Baptist Hymnal - Pocket Edition (lyrics only)

For years, leaders of various Baptist conventions have expressed their desire for a new hymnal that would meet current needs in worship, evangelism, and church outreach. It is the editor's fervent prayer that this will be such a hymnal.

The procedure used to prepare this work constitutes a most interesting history. Two hymnals currently in use served as sources, namely: "Himnos selectos evangelicos," a widely distributed hymnal in the southern part of South America, and "El Nuevo himnario popular," which is better known in Central America, the United States, and the northern part of South America. The first step was to ascertain what Baptist leaders longed to see in a new hymnal. Surveys were conducted on the two hymnals to determine the most sung hymns in different countries. Then, a meeting of the Advisory Committee for the New Hymnal was held within the United States, sponsored by the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention and the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

In the selection of hymns, the goal was to study each one to determine its clarity of thought, doctrinal content, and ease of singing. An attempt was made to improve the grammar of the hymn lyrics, but this was not entirely possible as in some cases the copyright owners did not authorize the changes.

The following features are noteworthy:

1. The first line of the hymn has been used as the title, except in cases where it is already commonly known by another title.

2. When a hymn has a specific biblical basis, it is indicated at the foot of the hymn.

3. Each hymn has an appropriate biblical text immediately below the title (in the edition with musical notes).

4. The author, composer, and/or source of the lyrics and tune, plus the tune's name, are stipulated at the foot of the hymn. The date recorded is that of its composition or publication when known (in the edition with musical notes).

5. The metrical forms of the tunes are not recorded on the page where the hymn appears but in the alphabetical index of tunes.

6. Asterisks in the stanzas indicate a biblical reference or a note at the foot of the hymn.

7. Square brackets in the music header indicate the suggested introduction for the accompanist (in the edition with musical notes).

8. When a tune is used more than once, in most cases a key change is suggested by means of a reference at the foot of the hymn indicating the tune number in a higher or lower key.

9. There is simple guitar tablature for appropriate hymns. Asterisks in the chords indicate difficult chords (in the edition with musical notes).