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

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