By Michaela Gordoni
In the late 1800s, archaeologists uncovered what we know as the world’s oldest hymn in Oxyrhynchus, Egypt, and now, Chris Tomlin and Ben Fielding have transformed it into a modern anthem.
The lyrics to the 1,800-year-old hymn read: “Let all be silent: The shining stars not sound forth, all rushing rivers be stilled, as we sing our hymn to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as all powers cry out in answer, ‘Amen, Amen.’ Might, praise, and glory forever to our God, the only Giver of all good gifts. Amen. Amen.”
The hymn’s story is told in a new documentary, THE FIRST HYMN, which is also the title of Tomlin and Fielding’s song, per Crosswalk.
In it, Australian historian John Dickson travels to the Middle East to uncover the hymn’s beginning.
“To give back to the church a song that hasn’t been sung for nearly 2000 years just seemed irresistible,” Dickson said. “To stand in the footsteps of early Christians and witness the enduring power of their words is humbling.”
Dickson said there are only about 50 musical compositions as dated as “the first hymn,” but this is the first one that is Christian.
The historian adds that the hymn is “a point of unity” because it was written before Christianity had denominations. It also evidences that there was long-held belief of the Trinity, as the Council of Nicaea noted it as a Biblical Doctrine a hundred years after the hymn was written.
“It’s amazing,” Dickson said. “This is the doctrine of the Trinity, the Christian idea that the one God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And you sometimes hear that that idea was only invented much later, say, in 325, at the Council of Nicaea, when Emperor Constantine forced this doctrine on the church.”
Tomlin released the song on April 11. He said, “The First Hymn is a sacred gift passed down from the early Church — some of whom literally gave their lives for this song and for the gospel. Now, 1,800 years later, we stand in a long line of brave and bold believers, singing alongside them!”
While traditionalists might frown on Tomlin putting a modern twist on the ancient hymn, Dickson praised its pop sound.
“What’s so fun about this is that the tune isn’t the stodgy stuff we often associate with chanting monks,” Dickson said.
“It’s pop music,” he explained. It’s the kind of melody you’d expect to hear at an ancient Greek pub or at some theater performance. Whoever composed this song was trying to take serious Christian ideas and give them to the masses.”
Fittingly, Tomlin and Fielding’s first live performance of the song was at the Museum of the Bible’s theater in Washington, DC, on Tuesday.
The documentary is available to rent from Wonder for $14.99.
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