Elvina Hall – Jesus Paid It All

Happy resurrection day!

Easter is a special time for Christians to celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  To reflect on the cost Christ paid to bear our sins and reprioritize our lives to live for Him.  This year, I chose to review Eliva Hall’s Jesus Paid It All as part of my effort to join the saints in praise.

Hall’s mind flooded with thoughts the cross and our need for a Savior one hot, sticky Sunday morning.  With nothing else to write upon, she scribbled notes on a hymnbook, perhaps to some a sacrilegious and irreverent act.  I wonder what her pastor was thinking after she handed him the evidence of her “desecration”?  Perhaps it was an opportunity?

Combining her words with music written by organist John Grape, this uncredited pastor began to unleash upon the world one of the most powerful and beloved hymns from the 19th century.  It has been sung and recorded by many of today’s famous artists, including Newsboys, Kristian Stanfill, and Austin Stone.

It is my honor to unveil all the Scriptural references I could find.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.

1. What message does the song communicate?

Penal substitutionary atonement is the main theme throughout this song.  Hall makes other excellent points, including:

• Finding strength in Jesus,
• Gratitude in response to kindness,
• There is nothing good in us, except for when we’re clothed in Christ,
• Only God’s power can change us, and
• Our possessions laid before the King.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

Nearly all of it agrees with the Bible, with the exception of an oft-glossed over miswording in Verse 4.

This song is public domain.  Therefore, no permission is required.

Since the original song does not contain verse designations, I assigned them myself.

[Verse 1]

I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”

Based on Matthew 11:28-30, our weary souls find rest in Jesus.

[Refrain]

Jesus paid it all,

Tetelestai is the legal term Jesus used in John 19:30, meaning “it is finished” or “paid in full”.  It shows up in the backs of 1st-century legal documents indicating that a debt had been paid in full.  Our debt is nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14).  Also, see Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, John 3:16, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, Romans 5:6-10, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:3-4, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9.

It also carries the notion of a mission accomplished, fulfilling the Old Testament (Matthew 5:17-20).

All to Him I owe;

Not the debt that was paid, but gratitude in response to His kindness (1 Chronicles 15:8, 1 Chronicles 16:34, Psalm 7:17, Psalm 28:7, Psalm 35:18, Psalm 95:1-3, Psalm 100:4, Psalm 106:1, Psalm 107:1, Psalm 118:1, Jeremiah 33:11, Jonah 2:9, 2 Corinthians 4:15, 2 Corinthians 9:11-12, Philippians 4:6, Colossians 3:15-17, Colossians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, 1 Timothy 4:4-5, and Hebrews 12:28-29).

Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

References Isaiah 1:18, though the line here uses crimson instead of scarlet without compromising its message.

[Verse 2]

For nothing good have I

From the lips of Paul in Romans 7:18 and the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 17:9, our default setting is sinful behavior.

Whereby Thy grace to claim;

Grace means undeserved favor.  Connecting with the first line, Hall communicates that we can’t earn it through human effort (Isaiah 64:6, Luke 18:9-14, Romans 3:20-23, Romans 4:1-7, Romans 8:3, Romans 9:16, Romans 9:31-32, Romans 11:6, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:10-12, Galatians 3:21, Ephesians 2:8-9, 2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 3:4-5, and Hebrews 6:1-2).

I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.

Derivative of Refrain, lines 3 and 4.  These two lines invoke action on our part, that we must journey to the foot of the cross to receive our cleansing.  Washing by Jesus’ blood exists explicitly in Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 9:22, 1 Peter 1:2, and 1 Peter 1:18-19.

[Verse 3]

And now complete in Him,
My robe, His righteousness,

When we put on the Lord Jesus Christ, we are clothed in righteousness (Romans 13:14 and Ephesians 4:24).

Close sheltered ’neath His side,

Refers to God’s divine protection, as succinctly described in what is colloquially known as the armor of God in Ephesians 6:11-17.

I am divinely blest.

That is, blessed in Ye Olde English.  The blessing comes through obedience (Matthew 5:3-11 and James 1:25).

[Verse 4]

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy pow’r, and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots

Nowhere in the Bible does it describe a leper’s spots.  This is a well-documented misprint of the word “leopard”.

Jeremiah 13:23 tells us that a leopard cannot change its own spots.  It is through God alone that we can attain transformation (Romans 6:1-7, Romans 8:12-13, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Corinthians 4:16, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 5:16-18, Ephesians 4:22-24, Ephesians 2:14-16, Colossians 3:10, and 1 Peter 2:24).

And melt the heart of stone.

See Ezekiel 11:19.

[Verse 5]

When from my dying bed
My ransomed soul shall rise,

Refers to the final resurrection, found in Luke 20:34-38, Acts 24:15-16, Romans 6:1-5, Romans 8:11-13, 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 1 Corinthians 15:50-56, 2 Corinthians 4:13-14, and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

“Jesus died my soul to save,”
Shall rend the vaulted skies.

Though not found explicitly in the Bible, it is a refrain certainly worth expressing in God’s Heavenly Kingdom.

[Verse 6]

And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down,
All down at Jesus’ feet.

Most likely, we will follow the example of the twenty-four elders in Revelation 4:10–11, laying down our possessions at the foot of Christ.

Score: 9/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

The explicit references to Jesus, sin, and divinity makes it obvious to outsiders that it’s a Christian song.  Despite its heavy usage of Christian-ese terminology that may cause some confusion, most will walk away knowing that Christ cleanses from sin and that there’s nothing good in us.

Score: 9/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies Jesus though celebrating His paying for our sins, as we show gratitude for what He has done.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Elvina Hall’s Jesus Paid It All is a worthy classic.  Though containing a minor scribal error, it is nonetheless highly Biblical.  Unbelievers will easily understand Hall’s main point regarding our desperate need for a Savior, bringing God glory.

Final Score: 9.5/10

Artist Info

Track:  Jesus Paid It All (listen to Newsboys’ version)

Artist: Elvina Hall

Album: N/A

Genre: Hymn

Release Year: 1865

Duration:  N/A

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