The Strife is O'er, the Battle Done

The text of the Easter hymn "The Strife is O'er, the Battle Done" (LSB 464) proclaims that the central battle in the war against death is done, having been won in Christ's death and resurrection!

This hymn is based on 1 Corinthians 15:54b-57, where the Apostle Paul uses the triumphal conclusion of Isaiah 25:8 and the rhetorical questions to death in Hosea 13:14 as the basis of his proclamation of Christ's victory over death: "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

The hymn acknowledges the serious challenges of the battle that Christ valiantly fought on behalf of all sinners. The last line of each stanza emphasizes that the Christian response to this victory is praise to the Lord. The refrain sung at the beginning and end of the hymn is a triple alleluia, which gives the hymn a triumphant start and finish.

Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed. Alleluia!

(Refrain) Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

1 The strife is o’er, the battle done;
Now is the victor’s triumph won;
Now be the song of praise begun.
Alleluia!

2 The pow’rs of death have done their worst,
But Christ their legions hath dispersed.
Let shouts of holy joy outburst.
Alleluia!

3 The three sad days have quickly sped,
He rises glorious from the dead.
All glory to our risen Head!
Alleluia!

4 He broke the age-bound chains of hell;
The bars from heav’n’s high portals fell.
Let hymns of praise His triumph tell.
Alleluia!

5 Lord, by the stripes which wounded Thee,
From death’s dread sting Thy servants free
That we may live and sing to Thee.
Alleluia!

(Refrain) Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Text: Public domain