782

In God the Father I Believe

Scripture References

Thematically related:

Further Reflections on Scripture References

The four stanzas of "In God the Father" adhere closely to the text of the Apostles' Creed. That fact and the buoyant musical setting undoubtedly account for the hymn's popularity in the Christian Reformed Church and its acceptance in other denominations.

 

Bert Polman, Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Confessions and Statements of Faith References

Further Reflections on Confessions and Statements of Faith References

This song is a paraphrase of the Apostles’ Creed for singing, leading the singer to affirm their faith in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

782

In God the Father I Believe

Assurance

By his resurrection he has overcome death,
so that he might make us share in the righteousness
he obtained for us by his death.
By his power we too are already raised to a new life.
Christ’s resurrection is a sure pledge to us of our blessed resurrection.
—from Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 45
— Worship Sourcebook Edition Two

Additional Prayers

A Prayer for Stronger Faith
Gracious God, we believe in you, but our faith wavers.
We believe; help our unbelief.
 
Our faith in you is too easily diverted to the idols of this world.
We believe; help our unbelief.
 
Our faith in you is too often tentative.
We believe; help our unbelief.
 
Strengthen our faith, O God, to grasp Jesus Christ with all his benefits.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, we believe; help our unbelief. Amen.
— Cornelius Plantinga, Jr.
782

In God the Father I Believe

Tune Information

Name
CREEDAL SONG
Key
G Major
Meter
8.6.8.6 D
782

In God the Father I Believe

Hymn Story/Background

Frank De Vries wrote this versification of the Apostles’ Creed in Houston, British Columbia, Canada, in 1969 after Christian Reformed Church minister Mel Pool suggested that the creed should be sung as well as spoken. De Vries also composed a tune for his text; both were published in Vancouver, British Columbia, in a Shalom Productions booklet, “Believe It, Or…” (1972) and in the second printing of the Psalter Hymnal Supplement (1976) with a three-part harmonization by Bert Polman.
 
The four stanzas of "In God the Father" adhere closely to the text of the Apostles' Creed. That fact and the buoyant musical setting undoubtedly account for the hymn's popularity in the Christian Reformed Church and its acceptance in other denominations. 
— Bert Polman

Composer Information

Bert Frederick Polman (b. Rozenburg, Zuid Holland, the Netherlands, 1945; d. Grand Rapids, Michigan, July 1, 2013) was chair of the Music Department at Calvin College and senior research fellow for the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Dr. Bert studied at Dordt College (BA 1968), the University of Minnesota (MA 1969, PhD in musicology 1981), and the Institute for Christian Studies. Dr. Bert was a longtime is professor of music at Redeemer College in Ancaster, Ontario, and organist at Bethel Christian Reformed Church, Waterdown, Ontario. His teaching covered a wide range of courses in music theory, music history, music literature, and worship, and Canadian Native studies. His research specialty was Christian hymnody. He was also an organist, a frequent workshop leader at music and worship conferences, and contributor to journals such as The Hymn and Reformed Worship. Dr. Bert was co-editor of the Psalter Hymnal Handbook (1989), and served on the committees that prepared Songs for Life (1994) and Sing! A New Creation (2001), both published by CRC Publications.
— Emily Brink

Author and Composer Information

Frank De Vries (b. Langsa, Sumatra, Indonesia, 1929) was a Christian school educator, who served for many years as a principal in several Canadian schools, including fourteen years (1970-1984) as principal of Vancouver Christian School. He has written a number of songs, some of which were published in Tiny Little Spider (1976).
— Bert Polman
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