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By India McCarty
Worship leader Chris Tomlin just brought “the earliest known hymn of the Church” to life, reimagining the 1,800-year-old song for today’s listeners.
“I was really, really moved,” he said of seeing a photo of a scrap of papyrus containing what is believed to be the earliest known Christian hymn. “It just feels like such a God story that it was even found in the scrap heap.”
The paper contains a song that dates back to the third century and has been preserved in a vault at Oxford University. Tomlin and songwriter Ben Fielding worked together to bring the song, titled “The First Hymn,” to life for today’s audience.
The lyrics state, “Let all be silent: The shining stars not sound forth, All rushing rivers stilled, As we sing our hymn To the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, As all Powers cry out in answer, ‘Amen, Amen.’ Might, praise, and glory forever to our God. The only Giver of all good gifts. Amen. Amen.”
Related: Chris Tomlin Sings World’s Oldest Hymn — It Doesn’t Sound Like You’d Think
It’s notable that the song mentions the Holy Trinity, as it predates the Council of Nicaea, held in the fourth century, where the Trinity as we know it today was formally recognized.
Tomlin shared, “This is the earliest discovery of that written outside of Scripture. This is the 200s, and they’re singing it already. There’s so much in these few words. It’s just a piece of papyrus…but it’s like a treasure for us as the Church.”
“Of all the things that were found in this archaeological spot…they find this little piece of a hymn, the earliest known hymn of the Church,” he continued. “It’s like God bringing it to the people again.”
Tomlin and Fielding’s work on the song is depicted in new documentary THE FIRST HYMN, which “connects music, faith and history, tracking the story of an ancient Christian hymn from its discovery in Egypt to its release as a modern worship song for the new millennium,” per Fathom Entertainment’s website.
In a statement given to CCM Magazine, Tomlin said, “This song reminds us of the history of our faith — it’s not a trend, it’s not a fad, and it’s certainly not 30 minutes old. It’s ancient, it’s historical, and it’s eternal. The worship of the one true God — the giver of all good gifts — has echoed through generations.”
He added, “I am incredibly grateful and humbled to join my friend Ben Fielding and the Undeceptions Documentary Team in honoring those who came before us and helping bring this powerful hymn back to life — and back into the voice of the Church.”
THE FIRST HYMN will play in theaters March 24 and 26.
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