A Man Fully Living (In him we knew a fullness)

Jesus - classical painting wearing a blue cloak and white tunic: In him we knew a fullness never known before, in him we saw a man fully living. 1 In him we see the God who can’t be seen; in him all things that will be or have been have roots and take their being. 2 The universe, and all its millions teeming, seen and unseen, in him find their meaning, their reason and their value. 3 He lives in those who, breathing with his breath, source of their life, and conqueror of their death, together form his body. 4 Through his alone a world by sin defiled find its forgiveness, and is reconciled by his death our peace and healing.

This hymn about Jesus is based on St Paul to the Colossians 1:15-20.

Some sources say that both the words and the tune were by English-educated scripture scholar, lecturer and author. Hubert Richards (1921-2010) - while others say it was translated by him, but do not say what it was translated from.

It was published by Kevin Mayhew Ltd in Songs of the Spirit: Hymns and Songs of the Renewal volume 2, in 1981, and later in Hymns old and New with Supplement, 1989 - but was not in the 2009 Catholic Hymns Old and New edition. Despite not being widely used in English-speaking countries, it has been requested by people who heard it in South America and Zambia.

The hymm is set to an unnamed tune, also by Richards. This has a 6/8 time signature. In the key of A, the first few notes are E E_ E E_ A c c_ B BA A F E_, with accompanying chords A / D / A.

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Examples

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Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:

Chorus:
In him we knew a fullness never known before,
in him we saw a man fully living.

1 In him we see the God who can’t be seen ...

2 The universe, and all its millions teemng ...

3 He lives in those who, breathing with his breath,

4 Through hin alone a world by sin defiled...