Savior Of The Nations, Come
Savior of the Nations, Come
Savior of the nations, come,
Virgin’s Son, make here Thy home!
Marvel now, O heav’n and earth,
That the Lord chose such a birth.
Not of flesh and blood the Son,
Offspring of the Holy One;
Born of Mary ever blest
God in flesh is manifest.
Wondrous birth! O wondrous Child
Of the virgin undefiled!
Though by all the world disowned,
Still to be in heav’n throned.
From the Father forth He came
And returneth to the same,
Captive leading death and hell,
High the song of triumph swell!
Thou, the Father’s only Son,
Hast o’er sin the vict’ry won.
Boundless shall Thy kingdom be;
When shall we its glories see?
Praise to God the Father sing,
Praise to God the Son, our King,
Praise to God the Spirit be
Ever and eternally.
Translated into German by Martin Luther (1483–1546)
Translated into English by William M. Reynolds (1812–1876)
IN THE LATE 300s there was a fierce cultural struggle going on. Though the government of the Roman Empire was officially Christian, pagan ways were still strong. Far too many citizens were nominally Christian—for social or political advancement. Ambrose, as bishop of Milan, strengthened the church in many ways, taking strong theological stands, standing up to emperors, and introducing many hymns for his congregation to sing.
It is interesting that an early translation of this Ambrose hymn was made by Martin Luther, another leader who strengthened the church through singing. When we consider the “Savior of the nations,” who reigns eternally, we certainly have a lot to sing about.
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.
John 1:1-3
From the book
