STUDY / LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE / HYMNS

Sovereign grace has pow’r alone The two malefactors

John Newton printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, Book I, no. 110, under Luke 23:39–43.

WRITTEN BY

John Newton 1725–1807

PRINTED

1779 Olney Hymns · no. 110

METRE

7.7.7.7 7 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Luke 23:39–43 the verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 7 stanzas as Newton printed them, with the verses their lines echo beside them. Point at a line to join it to its verse; click to read the passage.

SHARED WORDSthe verse shares the line's wording ECHOproposed by an AI model, confirmed by a separate check Not the author's own notes

AMONG THE SCRIPTURES

The stanzas at the centre; around them, every book its heading and its echoes come from, Old Testament on the left and New on the right. Choose a stanza or a book.

a line echoes this verse its heading or an echo comes from here

STANZA I

Sovereign grace has pow’r alone

To subdue a heart of stone;

And the moment grace is felt,

Then the hardest heart will melt.

No line of this stanza quotes a verse closely; it is the hymn's own confession.

Where Newton found it

Newton printed the hymn under Luke 23:39–43. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

39One of the criminals who hung there heaped abuse on Him. “Are You not the Christ?” he said. “Save Yourself and us!” 40But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same judgment? 41We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” 43And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” LUKE 23:39–43 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ LUKE 23

“Lord, he prayed, remember me; When in glory thou shalt be:” “Soon with me, the Lord replies, Thou shalt rest in paradise.” STANZA V

Its place in the book

Book I of Olney Hymns walks through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, one hymn per passage: 141 hymns. This is number 110. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 110 · JOHN NEWTON · THIS HYMN Sovereign grace has pow’r alone

Rooted in Scripture. Open for discovery.

A place to read slowly, ask deeply, and follow the connections. Scripture, study and the voices of Christian history, brought together for a lifetime of learning.

SPEND TIME IN THE WORD

  • Open the reader
  • Books & reading progress
  • Compare Scripture editions
  • Find a passage

FOLLOW YOUR QUESTIONS

  • Study collections
  • People & places
  • Faith & apologetics
  • Stories of faith

A library with a paper trail.

Meet the authors. Explore the collection. Trace each work to its source.

Download the code.

Open source on GitHub.