Imagine this: a hymn that dates back nearly 1,800 years, originally sung in ancient Egypt, is now captivating audiences in modern Australia. This remarkable journey from the dusty ruins of history to contemporary church services stems from the dedication of an Australian academic who stumbled upon a fragment of an ancient document in a garbage dump.
The artifact in question, known as Papyrus P. Oxy. XV 1786 (or P. Oxy 1786), was unearthed among thousands of other historical fragments during excavations in Oxyrhynchus, Egypt, throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. This collection included various intriguing items such as a contract for a rigged wrestling match, a corn supply agreement, a Roman arrest warrant for a Christian, and even the front page of Mark’s Gospel from the New Testament. Of all these treasures, P. Oxy 1786 stands out as the oldest known Christian hymn with musical notation still intact on its manuscript.
Professor John Dickson, upon first laying eyes on this ancient piece, felt an immediate urge to share it with the world. "Looking through the microscope at that item, I experienced this rush of inspiration, thinking, 'Why has no one revived this hymn and brought it back to life for everyone to hear?'" Dr. Dickson expressed.
He noted that while there are approximately 60 examples of ancient Greek music dating from 400 BC to 300 AD, this particular hymn remains unique as the only surviving Christian example. With this realization, a decade ago, he envisioned not just revitalizing the hymn for today’s churches, but also capturing the entire process in a documentary.
The translated lyrics from P. Oxy 1786 read:
"Let the world be silent, Let not the stars shine their lights,
Calm the winds, silence the rivers,
Let all praise the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Let all sing together: Amen, Amen.
Let kings bow, and God receive the glory!
The sole giver of good things, Amen, Amen."
Despite his colleagues initially deeming his idea as "outlandish," Dr. Dickson's fascination with P. Oxy 1786 persisted. He made it a point to visit this ancient document whenever he traveled to Oxford, developing what he described as a friendship with the fragment.
Three years ago, he decided it was time to transform his dream into reality. During the production of the documentary, Dr. Dickson journeyed to the archaeological site of Oxyrhynchus, which now lies in ruins. "We wanted to connect with the place where this hymn originated, where it was once sung," he explained.
In an underground crypt of the city's oldest ruined church, he spontaneously began to sing the hymn in its original Greek melody. Reflecting on this moment, he said, "I felt an overwhelming sense of bringing back to life a song that had not been heard for 1,800 years."
To bridge the gap between ancient and contemporary worship, Dr. Dickson enlisted musician Ben Fielding to reimagine the hymn for today’s churches. Together with American artist Chris Tomlin, they set out to breathe new life into the ancient song using Dr. Dickson’s translation from the Greek text.
Fielding experimented with various melodies, recording snippets on his phone and sharing them with Tomlin across different time zones. The collaboration was unconventional yet fruitful, aiming to preserve the joyful essence of the original composition while making it appealing to modern congregations. "The challenge for us was to respect the integrity of the original hymn-writers while creating something that resonates with today's listeners," Fielding reflected.
The culmination of their efforts led to the public debut of the song, titled "The First Hymn," at a concert in Texas attended by 12,000 people. Fielding recalled the experience, saying, "Witnessing the audience respond to this reinterpretation—a resurrection of an ancient hymn—was astounding. The whole room sang along, and we left the stage thinking, 'Wow, there’s something truly special here.'" He hopes that the song will inspire and bring together the modern church.
"Our songs have the power to connect us with others, even those we may never meet," he noted. "All around the globe, people are singing the same hymns and sharing the same faith, which is a beautiful thing."
For Dr. Dickson, witnessing the hymn performed was a dream fulfilled. Standing backstage during that inaugural performance, he couldn't help but wipe away tears. "The original composers of this hymn could never have imagined that their creation would resonate with 10,000 voices today," he mused. "It felt like a connection to the hearts of those who first composed the song. We aimed to create a modern melody that churches can sing today, just as they did nearly 1,800 years ago."
He highlighted that the hymn encapsulates fundamental Christian doctrine that transcends denominational lines, offering encouragement to contemporary believers. "This hymn emerged during a time when early Christians faced severe persecution from the Romans. Yet, it is filled with joy and confidence, celebrating faith amidst adversity. Personally, I aspire to embody that spirit—to face challenges and skepticism with positivity."
The response to the song has been extraordinary, climbing to become one of the top four most sung hymns in churches across Australia, according to SongSelect, an online licensing library. Dr. Dickson described the documentary’s reception as "slightly nuts," noting that it was initially screened in 120 cinemas nationwide for just one week, but due to its success, major cinema chains extended it multiple times. "I'm sure the film industry was surprised to see a history documentary centered on Christianity drawing in so many viewers," he remarked. "I doubt many in the industry expected such interest."
This story raises thought-provoking questions about the power of ancient texts to inspire modern worship. How do you see the relationship between historical hymns and contemporary faith practices? Do you believe reviving such songs strengthens community bonds within churches today? Share your thoughts in the comments!
