| All for Jesus, All for Jesus | |
|---|---|
 "Crucifixion of Jesus" by Gustave Doré (1866) | |
| Genre | Hymn |
| Written | 1887 |
| Text | W J Sparrow Simpson |
| Based on | Matthew 22:37 |
| Meter | 8.7.8.7 |
"All for Jesus, All for Jesus", also titled as "All for Jesus! All for Jesus!"[1] and originally titled "For the Love of Jesus", is an English Christian hymn. It was written in 1887 byW J Sparrow Simpson intended as the closing chorus ofJohn Stainer'sThe Crucifixion oratorio. It started to be published as a separate hymn later in 1901.[2]
In 1887, Sparrow Simpson was theChurch of Englandcurate of Christ Church inMarylebone, London. He wrote "All for Jesus, All for Jesus" forThe Crucifixion, where he had initially titled it "For the Love of Jesus".[2] It was written as a "meditation on thePassion of the Holy Redeemer" with scriptural references from theNew Testament.[3] The music for the hymn was written by Stainer, with the piece being titled "All for Jesus".[1] The hymn was intended as a closing chorus and, according to Reynolds, also to be a part ofThe Crucifixion set aside for congregational singing.[4] The hymn was first performed in public atSt Marylebone Parish Church onAsh Wednesday in 1887.[2] After its first performance, "The Crucifixion" was praised inThe Churchman as being "...a first and a very successful attempt to supply an easy and short form of Passion music suitable for use in ordinaryparish churches,"[5] though Stainer had previously described it as "rubbish".[6]
For several years, "All for Jesus, All for Jesus" was performed only as part ofThe Crucifixion[citation needed]. It was first published as a stand-alone hymn in 1969 in theMethodist hymnalHymns and Songs.[2] Since then it has been published as an independent hymn across Christian denominations.[7] InRoman Catholic hymnals, an additional verse is included supporting the Catholic doctrine oftransubstantiation[8] despite Simpson being a member of the Church of England, which rejected that doctrine in theThirty-Nine Articles.
"All for Jesus, All for Jesus" Matthew 19:21, Matthew 22:37, John 8:36, Romans 8:38–39, Romans 12:1, 1 Corinthians 2:2 and Ephesians 5:2.[1]