When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

The hymn is based on the Bible verse in Galations 6:14 KJV.

Galations 6:14 KJV
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world crusified unto me, and I unto the world.

Using my KJV Cross Reference Bible reads as follows for the verse above: While the Judaziers took great pride in external religious symbolism, Paul only “glory” is in the reality of Jesus’ crucifixion and its results. Paul once had a list of honors and accomplishments (Philippians 3:4-6).

I want to go a bit further having read the study verse after verse 6 so below will be 4-11 of Philippians.

Philippians 3:4-11 KJV
Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Verses 4-6 using my study bible states as follows: The Judaizers who were troubling the church in Philippi probably expected their Jewish credentials to add authority to their messages. But Paul points out that he has all those credentials amd more. He was born from a pure family line of Israelites, he was a strict Pharisee, and he was zealous for the Jewish and Pharisac viewpoint to the point of being persecuted of the church in his earlier days.

Verses 7-11 using study bible as the following: There is much to gain when one gains Christ. Paul writes that a person gains justification (righteousness before God), santification (the transformation of life), and glorification ( resurrection from the dead).

Verse 10 using study by as the following: True righteousness can be obtained only by abandoning one’s own effort and turning in faith to Jesus. Because of humanity’s sinfulness, true righteousness can only be a gift: it will never be an achievement. One receives not only righteousness by faith in Christ but the transformation of life. He or she becomes more Christlike- more and more each day, rejecting sinful desires. To be sure, there will be suffering, as with Christ, and for the same reason- because it is by this means that life is renewed and God’s will is made perfect.

Amazing what we learn when studying the Bible. I don’t know if all hymnals are the same where they give the song and the a verse appears below title a bit smaller print. Love seeinf how one verse can lead to another verse to finding a whole story more in depth to the song to bring it to light. I simply love the song and wanted to share these verses with you to maybe bring new meaning and understanding to the song. Below is a bit history relating to the hymn with the original lyrics.

The hymn, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”, was written by Isaac Watts, and published in Hymns and Spiritual Songs in 1707.
The second line of the first stanza originally read “Where the young Prince of Glory dy’d”. Watts himself altered that line in the 1709 edition of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, to prevent it from being mistaken as an allusion to Prince William, Duke of Gloucester, the heir to the throne who died at age 11.
The hymn’s fourth stanza (“His dying crimson…”) is commonly omitted in printed versions, a practice that began with George Whitefield in 1757.
In the final stanza, some modern variations substitute the word “offering” for “present”.
1. When I survey the wond’rous Cross
On which the Prince of Glory dy’d,
My richest Gain I count but Loss,
And pour Contempt on all my Pride.
2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the Death of Christ my God:
All the vain Things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his Blood.
3. See from his Head, his Hands, his Feet,
Sorrow and Love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such Love and Sorrow meet?
Or Thorns compose so rich a Crown?
4. His dying Crimson, like a Robe,
Spreads o’er his Body on the Tree;
Then I am dead to all the Globe,
And all the Globe is dead to me.
5. Were the whole Realm of Nature mine,
That were a Present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my Soul, my Life, my All.

Yes verse 4 is not in the song below but I hope you enjoy this version of the song that I selected.

God bless you and your loved ones.