Hewitt, Theodore Brown

Paul Gerhardt as a Hymn Writer and his Influence on English Hymnody

Description: Paul Gerhardt is considered Germany�s greatest hymn writer, his lyrics setting the standard for not only hymn writing in German, but German lyric poetry generally. Among his most famous hymns are �O sacred Head, now wounded� and �Jesus, Thy boundless love to me.� As well as in Germany, many English-speaking Christians worldwide recognize and cherish Gerhardt�s lyrics translated into their own language by such revered people as John Wesley or James W. Alexander. Theodore Hewitt traces Gerhardt�s broad and deep influence upon hymn writing in English in Paul Gerhardt as a Hymn Writer. Hewitt�s work provides both insight into the mind of Gerhardt and a fascinating study of the development of the hymn-writing tradition in the English language.

Kathleen O�Bannon
CCEL Staff