Lyrics To What A Friend We Have In Jesus Hymn

What a Friend We Have in Jesus > Lyrics

Joseph M. Scriven, 1855copyright status isPublic Domain


Subjects: Friendship, Comfort, PrayerScripture:Exodus 33:11; John 15:13; 16:23-24ErieCharles C. Converse, 1868copyright status isPublic Domain


Key:FMeter:8.7.8.7 D


Learn about music formats.viewsheet musicplaymidiErieCharles C. Converse, 1868arr. byJohn B. Herbertcopyright status isPublic Domain


Key:FMeter:8.7.8.7 D


Learn about music formats.viewsheet musicplaymidiThis song in other languages:.pdfDeutsch (German).pdfPусский (Russian)

  1. What a buddy we have in Jesus, who is willing to suffer all of our sins and sorrows! I count it a great honor to bring everything before God in prayer! Oh, what serenity we frequently forfeit, Oh, what unnecessary suffering we endure, All because we do not bring everything to God in prayer
  2. Have we had difficulties and temptations? Is there any difficulty in any part of the world? We should never give up
  3. Instead, we should take our problems to the Lord in prayer. Is it possible to have a buddy who is so loyal that he will share all of our misfortunes with us? Jesus is aware of our every weakness
  4. Confess it to the Lord in prayer
  5. Are we weak and burdened with a burden of worry? Are we burdened with a burden of worry? Take it to the Lord in prayer, O most Sacred Savior, who is still our shelter. Do your friends detest you and abandon you? Pray about it and bring it to the Lord! He will take thee into His arms and shelter thee, and there you will find comfort. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised that Thou willst carry all of our responsibilities
  6. May we always, Lord, be bringing all of our burdens to Thee in prayer. Rapture, praise, and continuous worship will replace prayer in the soon-to-come light radiant and unclouded by the presence of the Holy Spirit. There will be a nice portion for us there

What A Friend We Have In Jesus — Amazing Hymns

What a Friend We Have in Jesus is a song that was initially composed as a poem in 1855 by preacher Joseph M Scriven to console his mother, who was living in Ireland at the time while he was studying in Canada. Scriven first published the poem under an assumed name, and it was only in the 1880s that he was given full credit for it. The hymn’s music was written by Charles Crozat Converse in 1868, and it is still in use today. Millions of people throughout the world believe it to be one of the most treasured hymns in the world.

​What A Friend We Have In Jesus – Lyrics

What a Friend we have in Jesus, who bears all of our sins and sorrows with us! I count it a great honor to bring everything before God in prayer! Because we do not bring everything to God in prayer, how much serenity we frequently sacrifice, how much unnecessary suffering we endure! Have we faced difficulties and temptations? Is there any difficulty in any part of the world? We should never give up, and we should always take our problems to the Lord in prayer. Is it possible to have a buddy who is so loyal that he will share all of our misfortunes with us?

Bring it to the Lord in prayer.

We must take it to the Lord in prayer, Precious Savior, who is still our refuge; Do thy friends despize and desert thee?

There, you will find comfort.

​What a Friend We Have in Jesus – Recording

With all of our faults and sorrows to endure, Jesus is a wonderful friend. I consider it a great honor to bring everything to God via prayer! Because we do not bring everything to God in prayer, how much serenity we frequently sacrifice, how much unnecessary suffering we endure! What difficulties and temptations have we been subjected to? There’s anything wrong with the world today? Always remember that we should never give up, and to take our problems to the Lord in prayer Were we to discover a buddy who would stand with us through all of our trials?

So, are we frail and burdened with a huge burden of responsibility?

Take it to the Lord in prayer, Precious Savior, still our shelter.

The Story Behind What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Joseph Scriven was born in the Irish capital of Dublin in 1820. He received his education at Trinity College in Dublin and was engaged to be married at the time of his death. Scriven’s fiance died in a drowning accident the night before their wedding. A tragic event, compounded by strained family connections, compelled Joseph to adopt the practices and philosophies of the Plymouth Brethren. Scriven met and fell in love with Eliza Roche shortly after relocating to Canada to pursue a teaching career.

  • Joseph was able to empathize with the elderly and underprivileged because of the tragedies and difficulties he had experienced in life.
  • When Joseph penned his renowned hymn in 1855, he was doing so to console his mother, who was still living in Ireland at the time.
  • Scriven himself began to suffer from ill health, financial difficulties, and despair during his final years on the planet.
  • He was suffering from a severe depression at the time.
  • I retreated to an adjoining room, not to sleep, but rather to observe and await the outcome of the situation.
  • Despite extensive searching, no sign of the missing guy could be found until, just after midday, his body was located in a nearby body of water, dead and cold in death.” According to Christianity.com’s article, “How Did Joseph M.

Make Thyself My Vision in the Name of the Most High, the Most Holy, the Most Holy Lord God Almighty Amazing Grace

Aretha Franklin – What a Friend We Have in Jesus Lyrics

What a buddy we have in Jesus, who bears all of our sins and sorrows! What an honor it is to bring everything before God in prayer! Oh, what serenity we have lost, what unnecessary suffering we have endured, all because we have failed to bring all to God in prayer. Have you experienced challenges and temptations? Is there any difficulty somewhere? We should never give up, and we should always take our problems to the Lord in prayer. Can we discover a buddy who is so dependable that he will bear all of our sorrows?

Are we frail and weighed down by a tremendous burden of responsibility?

Do thy friends detest and abandon thee?

He will take thee into his arms and shieldthee, and there thou wilt find peace.

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Aretha Franklin composed the song. SPRINGTIME MUSIC INC. has released a song with lyrics. Licensed Music and Lyrics LyricFind has made this possible.

Citation

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Quiz

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  • Thursday, March 177:30 PM 7:30 PM on Friday, March 18, at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, New Jersey Cincinnati Music Hall is located in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Aretha Franklin’s songs are included.

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What A Friend We Have in JesusWhat a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!In His arms He�ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bearMay we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayerRapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.Words: Joseph Scriven (1857)-Someone has well penned this statement, “A Christian’s practical theology isoften his hymnology.” Many of us could attest to this truth as we recall somedeeply moving experience – perhaps the loss of a dear loved one-and a simplehymn which has been used by the Holy Spirit to minister to our spiritual need.Such a hymn is “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Though it is not considered tobe an example of great literary writing, its simply stated truths have broughtsolace and comfort to countless numbers of God’s people since it was firstwritten in 1857. So relevant to the basic spiritual needs of people are thesewords that many missionaries state that it is one of the first hymns taught tonew converts. The very simplicity of the text and music has been its appeal andstrength.Joseph Scriven was born in 1819 of prosperous parents in Dublin, Ireland. He wasa graduate of Trinity College, Dublin. At the age of twenty-five he decided toleave his native country and migrate to Canada. His reasons for leaving hisfamily and country seem to be two-fold: the religious influence of the PlymouthBrethren upon his life estranging him from his family and the accidentaldrowning of his fiancee the night before their scheduled wedding.From that time Scriven developed a totally different pattern of life. He tookthe Sermon on the Mount literally. It is said that he gave freely of his limitedpossessions, even sharing the clothing from his own body, if necessary, andnever once refused to help anyone who needed it. Ira Sankey tells in hiswritings of the man who, seeing Scriven in the streets of Port Hope, Ontario,with his sawbuck and saw, asked, “Who is that man? I want him to work for me.”The answer was, “You cannot get that man; he saws wood only for poor widows andsick people who cannot pay.” Because of this manner of life Scriven wasrespected but was considered to be eccentric by those who knew him.”What a Friend We Have in Jesus” was never intended by Scriven for publication.Upon learning of his mother’s serious illness and unable to be with her infar-off Dublin, he wrote a letter of comfort enclosing the words of this text.Some time later when he himself was ill, a friend who came to call on himchanced to see the poem scribbled on scratch paper near the bed. The friend readit with keen interest and asked Scriven if he had written the words. Scriven,with typical modesty, replied, “The Lord and I did it between us.” In 1869 asmall collection of his poems was published. It was simply entitled Hymns andOther Verses.After the death of Joseph Scriven, also by accidental drowning, the citizens ofPort Hope, Ontario, erected a monument on the Port Hope-Peterborough Highway,which runs from Lake Ontario, with the text and these words inscribed: Fourmiles north, in Pengally’s Cemetery, lies the philanthropist and author of thisgreat masterpiece, written at Port Hope, 1857. The composer of the music,Charles C. Converse, was a well-educated versatile and successful Christian,whose talents ranged from law to professional music. Under the pen name of KarlReden, he wrote numerous scholarly articles on many subjects. Though he was anexcellent musician and composer with many of his works performed by the leadingAmerican orchestras and choirs of his day, his life is best remembered for thissimple music so well suited to Scriven’s text.Ira D. Sankey discovered the hymn in 1875, just in time to include it in hiswell-known collection, Sankey’s Gospel Hymns Number One. Later Sankey wrote,”The last hymn which went into the book became one of the first in favor.”Quoted from “101 Hymn Stories” by Kenneth Osbeck. Kregel Publishers, P.O. Box2607, Grand Rapids, MI 49501, 1982. Used by permission – duplication without permission is a violation of U.S.copyright law. Christianlyrics online will lead you to thousands of lyrics to hymns, choruses, worshipsongs and gospel recordings. Free Christian hymn lyrics include popular hymns,both new and old, traditional and modern, as well as rare and hard-to-findhymns. We have been online since 2004 and have reached over 1 million people inover 150 countries worldwide. In 2007, this site became the largest Christianlyrics site on the entire internet.� 2011Hymnlyrics.orgCarden’s Design. All Rights Reserved. Thiswebsite is privately owned and operated.Webmaster:Kevin Carden

What A Friend We Have In Jesus Hymn – Joseph Scriven, 1820-1886

“What a wonderful ally we have in Jesus” (153) One of the most useful hymns currently in common usage is Joseph Scriven’s song on the friendship of Jesus, the comforter and burden-bearer, which is sung by millions of people every year. Scriven was born in 1820 in Dublin, Ireland, and was a native of the city. He received his bachelor’s degree from Trinity College in his hometown. He immigrated to Canada when he was twenty-five years old and remained there until his death on October 10, 1886, in the town of Port Hope on Lake Ontario.

Every detail had been planned out for the wedding ceremony, and a date had been set for the event.

His tremendous dependence on Christ resulted from this tragic event, as well as a profound understanding of the great truth so beautifully articulated in his lines: “What a Friend we have in Jesus,All our sins and griefs to bear!” He penned the song to console his mother in her own sadness as a result of this incident, which he sent to her in Ireland as a result of the strong compassion engendered in his heart by it.

It is unclear how it got to be published for the first time, as he had not meant it for wide distribution.

Horatius Bonar’s name being occasionally given wrongly as the author. After Scriven’s death, however, he was officially acknowledged as the author of the song that has benefited tens of thousands of Christians worldwide since its publication.

What A Friend We Have In Jesus Lyrics

What a buddy we have in Jesus, who is willing to suffer all of our sins and sorrows! I count it a great honor to bring everything before God in prayer! Oh, what serenity we frequently sacrifice, and what needless suffering we endure, just because we do not bring everything to God in prayer as we should! Have we faced difficulties and temptations? Is there any difficulty in any part of the world? We should never give up; instead, we should take our problems to the Lord in prayer. Is it possible to have a buddy who is so loyal that he will share all of our misfortunes with us?

  1. What do we look like when we’re weak and burdened with a mountain of responsibility?
  2. Do your friends detest you and abandon you?
  3. He will take thee into His arms and shelter thee, and there thou wilt find comfort.
  4. Rapture, praise, and continuous worship will replace prayer in the soon-to-come light radiant and unclouded by the presence of the Holy Spirit.

What A Friend We Have in Jesus youtube video

More lyrics and biographies of well-known hymns may be found here.

What a Friend we have in Jesus

Joseph Scriven wrote the lyrics. Charles C Converse composed the music. This Christian hymn was written by Joseph M. Scriven in 1855 as a poem to console his mother, who was living in Ireland at the time while he was in Canada. It is sung by millions of people throughout the world. Scriven first published the poem anonymously, and it was only in the 1880s that he was given full credit for it. The hymn’s music was written by Charles Crozat Converse in 1868, and it is still in use today. Jesus Christ is our biggest supporter when we are in need of help.

  1. This hymn is a classic, and it’s a really nice one.
  2. What an honor it is to bring everything before God in prayer!
  3. Have we faced difficulties and temptations?
  4. We should never give up and should always take our problems to the Lord in prayer.
  5. We should confess our faults to the Lord in prayer; he knows everything about us.
  6. Take it to the Lord in prayer, O precious Savior, who is still our shelter.
  7. Pray about it and bring it to the Lord!
  8. Podcast: This post may be played in a new window or printed.

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History Behind the Hymn: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”

It is through moments of grief and loneliness that we come to a deep understanding of God, as expressed in the wonderful song, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Originally from Dublin, Ireland, a man by the name of Joseph Scriven wrote the lyrics for the song (1820-1886). This is an important aspect of his story. As a recent graduate of Trinity College, he was looking forward to the day when he and his long-term partner would tie the knot together. She had been his childhood sweetheart, and he had made all of the necessary arrangements for their wedding.

  1. She was thrown into the neighboring river when her horse was frightened by something while she was riding toward him to greet him.
  2. In the aftermath of this devastating loss, Joseph was upset by the sight of his family’s house in Ireland, and he fled for Ontario, Canada, where he spent the remainder of his days in the town of Port Hope.
  3. Finally, he began instructing the children of a local businessman and became smitten with his employer’s niece, Eliza, as a result of his tutoring work.
  4. Once again, tragedy intervened in Joseph Scriven’s life when the long-awaited wedding day failed to materialize.
  5. He first sent the words to his mother in a letter, with the intention that she would be the only one to read them.
  6. His remarks serve as a reminder that, even though life is difficult and terrible at times, we have someone with us who is a dearer friend than any human could ever be, supporting us and sticking near to us through it all, no matter what.

Lyrics

What a buddy we have in Jesus, who is willing to suffer all of our sins and sorrows! I count it a great honor to bring everything before God in prayer! How much serenity we frequently sacrifice, and how much unnecessarily painful suffering we endure, just because we do not bring all to God in prayer!

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

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What a Friend We Have in Jesus Lyrics

What is the structure of a personal poem? It has become one of the most well-loved and best-known hymns in the world, and it was written by a disheartened and crestfallen son to an ailing mother. In 1855, Irish poet and preacher Joseph Scriven (10 September 1819 – 10 August 1886) wrote a timeless Christian song, “What A Friend We Have in Jesus.” The hymn is still in use today. It was first written as a poem by the author to console his mother, who was in critical condition in Ireland at the time of the writing while he was away in Canada.

What if I told you that some of the most well-known songs were composed during periods of deep sadness?

We can never predict when tragedy may strike in our life.

During these times of adversity, we may see God’s kindness and faithfulness at work in our lives, and we learn the most significant lessons about God’s love and promises.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus Song

What a wonderful ally we have in Jesus.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus Lyrics

What a Friend we have in Jesus, who bears all of our sins and sorrows with us! What an honor it is to bring everything before God in prayer! How much tranquillity we frequently sacrifice, how much unnecessary suffering we endure, just because we do not bring all to God in prayer! Have we faced difficulties and temptations? Is there any difficulty in any part of the world? We should never give up, and we should always take our problems to the Lord in prayer. Is it possible to have a buddy who is so loyal that he will share all of our sorrows?

Are we weakened and burdened with a tremendous burden of responsibility?

Take it to the Lord in prayer; He will take thee into His arms and shelter thee, and there you will find comfort and peace.

The Unknown Story Behind What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Joseph Scriven is a fictional character created by author Joseph Scriven.

Early Life

J. M. Scriven was born in 1819 in Banbridge, County Down, Northern Ireland, to a well-to-do family. He went on to become a successful businessman. Scriven’s father served as a captain in the British Royal Marines, and he had high hopes for a successful future in his own country, where he would have a loving family. A bachelor’s degree from Trinity College in Dublin was awarded to him in 1842 after he had enrolled there. His dream was to become an army officer, so he enrolled in the Addiscombe Military College, which is located near London, England, and prepares students for military duty in India.

Nonetheless, due to his deteriorating health, he was forced to retire from the service. Scriven, on the other hand, went on to become a teacher and decided to return to his birthplace.

Tragedy in Ireland

He had fallen in love with a lovely woman and had been engaged to be married to her for some time. Tragically, tragedy occurred the evening before the wedding. The horse that he was riding slipped from his fiancee’s grasp as they crossed the Bann River bridge. She was tragically drowned in the sea and died as a result of the event. Scriven was on his way to see her the day before the wedding was set to take place. In any case, he stumbled upon this horrifying image when he noticed that the woman who had stolen his heart was harrowingly laying under the water in a stream bed.

As a result of his fiancee’s death, he became overwhelmed with grief and began to adhere to the practices and teachings of the Plymouth Brethren, a non-conformist and evangelical Christian movement that believed in the priesthood of all male believers and the sufficiency of mercy for the purposes of forgiveness and redemption.

Relocating to Canada

Scrivener on the Prowl for a New Life In 1845, he left his home nation of Ireland to begin a new life in Canada, where he eventually settled in Woodstock, Ontario. He proceeded to roam and eventually settled in Port Hope, Canada, where he earned a livelihood by tutoring schoolchildren. Scriven established a private school in Brantford in 1850 and also preached throughout the surrounding region. Scriven fell in love with Eliza Catherine Roche, a relative of one of his students, after meeting her at a party.

Tragic events occurred once more.

Scriven was startled, unhappy, and devastated as his goals and ambitions were crushed in an instant.

Scriven’s tribulations prepared the road for him to dedicate his life to the Lord Jesus Christ.

A Life of Service and Compassion

During these difficult times in his life, he relied on his trust in the Almighty and embarked on a journey to assist the impoverished and crippled. He dedicated a significant amount of time to Bible study and prayer, and he also made a vow of poverty. In exchange for selling all of his assets, he dedicated the next ten years of his life to assisting others in need. He joined the local Plymouth Brethren and helped others less fortunate than himself by chopping wood for their stoves, which provided him with peace and a sense of accomplishment.

The Poem “Pray Without Ceasing”

The Original Manuscript of Scriven Ten years after the death of his second fiancee, tragedy struck once more for him. Scriven learned that his mother, who was still in Ireland, had fallen ill and was in critical condition. Because he did not have the financial means to return home and be with her, he sent her a letter of consolation in which he included the lyrics of the poemPray Without Ceasingto remind her that she had a trustworthy friend in Jesus, no matter what happened to him. The poem, published in 1855, recounted how the author had developed an intimate acquaintance with Jesus through the trials of his life and how he treasured that relationship.

  • Pray Without Ceasing, on the other hand, was not included since it was a personal poetry.
  • He came across the poetry penned on a piece of paper that was laying near his bed and questioned as to the identity of the poet who had written such wonderful lines.
  • It was a personal poetry that was not meant to be read by anyone else, save for the author.
  • Scriven’s buddies were able to get their hands on a copy of the poem, and one of them was able to sell it to a publisher.
  • He sent one copy to his unwell mother and handed the other to the wife of a friend who was in need of a good book.
  • Whatever the true situation behind the poem, it was published anonymously under the title, Pray Without Ceasing, in the year 2000.

In the 1880s, Scriven was finally recognized as the author of the novel. Charles Crozat Converse (1832-1918), an attorney, set one of the poems to music, making it into a catchy song in 1868. He changed the title to “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”

Death and Memorial

Scriven’s last years were marred by ill health, limited financial resources, and clinical depression. In August 1886, he had a terrible illness. During his hallucinatory outing, he lost his footing and fell into a little brook, where he perished. A graveside eulogy was held in Bewdley for him and Eliza, his second fiancée. Joseph Scriven is commemorated by a monument at Port Hope. It was in honor of this modest man that the inhabitants of Port Hope, Ontario, created a monument in his memory. He had lived a terrible, sad, mourning, and inconspicuous life.

Worldwide Recognition

Thousands of believers have been encouraged, inspired, and blessed for more than 160 years as a result of a modest poem penned to bring peace to a distraught mother. It is truly incredible. The famed American preacher Dwight L. Moody, who heard the song What a Friend We Have in Jesus for the first time in 1875, used the hymn in his writings and sermons for the next few decades. When Ira D. Sankey, the head of Moody’s singing group, performed the song in his crusades, it became a national sensation.

The lyrics of this hymn, which were inspired by sad events in the writer’s life, serve as an anthem for those who are experiencing difficulty, uncertainty, sacrifice, and insecurity in their lives.

The Hymn Discussion — What a Friend We Have in Jesus

It is illustrated in Stanza 1 of the hymn that Jesus is the only genuine friend who takes on our load and forgives us of our misdeeds. It is a personal expression of the author’s connection with Jesus. Jesus has not abandoned us, and He is patiently listening to our requests. Our Savior intervenes on our behalf, meets us in our sorrow, and lavishes us with blessings far in excess of what we deserve or anticipate. As a result of failing to pray, we experience a loss of serenity, as well as anguish and suffering, as we fail to hand up our innermost concerns, regrets, and anxieties to the redeemer, who holds our destiny in His eternal hands.

  1. We are all subjected to trials and temptations, and we all encounter difficulties in our life.
  2. Jesus is the only one who understands our deepest secrets and shortcomings, and He is the only one who can provide us with consolation and comfort on this planet.
  3. Afraid that we are weak and burdened with a great load of responsibility?
  4. Take it to the Lord in prayer, is the answer to all of these issues.
  5. We learn that despite his immense adversity, Scriven came to the realization that Jesus is the only one who can have a good influence on his life even in the most difficult of situations.
  6. That We Have in Jesus reminds us that approaching our Heavenly Father every day and casting our problems, anxieties, and fears on Him is indeed a privilege and not something to be taken for granted.
  7. What a Friend We Have in Jesus inspires us to pray and put our trust in Jesus no matter what is going on in our lives.
  8. Check out our Hymns Collection for even more amazing Christian music.

You will find the historical contexts for the songs to be highly interesting and enlightening as well as entertaining. Sing along with the words, making sure you comprehend the meaning of each song, and allow pleasure to flood your heart.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus – Wikipedia

“What a Friend We Have in Jesus”
Song
Published lyrics published 1865 by H. L. Hastings lyrics with tune published 1870 byOliver DitsonCo.
Genre Hymn
Composer(s) Charles C. Converse (1868)
Lyricist(s) Joseph M. Scriven (1855)

It was initially composed as a poem by preacher Joseph M. Scriven in 1855 to console his mother, who was living in Ireland at the time while he was in Canada. It is now considered a Christian hymn and is sung by millions of people worldwide. Scriven first published the poem anonymously, and it was only in the 1880s that he was given full credit for it. The hymn’s music was created by Charles Crozat Converse in 1868, and it is still in use today. There are several variations of the hymn, each with a different set of lyrics in a variety of languages.

Other songs, such as the Welsh “Calon Lân,” have been used in conjunction with the lyrics in some instances (originally wedded to the Welsh poem translated as “A Pure Heart”).

Renditions

  • Bing Crosby (1951, Beloved Hymns)
  • Tennessee Ernie Ford (1928, Columbia Records)
  • Washington Phillips, as “Jesus Is My Friend” (1928, Columbia Records)
  • In 1958, Ernie Ford released the album Nearer the Cross on Capitol Records
  • In 1959, Rosemary Clooney released the album Hymns from the Heart on MGM Records
  • In 1963, Reno Smiley and the Tennessee Cut-Ups released the album Brighten the Corner
  • In 1970, Thurl Ravenscroft released the album Great Hymns In Story and Song
  • In 1974, Aretha Franklin released the album Amazing Grace
  • And in 1975, Lester Flatt released the album LPFlatt Gospel FlattScruggs also contributed to the performance when Flatt and Earl Scruggs played together. Bill Monroe (Bear Family (German) BCD-16639) is a fictional character created by author Bill Monroe. It was recorded by several artists, including Wade and Julia Mainer with unknown musicians (1989), Glen Campbell (1989, Favorite Hymns), Driving Miss Daisy(1989), sung at Little Friendship Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, The John Tesh Project(2000), and Amy Grant(2002), who included it in a medley called “What a Friend We Have in Jesus/Old Rugged Cross/How Great Thou Art” on her 2002 studio album Legacy. Hymns and Faith, which was eventually featured on her compilation album Be Still and Know (Be Still and Know, 2015). Hymns “Changes” by Alan Price
  • Alan Jackson (2006, Precious Memories)
  • Brad Paisley (2008)
  • Ronnie Milsap (2009, Then Sings My Soul)
  • Hugh Laurie (2013), “Didn’t It Rain,” as “Changes” by Alan Price
  • Monty Alexander (2013), “Uplift 2.” In 1979, William Bolcom wrote an arrangement of the song.

In Asia

The title of the hymn was initially translated into Japanese as “Itsukushimi Fukaki” (lit. “Merciful”), which is the name by which it is best known. When Daisui Sugitani reworked the lyrics in Japanese and altered the title to “Hoshi no Yo” (lit. “World of Stars”) in 1910, it was considered a breakthrough. Another version, titled “Hoshi no Sekai” (lit. “World of Stars”), was written by Ryko Kawaji and published under the same title. It is also known by the term “Tsumitoga o Ninou” (lit. “To Bear Sin”) in some regions of Japan.

  • Both of the hymn instrumentals from “Hoshi no Sekai” and “Itsukushimi Fukaki” are utilized as background music for Key’s 2004 visual novelPlanetarian: The Reverie of a Little Planet, which was arranged byMagome Togoshi and released in Japan in 2004.
  • Statistics show that the majority of Indonesians are Muslim (about 76 percent), but native religious elements account for up to 90 percent of the overall population, and as a result, the hymn is only generally recognized among artists, scholars, and members of Indonesia’s Christian community.
  • It is sung as “Yeshu kaisa dost pyara” in Hindi, and it is considered to be a very important song.
  • In Malayalam, the hymn known as “Enthu Nallore sakhi Yesu” is sung to provide solace and to serve as an invitation to follow Christ in his mission.
  • Preethi gala mana Yesu is the translation, and it is hymn No.
  • In India, the hymn “Dulob Jezu,” which is performed in Konkani, was translated into English by Felix Paul Noronha of Mangalore.

For more than a century, this song has been sung in unison by the churches of evangelical denominations. The remake version has also been created using modern Christian music as a foundation.

Parodies and homages

Among the songs that have been made fun of include the soldiers’ song from World War I, “When this awful war is finished.” Alan Price utilized the theme for his song “Changes” in the 1973 filmO Lucky Man!, which was then repeated in a Volkswagen ad starring Paula Hamilton in the 1980s, which was titled “O Lucky Man!” The song peaked at number 54 on the UK charts in 1989 and at number 29 on the German charts the following year.

Hugh Laurie recorded a cover version of the song for his album Didn’t It Rain in 2013.

Published versions

  • Rise Up Singing, page 98
  • Hymn457 in the Lutheran Hymnal
  • And more sources.

References

  1. “What a friend we have in Jesus,” according to the Hymnology Archive. Retrieved2020-07-05
  2. s^ Chapter IX, page 301 of The Valley of the Trent’s The Valley of the Trent, Edwin C. Guillet’s “Community Life: Religion.” The Champlain Society, 1957
  3. “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” retrieved on 2007-05-03
  4. Polack, W. G., et al (1941). Lutheran Hymnal: A Handbook for the Lutheran Hymnal. Concordia University Press, St. Louis, Missouri, p. 323
  5. “Washington Phillips discography.” Washington Phillips discography. wirz.de. Obtainable on August 24, 2015
  6. George Washington Phillips says, “Jesus is my best friend.” AllMusic, accessed August 24, 2015
  7. “Pure Hymns overview,” accessed August 24, 2015. Allmusic. “Monty Alexander UPLIFT 2,” which was retrieved on July 4, 2010. Jazz Legacy Productions is a jazz-themed production company. “Bolcom, W.: Gospel Preludes, Books 1-4 (Hand)”, which was retrieved on January 11, 2014. Naxos. “Itsukushimi Fukaki song sheet,” which was retrieved on November 11, 2021. (PDF). 312: What a Friend We Have in Jesus. Retrieved 2008-03-19
  8. Christhiya Keerthanangal (Christian Hymns). 2007. Hymn 173
  9. “Trench Songs – When this Lousy War is Over”. The Poetry of the First World War Digital Archive. On the 30th of July in the year 2020,

External links

  • “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” says the author. Silver wings is a compilation of brand-new Sunday school music that was composed specifically for this project. Boston, Massachusetts: Oliver Ditson Company, 1870. Retrieved2020-07-05
  • Timeless Truths has a piano score (pdf) available.

History of Hymns: ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus’

Written by C. Michael Hawn Joseph Scriven is a fictional character created by author Joseph Scriven. “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” says the author. Written by Joseph Scriven The United Methodist Hymnal has 526 hymns. What a Friend we have in Jesus, who bears all of our sins and sorrows with us! What an honor it is to bring everything before God in prayer! O what serenity we frequently sacrifice, O what needless suffering we endure—all because we do not bring all to God in prayer, we are doing a grave sin.

Joseph Medlicott Scriven (1819–1886) was born in Seapatrick, Ireland (now Northern Ireland) and died in Ontario, Canada.

Upon completing his studies at Trinity College, Dublin, he decided to pursue a military career, in which he was trained for duty in India.

He returned to Trinity and received his bachelor’s degree in 1842.

Scriven’s Life

Scriven’s life has been filled with sorrow. His Irish fiancée drowned accidentally the night before their wedding, prompting his relocation to Woodstock, Canada West (now Ontario), where he headed a Plymouth Brethren congregation and lectured. Scriven founded a private school in Brantford in 1850 and also preached throughout the surrounding region. Some historians think that Scriven may have written the first draft of “What a Friend” around this time period, according to their research. In 1855, after settling near Clinton in Huron County, he began reading the Bible to railway construction workers who were working on the Grand Trunk Railway, which was being built across Canada West.

  • Tragic events befell him once more when his second fiancée, Eliza Catherine Roach, Pengelly’s niece, died suddenly of an illness just weeks before their wedding in 1860.
  • According to hymnologist Albert Bailey, Scriven was known as “the guy who saws wood for destitute widows and sick persons who are unable to pay” because of his altruistic character (Bailey, 1950, p.
  • The following is a description of what we know about the circumstances surrounding Scriven’s death in October 1886, according to the Dictionary of Canadian Biography: Severe ill-health and melancholy accompanied him in his final days.
  • Scriven left his bed without disturbing anyone one hot night in 1866, most likely to drink from a nearby spring; he was found dead in the spillway of Sackville’s grist-mill, just a few feet from the spring, some hours later, presumably having fainted or fallen.
  • Scriven was buried at the Pengelly burial-ground in an unmarked tomb between Eliza Roach and Commander Pengelly (Macpherson, “Scriven,” n.d.).
  • Sackville saw the unhappy Scriven “prostrate in mind and body” a few days before his death, and overheard him remark, “I pray the Lord would take me home” (Cleland, 1895, p.
  • It was never determined if his death was the result of an accident or a suicide.

Friends and neighbors eventually placed a monument over his gravestone to commemorate his life. The historical monument for Joseph Medlicott Scriven was unveiled in Otanabee-South Monaghan, Ontario, Canada, to commemorate his homestead and burial site.

Origins of ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus’

Hymns and Other Verses was a collection of Scriven’s poetic works that included seventy-one hymns “intended to be sung in assemblies of the children of God on the first day of the week and on other occasions when two or three are met together in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” These were followed by thirty-four scriptural paraphrases “not to be sung in the assembly, but to express truth, as well as convey comfort, instruction, or reproof to our hearts (Scriven, 1869, Preface).

  • The song for which he is most known, “What a Friend,” does not feature in the collection, though.
  • Some commentators have speculated that the song was composed for his mother, who was unwell at the time of its composition.
  • Sankey (1840–1908) (as reported in Bailey, 1950, pp.
  • This assumption, on the other hand, is difficult to verify.
  • Sackville, near Rice Lake.
  • Sackville, whom the elderly woman, who is now over eighty years old, cherishes.
  • 13).

If this is the case, The personal first-person plural perspective of this hymn is in contrast to the author’s other songs.

Carl Daw Jr.

470).

Packard’s Spiritual Minstrel: A Collection of Hymns and Music(1857), however this is incorrect (See Fenner, 2020, n.p.).

Charles Converse (1832–1918), a New England composer and church musician, incorporated the words in hisSilver Wings(1870), which he published with his own melody under the pen name Karl Reden, which is a Germanization of his given name (“reden” meaning “to talk” or “converse”).

There does not appear to be a copy of this hymnal in existence.

Moody (1837–1899)’s revival performances.

1.

Over the years, the text has remained extraordinarily stable, with just a few minor editing modifications.

It was written in four quatrains, the first three of which are well-known to readers.

For more information, please see the text at Fenner, 2020, n.p.

First and foremost, Stanza 1 establishes the fact that Jesus is a friend who is capable of bearing our sins and responsibilities.

The hymnwriters of the nineteenth century are particularly well-known for expressing their personal connection with Jesus.

Stead (1882), “I Must Tell Jesus All of My Trials” by Elisha A.

(1873).

The second stanza poses two rhetorical questions, which are rhetorical since, after all, all people are subjected to “trials and temptations” and witness “trouble” at some point in their lives.

Lastly, a rhetorical inquiry asks, “Can we find another buddy who is so devoted.?” The comfort that comes from a close connection with someone who “knows our every weakness” is a wonderful thing.

Do your buddies dislike you and abandon you?

Another prevalent motif in hymns from this time period is the idea of Jesus embracing his companion in his arms at the end of the song.

The following fourth stanza was discovered by hymnologist Fred Gealy in Hastings’Songs of Pilgrimage: A Hymnal for the Churches of Christ(Boston, 1886; Second Ed.

1888): Blessed Jesus, thou hast fulfilled thy promise Thou wilt bear all of our responsibilities; may we always, Lord, be bringing all of our burdens to thee in prayer.

It is possible that this stanza was inserted by the editor because he considered that an eschatological focus would be more theologically appropriate for a concluding stanza in this particular hymnal, which appears to be the only one to feature it.

Despite this, Bailey acknowledges that “the immense service the hymn has done renders our critique inconsequential.” Even the most illiterate person may comprehend it; the most modest saint can take its admonitions to heart and practice prayer, so finding his burden less burdensome and his spiritual life enhanced” (Bailey, 1950, p.

  1. Taking a Lutheran viewpoint, Paul Westermeyer notes that the song has been a source of consolation for many who have heard it, but that the song has also been a part of an evangelical Protestantism that betrays its own past by turning prayer into a means of controlling God’s favor.
  2. consolation, as well as forfeiting tranquility or enduring sorrow.
  3. 606).
  4. The unfortunate reality is that singing it has sometimes served as a replacement for the entire prayer life that it encourages, and its advice has been valued but not followed” (Daw, 2016, p.
  5. Although other songs are associated with this text, CONVERSE by Charles Converse is the most well-known.
  6. Interestingly, Young (1993, p.

From long-established white performers like Pat Boone (feature=emb title), Rosemary Clooney, Loretta Lynn, Barbara Mandrell, Willie Nelson, and Dolly Parton to African American gospel artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, and Ike and Tina Turner (feature=emb title), the list of recording artists who have performed this song is staggering.

Baloche’s improvisatory coda serves as a link between the nineteenth century and the twenty-first century.

The simplicity of the language becomes a virtue in translation, and the folk-like melody is easily understood by people of many cultural backgrounds.

There are just a handful hymns that I have heard more frequently all around the world than this one.

5–6) on the liner “Scriven’s Victory.” One hundred years later, this author confirms hearing this song sung in a variety of languages and renditions, including in a humble congregation for people with leprosy near Ogbomosho, Nigeria; a Filipino Anglican congregation in Manila; a thriving Baptist congregation in Matanzas, Cuba; and an African American Methodist congregation in Atlanta, among other locations.

Over the course of more than one hundred fifty years, a simple poem written in Canada as a private meditation for the author’s mother in Ireland has found its way into many hearts around the world and, without a doubt, has been a source of comfort for millions of Christians.

SOURCES

Albert E. Bailey’s The Gospel in Hymns (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1950) is a collection of hymns written by Albert E. Bailey. What a Friend We Have in Jesus and Other Poems by Joseph Scriven with a Sketch of the Author (Port Hope: W. Williamson, Publishers, 1895): December 27, 2020. James Cleland, What a Friend We Have in Jesus and Other Poems by Joseph Scriven with a Sketch of the Author (Port Hope: W. Williamson, Publishers, 1895): December 27, 2020. Glory to God: A Companion to the Book of Psalms by Carl P.

  1. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2016) .
  2. Chris Fenner, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” Hymnology Archive (February 2020), December 26, 2020.
  3. Margaret Leask, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Hugh D.
  4. Hugh D.
  5. “Scriven, Joseph Medlicott,” Dictionary of Canadian Biography (Vol XI (1881–1890), December 26, 2020).
  6. Hymns and Other Verses (Peterborough: James Stephens, 1869): December 26, 2020).
  7. Hymnal Companion: Evangelical Lutheran Worship (Paul Westermeyer, Hymnal Companion: Evangelical Lutheran Worship) (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress Press, 2010).
  8. Young’s Companion to the United Methodist Hymnal is a must-have for every hymnophile (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1993).
  9. Michael Hawn, D.M.A., F.H.S., is University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Church Music and Adjunct Professor at Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology, as well as the Director of the Doctor of Pastoral Music Program at the university.

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