Christ lag in Todesbanden. M. Luther. [Easter.] First published in Eyn Enchiridion, Erfurt, 1524, entitled "The hymn, ‘Christ ist erstanden,' improved." Thence in Wackernagel, iii. p. 12, in 7 stanzas of 7 lines, and the same in Schircks's ed. of Luther's Geistliche Lieder, 1854, p. 20, and in the Unverfälschter Liedersegen, 1851, No. 127. Only slight traces of the "Christ ist erstanden" (q. v.) are retained in Luther's hymn. Stanzas iv., v., are based on the sequence "Victimau paschali laudes" (q. v.), and one or two expressions may have been suggested by the "Surrexit Christus hodie" (q. v.). These German and Latin hymns, with the Scriptural notices of the Passover Lamb, furnished Luther with the materials of this beautiful poem, but the working out is entirely original, and the result a hymn second only to his unequalled "Ein' feste Burg" (q. v.)
Translations in common use:—
1. Christ in the bands of death was laid, a good translation, omitting stanza vii., by A. T. Russell, as No. 104 in his Psalms & Hymns, 1851.
2. Christ lay awhile in Death's strong bands, a full and good translation by R. Massie in his M. Luther's Spiritual Songs, 1854, p. 16. In full and unaltered as No. 104 in the edition, 1857, of Mercer's Church Psalm & Hymn Book (Ox. ed., 1864, No. 197). Stanzas i., vi., vii. unaltered, with stanzas iv. lines 1-4, and iii. 11. 5-7, united as stanza ii., were included, as No. 129, in Church Hymns , 1871. Stanzas i., iv., vi., vii., altered and beginning "Christ Jesus lay in Death's strong bands," appear as No. 192 in Thring's Collection, 1882.
3. In the bonds of death He lay, Who, a full and good translation, but not in the original metre, by Miss Winkworth in her Lyra Germanica, 1st Series, 1855, p. 87. Slightly altered, and omitting stanza ii., as No. 714 in the Wesleyan Hymn Book, 1875. In full, but altered, in Schaff’s Christ in Song , 1869, p. 261. The version beginning "In death's strong bands Christ Jesus lay," No. 749 in J. L. Porter's Collection, 1876, is stanzas i., iv., vi., vii., mainly from the Lyra Germanica, but partly from the Chorale Book for England, with two lines from Mr. Massie.
4. Three days in Death's strong grasp He lay, a good translation of stanzas i., iv.-vi., based on Mr. Massie, as No. 87 in Pott's Collection, 1861.
5. In Death's strong grasp the Saviour lay, For our, a good translation, omitting stanzas v., vi., by Miss Winkworth in her Chorale Book for England, 1863.
6. Jesus in bonds of Death had lain, a translation of stanzas i., iv., vi., by Miss Borthwick, contributed as No. 79 to Dr. Pagenstecher's Collection, 1864, and included in her Hymns from the Land of Luther, ed. 1884, p. 259.
7. In Death's strong grasp the Saviour lay, For our offences. Of No. 84 in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880, stanzas i., ii., iii., 11. 1-4 are from Miss Winkworth's translation, and the rest are mainly from Mr. Massie.
Translations not in common use:--
(1) "Christ dyed and suffred great payne,” by Bp. Coverdale, 1539 (Remains, 1846, p. 563). (2) "Christ was to Death abased," by J. C. Jacobi, 1722, p. 21 (1732, p. 38, altered), repeated as No. 225, in pt. i. of tho Moravian Hymn Book, 1754, and continued in later editions, altered, 1789, to "Christ Jesus was to death abas'd." (3) "Once in the bands of death the Saviour lay," by Miss Fry, 1845, p. 65. (4) "The ransom of our souls to pay," by J. Anderson, 1846, p. 14 (1847, p. 39). (5) "Jesus was for sinners slain," by Dr. J. Hunt, 1853, p. 44. (6) "In Death's dark prison Jesus lay," by Dr. H. Mills, 1856, p.211. (7) "Christ, the Lord, in death-bonds lay," by Miss Warner, 1858 (1861, p. 432). (8) "Death held our Lord in prison," by Dr. G. Macdonald in the Sunday Magazine, 1867, p. 331, and altered in his Exotics, 1876. p. 52. (9) "In the bands of Death Christ lay, Prisoner," &c, in S. Garratt's Hymns and Translations, 1867, p. 28. (10) "In the bands of Death He lay, Christ," &c., in the Church of England Magazine, 1872, p. 183. (11) "Christ was laid in Death's strong bands," in Dr. Bacon, 1884, p. 22, based on Mr. Massie. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
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