Wonderful Words of Life

The Story Behind "Wonderful Words of Life"

Some hymns are inspired by particular events, often documented in the songwriter’s biography or in inspirational works. No particular story has been recorded about what inspired Philip Paul Bliss (better known as P.P. Bliss) to write “Wonderful Words of Life.” Still, his life story has become known as one of the most inspiring, and also one of the most tragic, in the history of American hymnists.

Bliss (1838–1876) was born in Pennsylvania to a farming family, leaving home when he was 11 because his family had limited resources. Thomas E. Corts reports that Bliss alternated between school and work (mostly in logging and farming) for the next five years. Bliss decided to follow Christ in 1850 at a Baptist revival near the river Elk Run in Pennsylvania and was baptized shortly afterward. In 1857, Bliss met music teacher J.G. Towner and began his musical education, which continued with help from relatives alongside his work as a schoolteacher in New York. One famous anecdote reports that Bliss fell to his knees in the family home bemoaning that he could not afford tuition to a nearby music school, then his grandmother checked the stockings where she kept silver coins she had been saving. She told Bliss that she had enough to pay the thirty dollars tuition he needed for school.

In 1864, Bliss wrote “Lora Vale,” his first song, and embarked on a prolific musical career. He worked as a songwriter for Root and Cady Musical Publishers and performed concert tours for several years, publishing many songs without making much money. His career took a new turn when he met the famous evangelist D.L. Moody in 1869. Moody persistently urged him to focus on ministry, and Bliss joined Major Daniel Webster Whittle to hold meetings across the southern and midwestern states, his hymns reaching a national audience. It was during this period that Bliss wrote “Wonderful Words of Life,” released in 1874. Bliss and Ira D. Sankey achieved new success in 1875 when they published their song collection Gospel Hymns and Sacred Songs.

Given how quickly Bliss became well-known, it is hard to say how famous he would have become if he had toured internationally with Moody. Sadly, he and his wife Lucy perished in a December 1876 train accident on Ashtabula River in Ohio. Nearly three quarters of the passengers (92 out of 160) died when a trestle bridge broke, with the train catchtng fire as it plummeted. Until the Great Train Wreck of 1918, it was the worst train accident in American history. The Blisses were traveling to Chicago to perform at the North Side Tabernacle (later known as the Moody Church), then travel with Moody to Britain.

Many mourned the couple’s death and remembered Bliss’ character as well as his talent. In 1877, Webster edited The Memoirs of P.P. Bliss, featuring contributions from many of Bliss’s friends.  Moody wrote in the introduction, “In my estimate, he was the most highly honoured of God of any man of his time, as a writer and singer of Gospel Songs; and, with all his gifts, he was the most humble man I ever knew.”
 

Scripture References in Wonderful Words of Life

“Wonderful Words of Life” follows a favorite revival formula: a few words, easily remembered, said many times over. However, that simplicity does not mean it lacks biblical content.

The Bible talks many times about the Word of God that gives life, such as 1 Peter 1:23, “Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.”

Some of the biblical references to the “Word of God” refer to Scripture itself, but Bliss’ hymn specifically refers to the saving gospel message that Jesus brought.

This message, summarized so well in “the Romans Road” (a summary of key Romans verses about salvation), states the following:

• As humans, we are sinful and need salvation.
• We cannot provide salvation for ourselves through faith.
• Jesus came and died for our sins.
• Jesus not only died for our sins, but rose from the dead, offering salvation to all.
• By believing in the risen Christ, we no longer stand condemned.
• Believing in Christ not only wipes away our sin, but offers eternal life.
   

Scripture Lessons from Wonderful Words of Life

Conversations about the gospel message sometimes put a lot of emphasis on the moment when we believed the wonderful words of life: when did you say the salvation prayer asking Jesus into your life? When did you become baptized?

These steps are important for the Christian life, but the spiritual journey does not end with saying a prayer. Verses like Colossians 3:16 emphasize how we must not only believe this message, but teach it to ourselves every day:

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Thus, the hymn “Wonderful Words of Life” is more than a reminder of why the word of Christ is so life-giving. Singing the song in worship is a way that we practice the wonderful words of life, dwelling on the good news and letting it take root in our hearts.

Popular Hymn Lyrics with Story and Meaning

Day by Day and With Each Passing Moment
Jesus Loves Me
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Blessed Assurance
Nearer My God to Thee
Abide with Me
His Eye Is On the Sparrow
Be Thou My Vision
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty
Amazing Grace
And more!