1. Hymns
An In-depth Look At The Definition
and History

2. What is a Hymn?

3. • A sacred song of
thanksgiving or
praise to God
• Oldest collection
is the book of
Psalms in the
Bible
What is a Hymn?

4. What is a Hymn?
• Refers primarily
to lyrical content
• Poetic and
contemplative
What is a Hymn?

6. What is a Hymn?
• Sung in group
settings
• Unify and lead
people into
worshipping God
What is a Hymn?

7. What is a Hymn?
• Contain
theological
truths
• Pedagogical
What is a Hymn?

9. What is a Hymn?What is a Hymn?

10. Where did Hymns come
from?

11. • Hymnody dates
long before the
advent of the
Christian Church
• Influenced by
Jewish customs
and traditions
Where did Hymns come from?

12. • C. 300
– written in
Greek, primarily
from the
Psalms, but also
extra-Biblical songs
– Ex. Gloria in Excelsis
Deo
Where did Hymns come from?

13. • St. Hilary of Poiters (c.
315 – 368)
– Active composer of
hymns
– Initiator of Western
hymn tradition
– Amoung the first to put
his own poetry to music
– Used this pedagogically
Where did Hymns come from?

14. • St. Ambrose of
Milan (c. 340 –
397)
– Also used hymns
pedagogically
– Revolutionized the
style of hymns
Where did Hymns come from?

15. Where did Hymns come from?

16. • Isaac Watts (1674 –
1748)
– Created paraphrases
of Psalms into modern
English
– Two-Fold Theory of
Congregational Praise
Where did Hymns come from?

18. • American Hymnody in
the 18th to 20th c.
– New developments to
hymnody in New
World
• Folk Hymnody
• Gospel Hymnody
– Works by Lowell
Mason, Fanny
Crosby, John Newton
Where did Hymns come from?

20. • Post WWII hymnody
– roots of
Contemporary
Christian Music
• Has lead to ongoing
debate between
hymns and CCM
Where did Hymns come from?

21. Hymns
An In-depth Look At The Definition
and History