Blessed Assurance

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"Blessed Assurance"

Hymn

Photograph of Fanny Crosby

Text by Fanny Crosby

Meter 9.10.9.9 with refrain

Melody "Assurance" by Phoebe Knapp

Published 1873

"Blessed Assurance" is a well-known Christian hymn. The lyrics were written in 1873 by
blind hymn writer Fanny Crosby to the music written in 1873 by Phoebe Knapp.

Contents
 1History
 2Lyrics
 3See also
 4References
 5External links

History[edit]
Crosby was visiting her friend Phoebe Knapp as the Knapp home was having a large pipe
organ installed. The organ was incomplete, so Mrs. Knapp, using the piano, played a new
melody she had just composed. When Knapp asked Crosby, "What do you think the tune
says?", Crosby replied, "Blessed assurance; Jesus is mine."[1]
The hymn appeared in the July 1873 issue of Palmer's Guide to Holiness and Revival
Miscellany, a magazine printed by Dr. and Mrs. W. C. Palmer of 14 Bible House, New York
City. It appeared on page 36 (the last page) with complete text and piano score, and
indicated it had been copyrighted by Crosby that year. It is not certain that this was the first
printing of the hymn, but it certainly helped to popularize what became one of the most
beloved hymns of all time.
The popular song reflects Crosby's walk of faith, as expressed by the apostle Paul in
Philippians 1:21, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" (ESV).
Because of Crosby's lyrics, the tune is now called "Blessed Assurance."

Phoebe Palmer Knapp

Lyrics[edit]
Stanza 1
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
Stanza 2
Perfect submission, perfect delight!
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
(Refrain)
Stanza 3
Perfect submission, all is at rest!
I in my Savior am happy and blessed,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
(Refrain)