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Lindsay Philpott
Cosmin Ritivoiu
English 102
2 March 2015
A Loving Shepherd

The oldest Christian hymn is now known today as Shepherd of Tender Youth. It was
written by Clement of Alexandria, around A.D. 200 (Shepherd of Tender Youth). It was a couple
hundred years after Jesus lived on this earth, and yet this was a time that Christianity was
growing fast. This was also a time when some of the compromises between Christianity and
Paganism began to take place (White chapter 2). The first translation of the hymn from the
original Greek showed clearly what their spiritual life was like back at that time. The translation
of the first three stanzas read like this when they were first translated from Greek:
Bridle-bit of untamed colts/Wing of birds that do not go astray/Sure Tiller of
ships/Shepherd of the King's lambs!/Gather your children/Who live in simplicity./
Let them sing in holiness./Let them celebrate with sincerity,/With a mouth that
knows no evil,/The Christ who guides his children! (Clement of Alexandria)
It seems that their life back then was simple, revolving around the everyday duties of life. Yet,
they also had a simple faith in Christ and His sacrifice for them. This review will attempt to do a
close reading of the first stanza of the 1846 translation of the hymn. The 1846 translation reads
as follows:

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Shepherd of tender youth,/ guiding in love and truth/Through devious ways/Christ
our triumphant king,/We come Thy name to sing/And here our children bring/To
join Thy praise.
The first thing that stands out is probably the first line Shepherd of tender youth. Here
this Shepherd is referring to Christ, although it does not say it at first. The line is saying that He
is a Shepherd to tender youth. The word tender can mean solicitous of, concerned for and
impressionable and inexperienced (New Oxford American Dictionary). It shows how Christ
can shepherd those inexperienced in this life. It also shows that He cares deeply for His children.
The next line that corresponds directly after it is Guiding in love and in truth. Here one
can see that Christ not only leads those youth who are inexperienced, but He will also lead them
in love and truth. This depicts a picture that one can trust Christ with everythingChrist is the
true Shepherd, and one need not fear because He will guide them where they need to go in life.
When these two lines are put together, it reads, Shepherd of tender youth, Guiding in
love and in truth. This is almost a complete picture of how Christ guides His children. There is
no reason why one cannot love and trust Him. The first two lines complement each other. The
two lines put togetherShepherd of tender youth, Guiding in love and truth.describes what
a shepherd really does. A shepherd will guide their sheep, however inexperienced, in love and in
truth. This is what Christ does for His children.
The next four lines complete this picture of our loving Shepherd. Christ our triumphant
King/We come Thy name to sing/Hither our children bring/To shout Thy praise. The first three
lines tell of this Shepherd who guides the inexperienced in love and truth. Yet, He is not only an
experienced ShepherdHe is a triumphant King. The stanza at this point also clearly reveals

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who the Shepherd really is. The last three lines are the response of His children to the first four
lines. It tells His people that because of Christ the Shepherd that they have to guide them, they
should come and praise Him as well.
As one can see from this stanza, it depicts a beautiful picture of who Christ can really be
to His children. In fact the Bible even talks about Him as a Shepherd. We have no reason to fear
He will lead His children in love and truth. He will even lead them through death. It is
interesting to note the meaning of the stanza and how closely tied it is to the 23rd Psalm:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green
pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in
paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your
staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my
enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and
mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the
Lord forever. (English Standard Version)
Christ the Shepherd will lead all through life, caring for their every need. He will lead them so
lovingly that they need not fear where He will take them. He will guide them through trials and
afflictions, He will fulfill their every need and desire. The Savior is always there for His children
a loving Shepherd who cares for each one, and He will never fail to lead and guide them
lovingly and in truth.

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Works Cited
"Shepherd of Tender Youth." Shepherd of Tender Youth. Greek Hymns. St. Clement of
Alexandria. Tr. H. M. Dexter. 1909-14. Hymns of the Christian Church. The Harvard
Classics. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015. <http://www.bartleby.com/45/2/108.html>.
White, Ellen Gould Harmon. "Persecution in the First Centuries." The Great Controversy / by
Ellen G. White. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Print.
"Clement of Alexandria." Clement of Alexandria. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015. <http://
www.christianitytoday.com/ch/131christians/evangelistsandapologists/clement.html?
start=2>.
New Oxford American Dictionary (3 Ed.). New Oxford American Dictionary. N.p., n.d. Web.
24 Feb. 2015. <http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/
9780195392883.001.0001/acref-9780195392883>.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV), Containing the Old and New Testaments.
Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011. Print.