Category: Articles

The full lyrics of To God Be the Glory, what “the vilest offender” claims, why the hymn took eighty years to catch on in America, and its public-domain status.

Paideia (παιδεία, Strong’s G3809) is the Greek word for discipline, built on the word for “child.” It means upbringing and training, not punishment, and Titus 2:12 says it is grace itself that does the teaching.

The full lyrics of ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus, what “just to take Him at His word” means, the widow who wrote it, and whether the hymn is public domain.

Musar (מוּסָר, Strong’s H4148) is the Hebrew word for discipline, a father’s word for training a child, translated “instruction” far more often than “chastening,” and the same word Isaiah 53:5 uses for the chastisement that brought us peace.

The full lyrics of Amazing Grace, what “wretch” actually meant to John Newton, the slave ship captain who wrote it, the verse most people don’t know, and its public-domain status.

Agathosyne (ἀγαθωσύνη, Strong’s G19) is the Greek word for goodness in Galatians 5:22, a word not found in classical Greek, born in the Greek Bible to describe goodness that acts, and strong enough to correct when love requires it.

The full lyrics of Be Thou My Vision, what “naught be all else to me” and “High King of Heaven” mean, how an ancient Irish poem became an English hymn, and its public-domain status.

Tuv (טוּב, Strong’s H2898) is the Hebrew word for goodness. It means good you can hold, like the harvest, the “good of the land,” and when Moses asked to see God’s glory, God offered to show him “all my goodness.”

The full lyrics of I Surrender All, what surrender actually means in the hymn, the art teacher who wrote it after five years of indecision, and its public-domain status.

Chrestotes (χρηστότης) is the Greek word for kindness in Galatians 5:22 and Romans 2:4 — a goodness that is actually useful to the person receiving it, the same word Jesus used when He called His yoke “easy.”