Resurrecting the Oldest Christian Song: How ‘The First Hymn’ Came to Life

Over a century ago, a fragment of papyrus was unearthed in Egypt by archaeologists.

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Just a sliver of ancient text, carefully stored away in a library vault at Oxford. But to historian and theologian John Dickson, it was far more than just a relic.

“I was there eight years ago, researching something completely different,” John told Hope 103.2’s UNDISTRACTED podcast.

“But I asked to see this ancient hymn that I knew about from a footnote in a very nerdy article.

“They brought it out, and I was mesmerised.

“It’s 1,800 years old, and no one had brought it back to life.”

The First Hymn is a documentary project and musical resurrection of the earliest known Christian song with musical notation.

That moment sparked what would become The First Hymn – a documentary project and musical resurrection of the earliest known Christian song with musical notation. With lyrics praising the Trinity and a joyful spirit that defies the context of persecution, this hymn was originally sung by a tiny, marginalised Christian community in Roman Egypt.

“They were under real pressure,” John said.

“Christians were being executed.

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The hymn was originally sung by a tiny, marginalised Christian community in Roman Egypt.

“And yet this hymn isn’t angry or bitter – it’s confident and joyful.

“That moved me.”

Bringing it to a modern audience meant finding the right collaborators – songwriters who understood both the ancient heart and modern ear.

“The original melody was more like the pop music of its day, not monastery chants,” John said.

“So I went to Ben Fielding, then Chris Tomlin. I knew they could carry it.”

What followed was a creative collaboration across continents.

“We thought it would take months,” John said.

“But the song just poured out of them.”

The final track, built around the original Greek lyrics and inspired by its ancient melody, is now being sung in churches worldwide.

John describes the project as “a resurrection” – a fitting metaphor for a song buried, then brought back to life with reverence and imagination.

Listen to the full episode of UNDISTRACTED in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts.

“It’s like the songwriter planted a seed centuries ago, and now we’re watching it grow.”

Ultimately, John hopes The First Hymn will inspire churches to sing songs that are “deeply theological, joy-filled, and centred on God – not ourselves.

“Just like this one”.

The First Hymn is in cinemas July 31, with the song available on streaming platforms now.

Listen to the full episode of UNDISTRACTED with guest John Dickson in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts.