This book of hymns is a modest attempt to collect some of the best congregational songs available in the English language. Herein are compiled texts and tunes with sources ranging from ancient Israel, North Africa, Syria, Greece, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, England, Scotland, Ireland, and America, covering a time period extending from second century b.c. through 2017. Translations into English come from sources originally written in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, German, French, Spanish, and more. This collection is truly universal in its scope.
Our selection of hymns has been based on the central criterian of fidelity to biblical truth. What a church sings has often more impact upon the theology, devotion, and behavior of its members than the church's doctrinal confession or even what a pastor preaches. It is therefore important that a church sings only what is biblically true.
This is the primary reason we have placed an emphasis on Scripture-based hymns in this collection. Hymns that are close versifications or paraphrases of Scripture are clearly marked, and we have provided an index of these hymns as well.
We have assessed a song's truthfulness on at least three bases. First, we have endeavored to choose hymn texts that are theologically rich and sound. In most cases, we have attempted to preserve each author's original text, particularly for hymns written in English. We have made some alterations for translations into English, especially updating archaic pronouns, as long as those changes did not sacrifice poetic integrity. In a few minor cases we have made changes for doctrinal reasons.
Second, we have chosen only those texts we believe correspond to Scripture on a poetic level. Poetry is not merely decorative--it is an essential part of the communication of truth. The poetry of hymns expresses not just the what of biblical doctrine, but also how God chose to aesthetically present His truth in Scripture. Therefore, we have worked to choose hymns whose poetry shapes the affections and imaginations of worshipers in ways similar to how Scripture does.
Third, we have chosen hymn tunes that we believe best communicate the kinds of sentiments and affections that are fitting with biblical truth. Like with poetry, musical form is not neutral; rather, melody, harmony, and rhythm combine to give expression to right affections.
