lutheran doctrine just do not seem to mix well with 18th-century Pietism.
ReplyDeleteJuss sayin' . . . :)
Viekerhaus
I may be totally wrong on this, Jon, but I was under the impression that the Luther that they LIKED was the Luther in his sermons (as opposed to the dogmatic or polemical treatises).
ReplyDelete