Es ist das Heil uns kommen her

"Es ist das Heil uns kommen her"
Hymn
"Es ist das heyl vns kommen her" in the Erfurt Enchiridion, 1524
English	Salvation now has come for all
Text	by Paul Speratus
Language	German
Published	1524 (1524)

Es ist das Heil uns kommen her (originally: Es ist das heyl vns kommen her, English: Salvation now has come for all or more literally: It is our salvation come here to us) is a Lutheran hymn in 14 stanzas by Paul Speratus. It was first published as one of eight songs in 1524 in the first Lutheran hymnal, the Achtliederbuch, which contained four songs by Luther, three by Speratus, and one by Justus Jonas. The same year it appeared in Erfurt in Eyn Enchiridion.

According to tradition, Speratus wrote this hymn while he was in prison in Olomouc, condemned for his evangelical beliefs to death by fire. Only by the intercession of friends was he released, on condition that he leave Moravia.

The text by Speratus is based on Paul's Epistle to the Romans, . and expresses Luther's teaching about salvation. According to Scott Hendrix, "It not only emphasizes justification by faith alone but it also underlines the vitality of that faith manifested in service to others. A modern English version of the hymn's first stanza, which appears on the back cover of Hendrix's book Early Protestant Spirituality, is as follows:

Speratus set his words to the tune of an Easter chorale from the 15th century, Freu dich, du werte Christenheit.

The story of Luther's being moved to tears when he first heard this hymn, from a beggar outside his window in Wittenberg, has been retold by many authors.

The 11th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica, lists "Salvation now has come for all" as one of the Lutheran hymns "which at the time produced the greatest effect, and are still best remembered." It has been translated into English by many authors, including Miles Coverdale ("Now is our health come from above," 1539), Henry Mills ("Our whole salvation doth depend On God's free grace and Spirit," 1845), and Catherine Winkworth ("Salvation hath come down to us," 1869).

The hymn, focused on essential Lutheran teaching, was frequently set for organ and for voices.