Chris Tomlin and Ben Fielding resurrected the oldest known Christian hymn, transforming it into a modern worship anthem titled "The First Hymn." The ancient hymn, known as "P.Oxy 1786," was discovered in the Egyptian sands of Oxyrhynchus in 1918 and is an 1,800-year-old hymn containing both ancient lyrics and original musical notations.
On April 15, Chris Tomlin and Ben Fielding attended the documentary premiere of "The First Hymn" at the Museum of the Bible in Washington DC and shared the song live, according to themusicuniverse.com. Directed by historian Dr. John Dickson, the documentary follows Tomlin, Fielding, and other historians as they trace the history of the original hymn from its ancient resting place in Egypt to the United Kingdom, and then its journey to Australia and America, as reported by ccmmagazine.com. The film was made available to watch in the United States beginning April 14 on wonder.watch and streamed worldwide starting April 15.
The studio and live versions of "The First Hymn" are now available across all digital platforms, along with a lyric video and live video, according to themusicuniverse.com. The lyrics include:
"Let all be silent:
The shining stars not sound forth,
All rushing rivers stilled,
As we sing our hymn
To the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
As all Powers cry out in answer, 'Amen, Amen.'
Might, praise, and glory forever to our God.
The only Giver of all good gifts.
Amen. Amen."
Chris Tomlin, celebrated globally with 21 number-one hits and over seven billion streams, expressed his appreciation for the project. "'The First Hymn' is a sacred gift passed down from the early church—some of whom literally gave their lives for this song and for the gospel," he said, according to ccmmagazine.com. "Now, 1,800 years later, we stand in a long line of brave and bold believers, singing alongside them," he added.
Ben Fielding joined Tomlin on stage for the first live introduction of "The First Hymn" at a sold-out concert at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, according to ccmmagazine.com. The video for "The First Hymn" was filmed live at this concert in Tomlin's home state of Texas.
According to themusicuniverse.com, Tomlin and Fielding co-wrote "The First Hymn" using the original 35 words and music found on the small piece of papyrus that was unearthed. "This song reminds us of the history of our faith—it's not a trend, it's not a fad, and it's certainly not 30 minutes old. It's ancient, it's historical, and it's eternal. The worship of the one true God—the giver of all good gifts—has echoed through generations," Tomlin said, as reported by ccmmagazine.com.
According to ccmmagazine.com, on Friday, April 18th, Tomlin returned to Nashville for his Good Friday concert, the largest ticketed Christian concert ever at Bridgestone Arena, now in its ninth year. Reflecting on the annual event, he said, "It's probably my favorite thing... and I look forward to it every year. I'm so grateful." Tomlin added, "It has to remember the cross, to remember the sacrifice of Jesus, and to remember the hope that we have."
"The concert gathers thousands in a collective acknowledgment of the reason behind their faith," Tomlin summarized, as reported by ccmmagazine.com. He invited those near Nashville to join the concert, saying, "There's a few seats left. Not many. But if you're around Nashville, you got to be there. It's so special."
According to themusicuniverse.com, the event continues to benefit the foster care and adoption crisis through For Others, a non-profit organization created by Chris Tomlin and his wife Lauren. For Others is a collective of donors, nonprofits, businesses, and government agencies holistically addressing the crisis plaguing the nation's most vulnerable through local and nationwide initiatives.
According to ccmmagazine.com, "The First Hymn" project revives an ancient song and bridges the gap between early Christian worship and modern-day faith. By bringing together musicians, historians, and believers, Tomlin and Fielding have created a moment of spiritual reflection, unity, and renewed faith. The documentary traces the hymn's journey from an ancient Egyptian artifact to a modern-day anthem, showing its transformation into a sacred gift for today's church.
Tomlin expressed gratitude for being part of this endeavor. "I am incredibly grateful and humbled to join my friend Ben Fielding and the Undeceptions Documentary Team in honoring those who came before us and helping bring this powerful hymn back to life—and back into the voice of the Church," he said.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system