Dictionary of Hymnology

Hymnology

Are we not sons and heirs of God?

An entry on Isaac Watts's hymn on Christian gravity and decency based on Philippians 4:8.

1 min read 10 visits Updated 2 hours ago Added Aug 15, 2026

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Composed by Isaac Watts, this hymn was originally published alongside his Sermons on Various Subjects in 1721 to accompany a sermon on Philippians 4:8. Formatted in six stanzas of four lines, the text focuses on Christian decorum, nobility, and moral gravity.

In 1787, Edward Rippon included an altered opening line in his Selection of Hymns, reading "Behold the sons, the heirs of God." Under this altered title, Watts's text achieved continued representation in nineteenth-century hymnals.

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Isaac Watts
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Are we not sons and heirs of God Isaac Watts Behold the sons the heirs of God Edward Rippon Philippians 4:8

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