Featuring John Dickson, Chris Tomlin and Ben Fielding
In Cinemas July 2025
In Cinemas July 2025
bringing the first hymn back to life.
From a scrap of parchment in the ruins of an ancient Egyptian city to the middle of a modern rock concert in the heart of America.
the story
In the ancient ruins of Oxyrhynchus, Egypt, archaeologists unearthed a papyrus scrap containing the earliest known Christian hymn, complete with both its lyrics and musical notation.
Analyzed at Oxford University, this discovery challenges traditional views of church history by revealing the rich musical practices of early believers. Hosted by Australian historian John Dickson, the feature-length documentary “The First Hymn” chronicles the hymn’s journey from its desert origins to its modern resurrection, as acclaimed composers Chris Tomlin and Ben Fielding transform the ancient melody into a contemporary worship piece, culminating in a live concert performance.
.avif)
the host
John Dickson
John Dickson evolved from a 90s rock band singer-songwriter into a celebrated historian, speaker, and author of over 20 books, including Bullies and Saints: An Honest look at the Good and Evil of Christian History. John hosts Australia’s top religion podcast, Undeceptions, and holds the Jean Kvamme Distinguished Chair of Biblical Evangelism at Wheaton College. His work spans television documentaries, live talks, and academic roles at prestigious institutions like Macquarie University and Oxford, making complex ideas accessible to diverse audiences.
a world first for music, faith and history.
We've recruited world-renowned worship music creators to breathe new life into this ancient song.
the musicians
Chris Tomlin
Chris is one of the most significant creators and performers in Christian music today. Chris has sold over twelve million records and he has over seven billion streams to his name. He’s a Grammy winner with over 30 top ten hits. It’s estimated that 30 million people sing Chris’s music in churches each week. Time Magazine described him as “potentially the most often sung artist in the world.”
Ben Fielding
Ben Fielding is a GRAMMY award winning, multi-platinum, Australian songwriter and artist. A prolific song-writer, Ben has written many of the most sung and loved modern hymns across the Church globally. He is the only songwriter to have four songs reach #1 on CCLI as the most sung songs in the global Church: Goodness Of God, What A Beautiful Name, Who You Say I Am and Mighty To Save. Ben also wrote the certified Gold This I Believe (The Creed) which, like The First Hymn, is the translation of an ancient text into a modern worship song.
Led by a team of leading historians
A discovery with significant implications for our understanding of ancient music and early Christianity.
the historians
Stephanie Boonstra
Collections Manager at The Egypt Exploration Society and Managing Editor of the Journal of Egyptian Archaeology.
Armand D’Angour
Professor of Classical Languages and Literature, and a Fellow and Tutor in Classics at Oxford University, specializing in ancient Greek music.
Charles H. Cosgrove
Emeritus professor of early Christian literature at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and the acknowledged world expert on P.Oxy 1786.
Esau McCaulley
Jonathan Blanchard Associate Professor of New Testament and Public Theology at Wheaton College.
Katherine Sonderegger
William Meade Professor of Systematic Theology, Virginia Theological Seminary
Maria Monteiro
Lecturer in Church Music, Baylor University
Mark Noll
Research Professor of History, Regent College
a spiritual and artistic triumph
That has been 1,800 years in the making.
watch at home
The First Hymn is available for streaming on the Wonder platform.
Watch at homewatch together
Screen The First Hymn at your church because stories are meant to be experienced together.
72 hour public screening license costs are as follows:
Under 100 people
100-500 people
500-1,500 people
Over 1,500 people
$99 USD
$199 USD
$299 USD
$599 USD
the song
Experience a profound piece of history.
The original words of the 18-hundred year old First Hymn
The lyrics to the new First Hymn by Ben Fielding and Chris Tomlin
See lyricsSign up to be notified as soon as the song is released and available on CCLI.
Subscribepart 1
Egypt & the United Kingdom
Host John Dickson leads us from the bustling streets of Cairo to the ancient ruins of Oxyrhynchus, where archaeologists uncovered P.Oxy 1786—the oldest known Christian hymn, complete with its music and lyrics. At Oxford University, experts reveal how this remarkable find reflects a subtle cultural rebellion, setting the stage for its modern resurrection.
part 2
Sydney & Nashville
In Sydney, John Dickson reconnects with Christian songwriter Ben Fielding to reimagine an ancient hymn, and together they enlist renowned singer-songwriter Chris Tomlin, whose global collaboration leads to the first draft of a modern worship song unveiled in Nashville. An epic recording session featuring Nashville’s top session players marks the beginning of The First Hymn, setting the stage for one final crucial step to complete the project.
part 3
Nashville & Chicago
```John Dickson moves to return The First Hymn to its church origins by finalizing the song’s mix with top producers and incorporating a Coptic singer to honor its Egyptian roots. Simultaneously, he organizes a grand concert in Chicago—with an orchestra, two choirs, and the full energy of Wheaton College’s music department—to debut the revived hymn.
Resources
Are you interested in sharing The First Hymn documentary with your friends, or promoting a screening event?
subscribe
Sign up to get exclusive updates on The First Hymn. By completing this form you will also receive updates about future releases from Undeceptions and Heritage Films.
.avif)
.avif){kind=logo}
