Of the Father's Love Begotten

In AD 405, Aurelius Clemens Prudentius of Spain had a mid-life crisis, left his work as a judge, and retired to write poetry and hymns—which were treasured through the Middle Ages (Kevin DeYoung tells this story in greater depth).

His best-known hymn was “Of the Father’s Love Begotten,” an epic retelling of the great story of salvation from beginning to end.  Prudentius introduces the eternal, divine Son of God in verse 1:

Of the Father’s love begotten, Ere the worlds began to be, He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He, Of the things that are, that have been, And that future years shall see, Evermore and evermore!

Then he situates the incarnation against that grand back­drop:

O that birth forever blessed, When the virgin, full of grace, By the Holy Ghost conceiving, Bare the Saviour of our race; And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer, First revealed His sacred face, evermore and evermore!

This is He Whom seers in old time Chanted of with one accord; Whom the voices of the prophets Promised in their faithful word; Now He shines, the long expected, Let creation praise its Lord, Evermore and evermore!

So the Son fulfills prophecy and delivers the one, true hope for the world—the hope of redemption unto life, eternal life.  Then the hymn rises in a crescendo of praise in the final verses:

O ye heights of heaven adore Him; Angel hosts, His praises sing; Powers, dominions, bow before Him, and extol our God and King! Let no tongue on earth be silent, Every voice in concert sing, Evermore and evermore!

Christ, to Thee with God the Father, And, O Holy Ghost, to Thee, Hymn & chant with high thanksgiving, And unwearied praises be: Honour, glory, and dominion, And eternal victory, Evermore and evermore!