Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam / daß er sich taufen ließe

Here is my translation of the hymn, “Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam” (Paul Henkel, d. 1825), in NEGB #26 in 5 stanzas for the Sunday after New Year (Gospel: Matt. 3:13–17). An English adaptation in 5 stanzas of Common Meter, “When Jesus unto Jordan came,” is found in the Church Hymn Book 1816, #29 (ed. 1838, #60), which I include below for comparison from the later edition. The melody appointed for our hymn is “Es ist gewisslich an der Zeit.”


 

CHRIST Jesus came to be baptized
By John in Jordan’s river.
The Word Himself, His people prized
He had come to deliver.
As our true Priest His sacrifice
Must be the full atoning price
For all mankind forever.

2 He was baptized, yet not for sin
Like Adam’s sons and daughters;
He had no need, like fallen men,
Of purifying waters.
He was from all transgression free,
Thus qualified our Priest to be,
With God to reconcile us.

3 With clarity God’s Holy Word
Our Great High Priest portended;
The priestly rites to Him referred,
Which by Him now are ended:
The priest was washed for purity,
And must with oil anointed be,
And so be consecrated.

4 When Jesus was baptized by John
As He, the Lord, requested,
John saw the cause, and it was done,
Though briefly he protested.
He baptized Jesus as He bade;
The Holy Ghost with unction glad
Anointed Him profusely.

5 The Bapti-sm of Jesus Christ
Is for mankind’s salvation;
Thereby was He ordained our Priest
By heav’nly consecration.
He won our life’s eternal cure,
And Bapti-sm doth make pure.
To Him be praise forever!

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

CHURCH HYMN BOOK (1816 #29, 1838 #60)

1 When Jesus unto Jordan came,
And was baptized by John:
There it was proved He was the same
Who should for sin atone.

2 He was baptized, but not as they
Who are of sinful race:
He had no sin to wash away
To make Him heir of grace.

3 Repentance sure He needed not,
His life was pure indeed:
And He had neither stain nor spot
Of which He need be freed.

4 Why then did He thereto attend,
And why was He baptized?
It was to answer that great end,
For which it was devised;

5 This was the ordinance alone
Which was for to ordain:
That great High Priest who should atone
For all the guilt of men.

GERMAN

Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam,
daß er sich taufen ließe,
weil er das Wort selbst auf sich nahm,
daß er uns all erlöse.
Zum Priester wurde er geweiht,
sein Opfer uns in Ewigkeit,
mit unserm Gott versöhnte.

2 Er wurde nicht zur Buß getauft,
wie wir, die Adams Kinder.
Die Reinigung hat er nicht braucht,
er war ja gar kein Sünder.
Er war von allen Sünden rein,
drum konnt er auch der Priester sein,
der uns mit Gott versöhnte.

3 Gar deutlich war er vorgebildt,
im alten Testamente,
die Priesterweih dort auf ihn zielt,
er machte dem ein Ende.
Der Priester wurd gewaschen rein,
mit Öl mußt er gesalbet sein,
damit wurd er geweihet.

4 Als Jesus von Johanne war
getauft auf sein Begehren,
Johannes sah die Ursach klar,
drum mußt ers ihm gewähren.
Er taufte ihn auf sein Befehl,
der Heilig Geist mit Freudenöl
hat reichlich ihn gesalbet.

5 Die Tauf des Herren Jesu Christ
zu unserm Heil gedeihet,
dadurch er für uns worden ist
zum Priester eingeweihet,
der uns des ewig Heil vollbracht;
uns auch die Taufe heilig macht,
ihm sei das Lob gesungen.