Christ, Precious to them that Believe

Philip Doddridge wrote this hymn to express the believer’s heartfelt love for the Lord Jesus Christ. Rooted in the words of 1 Peter 2:7, which declares that Christ is precious to all who believe, the hymn celebrates the nearness, sufficiency, and glory of the Savior. Doddridge often wrote hymns to accompany his sermons, and this text flows like a pastoral meditation meant to lift the mind toward Christ in gratitude and adoration.

The hymn unfolds by describing the many reasons Christ is precious to His people. He is precious because He loved them first, because He redeemed them with His own blood, and because He continues to keep and guide them through every circumstance of life. Doddridge shows how believers cling to Christ in trials, rejoice in Him during seasons of blessing, and look to Him for strength in moments of weakness. The preciousness of Christ is not an abstract idea; it is a living reality that shapes the daily walk of every Christian.

Doddridge also invites the singer to look forward to the future hope that believers possess. Christ is precious not only in this present life but in the life to come, where His people will see Him face to face. This anticipation fills the hymn with a tone of longing, devotion, and confidence. The believer who treasures Christ finds joy even in suffering, because every trial draws them nearer to the One who is their refuge and reward. Through this rich and devotional text, Doddridge encourages Christians to treasure their Savior above all earthly things, knowing that in Him they find peace, purpose, and everlasting hope.