Wonderful Words of Life!

“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you also want to go away?’ But Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also, we have come to believe and know that You are the living God.’” (John 6:66-69, NKJV)

The story goes that Fleming H. Revell, brother-in-law of D. L. Moody and a Christian publisher was going to launch a new Sunday School Paper. Revell wanted a song that would highlight the immediate focus of the new publication.

The name of the paper was to be Words of Life with its emphasis being the vital importance of studying God’s Word. Mr. Revell went to Philip Bliss and asked him to write a song for the paper giving him the text of John 6:66 as the basis.

Bliss worked on the project and wrote a song called Wonderful Words of Life. He was able to tie in the theme of the new paper in verses two and three.

It was a simple yet effective song. After the issue of the first publication the song was all but forgotten. Until one day when Revell gave a copy of the song to another gospel song writer, George Stebbins. Stebbins began using the song Wonderful Words of Life in his evangelistic meetings. He and his wife (Elma) would sing it as a duet. From that exposure Bliss’s song became popular.

Sing them over again to me, Wonderful words of life

Let me more of their beauty see, Wonderful words of life

Words of life and beauty, Teach me faith and duty,

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life,

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.