Life and Times of Paul Gerhardt

Our musical and theological heritage as Lutherans includes powerful hymns written by pastors such as Martin Luther and Paul Gerhardt. Since we don’t often hear the name of Paul Gerhardt in day-to-day conversation, it’s worth digging into the annals of history for a glance at the life and times of this Lutheran pastor who has given so much to the church.

Gerhardt was born more than 400 years ago (1606) in a small German village called Graefenhainichen, where his father Christian was mayor. The devastation of the Thirty Years’ War began in his youth, and we know little about his early years, probably because so many records were destroyed. He was forty-five before he obtained a pastoral position in Mittenwald, and he married Anna Maria Bertholdt shortly after. Alas, their first child was born and died before he left that pulpit.

He was next appointed to St. Nicholas in Berlin, where he quickly became a most popular preacher. All churches in that time and place were state-run, with pockets of Catholic, Lutheran and Reformed official “territories.” Attempts to reconcile strife between Lutheran and Reformed factions caused the magistrates to circulate a sort of creed that all clergy were required to “subscribe” to by signing a paper.

True to his convictions, Gerhardt refused to sign and was eventually removed from his position, not without protest from the Berliners. It is thought that at this time he wrote the hymn “If God Himself Be For Me,” which we find on page 454 of our LBW.

           If God Himself be for me, I may a host defy

           For when I pray, before me my foes, confounded, fly.

           If Christ, my head and master, befriend me from

     above,

     What foe or what disaster can drive me from His

      love?

Many of Gerhardt's songs appeared in the first instance in various hymn books. The first was published by J. E. Ebeling, Director of Music in the chief church in Berlin, in 1666. Many of the tunes were written by Johann Crueger, a contemporary organist. It seems that Gerhardt received no royalties of any kind, yet his hymns became popular in their day and deemed worthy of passing on to the generations of worshippers which followed. These poems contain thoughts derived from Scripture and are permeated by a spirit of trust and dependence on God.

Three other Gerhardt children, and also his beloved Anna Maria, preceded him in death (1676). Only one child, Paul Friedrich, survived him. Near his portrait in his final parish is the inscription “A theologian sifted in Satan’s sieve.”

Fortunately, there is a wealth of information online regarding this well-loved hymnwriter. The texts of his hymns are likewise available, albeit in many versions and translations. If you are able to enjoy them in the original German, they are well worth your while, mostly because his delightful facility with language doesn’t translate to English quite as well — as you might expect. Our own Lutheran Book of Worship (green hymnal) includes eleven of his hymns.

#  23      Oh, Lord, How Shall I Meet Thee? (Advent)

#  46      Once Again My Heart Rejoices (Christmas)

#105      A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth

               (Holy Week)

#116

& #117   O Sacred Head

               (translated from Bernard of Clairvaux)

#129      Awake, My Heart (Easter)

#276      Now All the Woods Are Sleeping

#282      Now Rest Beneath Night’s Shadow

#336      Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me

#454      If God Himself Be For Me

#465      Evening and Morning

Nicole Moritz

Director of Music