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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.”
Aurelius Clemens Prudentius (348–c. 413) was a lawyer loyal to the Roman Empire who became a powerful judge. He ended his civil career as a court official under the rule of the Christian Emperor Theodosius. At the age of 57, Prudentius suffered a midlife crisis, considering his life thus far a waste. He retired to write poetry and hymns, one of which was “Of the Father’s Love Begotten." It was later adapted into a hymn and set to the 13th-century plainchant melody Divinum Mysterium. Translated into English in the 19th century by John Mason Neale, the hymn’s timeless beauty resonates across generations.
This hymn reflects on the eternal nature of Christ, the “Alpha and Omega,” who existed before creation and through whom all things were made (John 1:1-3, Revelation 22:13). It celebrates the incarnation as the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan, where the eternal Word became flesh to dwell among us (John 1:14). The hymn beautifully bridges Advent and Christmas, focusing on both the anticipation of Christ’s coming and the awe of His arrival.
Biblical themes run throughout, particularly Colossians 1:15-20, proclaiming Christ as “the image of the invisible God” and the One through whom all things are created and reconciled. The hymn’s meditative tone invites us to reflect on the grandeur of God’s love, which existed "ere the worlds began to be” and was fully revealed in Jesus Christ. When we sing this ancient hymn, we are reminded of God’s eternal faithfulness and the profound love that brought salvation to the world.
Sources:
- History of Hymns: “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” (UM Hymnal 184), Discipleship Ministries (https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-of-the-fathers-love-begotten).
- DeYoung, Kevin. “Of the Father’s Love Begotten,” The Gospel Coalition (https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/of-the-fathers-love-begotten-4/).
- “Of the Father’s Love Begotten,” Etymology of Hymns (https://etymologyofhymns.blogspot.com/2012/12/of-fathers-love-begotten.html).
- “Of the Father’s Heart Begotten,” Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Of_the_Father%27s_Heart_Begotten).
© Copyright by Kathryn Lake Hogan, 2024. All Rights Reserved.
