Singing across the Centuries

by Janet Eriksson, posted in Bible-Inspired Music

I can’t get this song out of my head. It plays over and over in my mind. And that’s a good thing.

Recently, I watched the documentary, The First Hymn. I had no idea what I was in for. By the time the show was halfway over, I was already searching online for the song. Couldn’t wait to hear it and tell people about it.

I was fascinated by the discovery described in the documentary. An ancient piece of papyrus survived in Egypt. It contains the words of a song from an early Christian church, the late third century. The papyrus was discovered in 1918. Not only did it have words; it also had musical notation. That allowed scholars and musicians to work together, trying to reconstruct what the original song might have sounded like.

An ancient papyrus was found in Egypt with words and musical notation from a third-century Christian church. Photo by Mahmoud Emad at Unsplash

I won’t say any more about the process. It’s much more exciting to watch the documentary and see how they took this piece of ancient papyrus and turned it into a contemporary worship song.

This is the part that amazes me most: When we sing this song, we are singing across the centuries. Here in the 21st century, we are joining in a song that Christians in Egypt were singing in the third century. We are part of their worship experience, and our voices blend together across the centuries in praise of God. How would it have felt for those early Christians to hear our voices joining them now?

It’s also insightful to realize this early Egyptian church was singing to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit during the century before the Council of Nicaea established the trinitarian doctrine. This papyrus highlights how the Trinity was part of everyday Christian worship from an earlier time.

What a privilege to join with that ancient Christian church and sing together across the centuries. Photo by Jefferson Santos at Unsplash

I recommend watching the documentary if you can. It’s fascinating. Then listen to the song: the live version and the studio recording. The live version captures the excitement of a crowd joining in with this song across the centuries. The studio version weaves the Egyptian counter-melody through the song.

The First Hymn — Documentary website

“The First Hymn” — YouTube live gathering

“The First Hymn” — YouTube studio recording

As you sing this song, know you are joining so many others, singing across the centuries in praise of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amazing God!

Published by Janet Eriksson