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Hymns

In Christ Alone Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, 2001

The words are under copyright, CCLI song number 3350395. This page has where to read and license them, the story, videos and the Scripture behind it.

The story behind In Christ Alone

Keith Getty of Northern Ireland and Stuart Townend of England wrote In Christ Alone as their first song together. Getty sent a melody, Townend wrote words that follow Christ from birth through the cross and resurrection to the believer's security, and they finished in 2001. The Hymnology Archive says the song was first performed at Spring Harvest in 2001 and appeared in print in The Event Songbook 2001/2 from Kingsway. A studio recording followed on Getty's album New Irish Hymns. Its first US printing came in 2002, and its first hymnal appearance was the Irish Presbyterian Hymnbook in 2004. Hymnary.org lists it in 47 hymnals, including the 2008 Baptist Hymnal, and gives a 2002 copyright date. In 2013 a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) hymnal committee voted on the song after the authors refused to allow a change to a line about God's wrath. The vote fell short of the two-thirds needed, and the song was left out of Glory to God.

Videos 6 Scripture 5 Questions 4

In Christ Alone videos

  • In Christ Alone Pleasant Hill Church of Christ, Congregation

  • In Christ Alone (Arr. Brent Wells) | BYU Concert Choir BYU Concert Choir, Choir

  • In Christ Alone A cappella The N Crew, A cappella

  • In Christ Alone - piano instrumental cover Kaleb Brasee, Piano

  • Shane & Shane: In Christ Alone Shane and Shane, Modern arrangement

  • In Christ Alone Martijn de Groot, Congregation

Videos play from YouTube, and nothing loads from YouTube until you press play. A video may sing different verses from the ones printed on this page.

Scripture in In Christ Alone

  • Isaiah 53:5-6
  • John 10:28-30
  • Romans 8:28-39
  • 1 Corinthians 15:54-58
  • Galatians 2:20-21

Questions people ask

Who wrote In Christ Alone?

Keith Getty wrote the melody and Stuart Townend wrote the words. They finished it in 2001.

What is the controversy surrounding the hymn In Christ Alone?

In 2013 a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) committee considered a changed line about God's wrath. The authors refused the change, the committee voted, and the song was left out of Glory to God.

Is In Christ Alone biblical?

Hymnary.org lists dozens of passages the text echoes, from Isaiah 53 to Romans 8 and 1 Corinthians 15. Its verses follow the life, death and resurrection of Christ.

Is In Christ Alone in the public domain?

No. Thankyou Music holds the copyright, administered by Capitol CMG Publishing, and churches need a CCLI license to project or print the words.