Go, Preach My Gospel

“Go, Preach My Gospel” is a missionary hymn written by Isaac Watts and published in 1709 in Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book Two. The hymn is a poetic paraphrase of Christ’s Great Commission and reflects Watts’s desire to shape congregational song around clear biblical doctrine and practical obedience. By placing Christ’s own words into the mouth of the singer, Watts emphasizes that mission flows directly from the authority and command of the risen Lord.

The hymn presents the gospel task as both urgent and universal. Christ’s command is addressed to all His servants, calling them to proclaim repentance, forgiveness, and salvation in His name. Watts captures the biblical pattern of preaching as God’s chosen means for spreading the gospel, echoing the apostolic conviction that faith comes by hearing the word of God. The hymn stresses that the message preached is not human opinion, but divine truth entrusted to the church.

A central theme of the hymn is obedience empowered by Christ’s authority. Watts makes clear that the church does not act on its own initiative, but under the commission of the Savior who reigns over heaven and earth. The promise of Christ’s presence and power undergirds the command to preach, giving confidence to those sent. The hymn therefore combines command and comfort, responsibility and assurance.

The tone of the hymn is earnest, confident, and instructional. It is well suited for missionary services, ordinations, commissions, and occasions that emphasize evangelism and witness. Watts’s clear language ensures that the focus remains on Scripture and calling rather than emotion or sentiment.

“Go, Preach My Gospel” has endured because it gives strong lyrical expression to one of the church’s central duties. It reminds believers that the gospel is a message to be proclaimed openly, faithfully, and boldly, and that Christ Himself stands behind the mission He has entrusted to His people.