Hymn in Triads

I Corinthians 15:55-57
‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 The Strife Is O’er, the Battle Done LBW 135

       Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

1    The strife is o’er, the battle done; now is the victor’s triumph won!
     Now be the song of praise begun. Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

2    The pow’rs of death have done their worst, but Christ their legions has dispersed.
      Let shouts of holy joy outburst.  Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

3    The three sad days have quickly sped, he rises glorious from the dead.
      All glory to our risen head!  Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

4    He broke the age-bound chains of hell; the bars from heav’n’s high portals fell.
      Let hymns of praise his triumph tell.  Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

5    Lord, by the stripes which wounded you, from death’s sting free your servants too,
      that we may live and sing to you.  Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

      Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Text: Symphonia Sirenum, Köln, 1695; tr. Francis Pott, 1832-1909

      The tune of this hymn comes from classical music, attributed to the great composer Giovanni de Palestrina.  He was a devout Roman Catholic who adapted many church liturgical pieces for popular culture.  This tune was taken from the “Gloria Patri” open of his choral works and first appeared in a Latin Text translated into English by Francis Potts.

      This hymn is written in triads:

      1 – The strife is o’er the battle done,
      2 – Now is the victor’s triumph won!
      3 -  Now be the song of praise begun; alleluia!

      This form is meant to remind us that God appears in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But the hymn is also presented in triads of action;

      1 – The negative is undone (the battle’s done),
      2 – The positive is done (the victor’s won),
      3 – And we respond (our song’s begun!)

      Which echoes the earliest Christian hymn, sometimes used in our communion liturgy: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again!

Prayer:  We sing to you, O God, Father Son and Holy Spirit, and we thank you for the work of Christ. For he has died, He is risen, and He will come again!  Amen.