Shepherd Of Eager Youth
Shepherd of Eager Youth
Shepherd of eager youth,
Guiding in love and truth
Through devious ways—
Christ, our triumphant King,
We come Thy name to sing;
Hither Thy children bring
Tributes of praise.
Thou art our Holy Lord,
The all-subduing Word,
Healer of strife;
Thou didst Thyself abase
That from sin’s deep disgrace
Thou mightest save our race
And give us life.
Ever be near our side,
Our shepherd and our guide,
Our staff and song;
Jesus, Thou Christ of God,
By Thy enduring Word
Lead us where Thou hast trod,
Make our faith strong.
Translated by Henry Martyn Dexter (1821–1890)
CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA was a scholar of the first order. He was probably born to pagan parents, but came to believe in Christ through his studies. He was very familiar with the secular philosophies of his day. In Alexandria he ran a philosophical school that employed both Christian and non-Christian teachers. There he taught a young man named Origen, who later became one of the greatest thinkers in Christian history.
We may see a hint of Clement’s love of philosophy in the line “the all-subduing Word.” While John’s Gospel presents Jesus as the Word, it was a concept borrowed from Greek philosophers, most notably Philo of Alexandria, one of Clement’s favorites. In the marketplace of ideas, Jesus the Logos had truly conquered all other attempts to explain the nature of God.
Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ.
Colossians 1:27-28
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