Our Father, Thou in Heaven Above
"Our Father, Thou in Heaven Above" is a Lutheran Christian hymn based on The Lord's Prayer originally written in German in 1539 by Martin Luther and translated in 1863 into English by Catherine Winkworth.[1]
History[edit]
Martin Luther wrote "Vater unser im Himmelreich" based on The Lord's Prayer. Each verse of the hymn is used to elaborate on the requests in the Lord's Prayer to God.[2] It was first published in 1539 in the Geistliche Lieder hymn book by Valentin Schumann and set to the tune of "Vater Unser" by an unknown composer.[1]
In 1863, Luther's hymn was translated by the English Church of England hymn-translator Catherine Winkworth, who gave it the title of "Our Father, Thou in Heaven Above".[3] It was first published in Winkworth's The Chorale Book for England.[4] Her translation used the original textual style of Luther, with a theme of justice at a time when that theme was not as prevalent in hymns.[4]
Scriptural references[edit]
The scriptural inspiration for "Our Father, Thou in Heaven Above" was Matthew 6:9–12, the source of The Lord's Prayer.[3]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Our Father, Thou in heav'n above". Hymnary.org. Retrieved 2017-10-06.
- ^ Mansch, Larry (2016). Martin Luther: The Life and Lessons. McFarland. p. 326. ISBN 978-0786498543.
- ^ a b Rogal, Samuel (1991). A General Introduction to Hymnody and Congregational Song. Scarecrow Press. p. 27. ISBN 0810824167.
- ^ a b Wuestermeyer, Paul (1998). Let Justice Sing: Hymnody and Justice. Liturgical Press. p. 66. ISBN 0814625053.