O Splendor Of God’s Glory Bright

O splendor of God’s glory bright,

O Thou that bringest light from light,

O Light of light, light’s living spring,

O Day all days illumining.

O Thou true Sun, on us Thy glance

Let fall in royal radiance;

The Spirit’s sanctifying beam

Upon our earthly senses stream.

The Father, too, our prayers implore,

Father of glory evermore;

The Father of all grace and might,

To banish sin from our delight.

To guide whate’er we nobly do,

With love all envy to subdue,

To make ill fortune turn to fair,

And give us grace our wrongs to bear.

AMBROSE OF MILAN (340–397)

Translated by Robert Seymour Bridges (1844–1930)

IN MANY WAYS, Ambrose of Milan was an unlikely hero of the church. As a lawyer and government leader, he was so well respected that he was asked to be a bishop even before he had been baptized.

Ambrose stood against the Roman emperor when the political ruler tried to pressure the church. An edict of banishment was issued against Ambrose, but he refused to accept it. When Ambrose threatened to excommunicate the soldiers who surrounded the church, they left. Ambrose had won.

But Ambrose’s biggest battle was theological. His foe was the heresy of Arianism, which held that Jesus Christ was a created being. Condemned by church councils, this false teaching enjoyed continued popularity among the people. Ambrose wrote hymns upholding the deity of Christ so that believers might have the truth embedded in their hearts.

We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:5-6