JESUS CHRIST >> First advent
SDAH 116
Of the Father’s love begotten,
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the source, the ending He,
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For Worship Leaders
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This ancient hymn traces its origins to the 4th-century Latin poem Cathemerinon by Spanish poet and lawyer-turned-monk Prudentius. It reflects on Christ as the eternal Word—Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. The English version we sing today was shaped by translators John Mason Neale and Henry Baker, drawing from the poem’s rich meditation on the mystery of the Incarnation.
The tune, DIVINUM MYSTERIUM, is equally ancient, originally a medieval melody from a collection of sacred songs published in 1582. Its chant-like flow invites deep reverence, making it a timeless favorite for Advent and Christmas.
As we sing, may we marvel anew at the mystery of God’s love—eternal, incarnate, and evermore unfolding in our lives.
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Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
This fest is taken from hymn No, 9 in Cathemerinon, by the great Spanish poet Prudentius. That is a collection of 12 long hymns, ranging from 80 to 220 lines each. Prudentius wrote them to be sung, one at each hour of the day, reminding the believer that Christ is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. From this poem several lines were taken to form a short Latin hymn entitled “Corde natus ex parentis, ante mundi exordium” (Born Out of the Heart of the Father, Before the Beginning of the World).
John Neale (see Biographies) made a translation of six stanzas in The Hymnal Noted, 185 1, and printed it with Revelation 1:8 at the heading: “1 am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” The “evermore and evermore” refrain and the final doxology stanza were not a part of the original, but were added by later use in the church service.
Henry Baker (see SDAH 20) made his translation of nine stanzas for use in the preliminary edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1 859, of which SDAH makes use of 1, 4, and 9.
Aurelius Clemens Prudentius (348-c. 413) was born in Spain to a wealthy family. He studied law and became a judge. At age 57 his self-centered life weighed heavily on his conscience, and he gave up the good life and entered a monastery. The remainder of his life was spent in meditation, prayer, and writing sacred poetry. His poems were meant for private devotions, but sections of them were appropriated for use in church.
The tune DIVINUM MYSTERIUM (Divine Mystery) originated in a medieval “trope,” which was actually a vocalized ornamentation on a single syllable of a word, usually the final “a” of alleluia. Later, creative spirits made special sets of words for these ornamentations. The tune was first discovered by Thomas Helmore in Piae Cantiones (Pious Songs), 1582, a collection made by Didrik Pedersen, a Finnish student at the University of Rostock. Helmore, the music editor, printed it in his The Hymnal Noted, 1852, with Neale’s translation. Earlier it had appeared in the twelfth to the fifteenth centuries in Germany and Italy, with the words Divinum mysterium, hence the tune name.
The arrangement SDAH uses was made for the Hymnal 1 940, by Winfred Douglas (see SDAH 72). It is to be sung in unison, with a rather free movement that goes along with the natural rhythm of the text.
Stanza:
1 – Revelation 22:13
2 – Revelation 7:11
3 – Daniel 7:14
Text
1
Of the Father’s love begotten,
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see,
Evermore and evermore! Amen.
2
O ye heights of heaven adore Him;
Angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him,
And extol our God and King;
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert ring,
Evermore and evermore! Amen.
3
Christ, to Thee with God the Father
And, O Holy Ghost, to Thee,
Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving
And unwearied praises be.
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory,
Evermore and evermore! Amen.
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) Rev 22:13 (b) Rev 7:11 (c) Dan 7:14
Author
Aurelius Clemens Prudentius (348-c.413)
Translator
Tr. by John M. Neale, stanza 1 (1818-1866); Tr. by Henry W. Baker, stanzas 2, 3 (1821-1877)
Hymn Tune
DIVINUM MYSTERIUM
Metrical Number
8.7.8.7.8.7.7.
Tune Source
13th century plainsong, Mode V
Theme
FIRST ADVENT
