Good Christian Men, Rejoice
Good Christian Men, Rejoice
Good Christian men, rejoice,
With heart and soul and voice;
Give ye heed to what we say:
Jesus Christ is born today.
Ox and ass before Him bow,
He is in the manger now.
Christ is born today,
Christ is born today!
Good Christian men, rejoice,
With heart and soul and voice;
Now ye hear of endless bliss;
Jesus Christ was born for this!
He hath oped the heavenly door,
And man is blessed evermore.
Christ was born for this,
Christ was born for this!
Good Christian men, rejoice,
With heart and soul and voice;
Now ye need not fear the grave;
Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all,
To gain His everlasting hall,
Christ was born to save,
Christ was born to save!
Paraphrase by John Mason Neale (1818–1866)
AS WITH “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” both text and music for this hymn go back many centuries. In 1601, Bartholomaeus Gesius adapted the previously existing music and called it In Dulci Jubilo, which means “With Sweet Shouting.” Later Bach arranged it for the organ, and later still John Stainer did a choral version. The words come from Latin, but very early on the Germans were already translating it and adding thoughts. Many other language groups have freely adapted this song for their own use. Though the great translator John Neale standardized the hymn in English, it is truly a folk song with many different forms and traditions.
It is reported that in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1745 a gathering of Moravian missionaries sang this song in thirteen different European and native American languages.
When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.
Titus 3:4-5
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