Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus

I. Background and Publication

This gospel hymn was written in 1900 by C.P. Jones (1865–1949) while he was pastor of Mt. Helm Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi. Much later in his life, he supplied this story behind it:

It grew out of my dissatisfaction with my limited ability to do good. The Savior had said, “He that believeth on me the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do because I go to my Father” [John 14:12]. Not understanding thoroughly the oneness of the Christ body as revealed in 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4, I did not see how anyone could do greater works than the Savior had done. I felt that nevertheless I was coming short of my highest privileges of service in Christ. I wonder if I was not right. Nevertheless I prayed in that song for deeper grace, deeper wisdom, more perfect conformity to and willingness to do God’s will.

I think, too, that the simplicity and the happy lift of the melody had something to do with its popularity. If ever there was an inspired song I feel that “Deeper, deeper” was inspired. Anyway, so I felt when it was written. But I do not say this in spiritual exaltedness or pride. The Spirit gave me a song with which to express the need of my soul. And oh, how many need to sing it with me![1]

The hymn was first printed in Jesus Only Songs and Hymns (Jackson, MS: Truth Publishing, 1901 | Fig. 1), under his own publishing banner but probably prepared and printed by the National Baptist press in Nashville. The original version was given in five stanzas with a chorus, headed by Philippians 1:9.

II. Analysis

Each of the first two lines opens with a unison figure outlining a tonic triad, 5–3–1–5, before splitting into four homophonic parts. Donté Ford has asserted, “Jones illustrates both depth and height in this musical gesture, with which the texts ‘deeper, deeper’ and ‘higher, higher’ are paired.”[2] Consistent with other gospel hymns of the era, it has martial rhythms and a basic, functional harmony of only three chords (I–IV–V). The chorus employs another common technique, setting the melody’s extended notes against a background patter by the other parts. It’s a rousing style, which has undoubtedly contributed to its popularity.

The first stanza expresses a desire to experience the love Jesus, while also seeking greater heights of wisdom and grace (Eph. 3:18–19). The second stanza views the Holy Spirit as the means by which to achieve these aims (1 Cor. 2:10). The third stanza acknowledges the cost of following Christ, or as Ford explained it, “Despite hard trials, being grounded in the love of Christ is what facilitates growth.”[3] The fourth stanza names two potential benefits of this pursuit: emerging as a victor over conflict, and being perfected in the image of God (Gen. 1:26–27; the hymn does not express whether perfection can be achieved on this side of heaven). In the fifth stanza, the author clarifies, peace is the real pursuit, not conflict, enabled by the faith, pow’r, and wisdom of Jesus. Although the Spirit is one enabler of these goals, the chorus points to the Bible as the foundational tool through which to be deeper, higher, and wiser.

by CHRIS FENNER
for Hymnology Archive
9 February 2021

Footnotes:

1. Ortho B. Cobbins, History of the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. 1895–1965 (1966), p. 404.

2. Donté Ford, “Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus,” Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology (Norwich: Canterbury Press): http://www.hymnology.co.uk/d/deeper,-deeper-in-the-love-of-jesus

3. Donté Ford, “Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus,” Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology (Norwich: Canterbury Press): http://www.hymnology.co.uk/d/deeper,-deeper-in-the-love-of-jesus

Related Links:

“Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus,” Hymnary.org: https://hymnary.org/text/deeper_deeper_in_the_love_of_jesus