Isaac Watts was an English Christian minister, hymn writer, theologian, and logician. He was a prolific and popular hymn writer and is credited with writing over 750 hymns. Some of his best known hymns include “Joy to the World,” “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” “Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed” and “I Sing the Mighty Power of God.”
Isaac Watts was born in Southampton, England in 1674. His father was a schoolmaster and dissenter from the Church of England. As a youth, Watts showed exceptional aptitude for languages and logic. By age 4, he was learning Latin, Greek, French and Hebrew. By age 9, he was studying logic and assisting his father teach. Watts attended the Dissenting Academy at Stoke Newington in 1690 to receive a university-level education, since Dissenters were barred from attending Oxford and Cambridge.
After completing his education, Watts served as pastor of an independent chapel in Mark Lane in London. However, his health was often poor, so he left pastoral ministry and spent much of his life living with various supporters and patrons. This allowed him to focus on studying theology and writing extensively. Altogether, Watts wrote over 200 books, pamphlets and manuscripts on logic, theology, science, education, grammar, physics, psychology, geography and philosophy.
However, Watts is best remembered as a prolific hymn writer. Altogether he composed over 750 hymns, many of which are still popular today. Watts complained about the exclusive singing of the Psalms in worship, since he felt they were outdated and often lacked joy. This led him to write hymns that presented New Testament truths in a simple, joyful poetic style. In 1707, Watts published his first hymn book, “Hymns and Spiritual Songs.” In 1719, he published his most famous work, “The Psalms of David Imitated.” This work contained hymn paraphrases of the Psalms and quickly became a standard within English dissenting churches. Many of Watts’ hymns are still sung today, especially “Joy to the World,” based on Psalm 98.
As a theologian, Watts has been called the “Father of English Hymnody.” He helped transition congregational singing from exclusive Psalm singing to joyful poetic hymns that presented New Testament truths. His hymns brought theology to the common people in simple, memorable ways. Watts was also a pioneer in writing hymns specifically for children. His “Divine Songs Attempted in Easy Language for the Use of Children” was one of the first great children’s hymnals.
In addition to hymnody, Watts was also influential in theology. He was one of the first evangelical Anglican theologians to reflect the trends of Enlightenment rationalism. Watts anticipated later theological trends by abandoning the strong Calvinistic emphasis on predestination in favor of an Arminian emphasis on free will. He also rejected the doctrine of the Trinity in favor of Unitarianism. While these views were controversial, they did help break ground for later trends in evangelical theology.
Isaac Watts died in London in 1748 at the age of 74. While often overlooked today, Watts helped revolutionize English hymnody and made a lasting impact on evangelical theology. He helped transform stale Psalm singing into joyful poetic hymns filled with sound doctrine. For this reason, he deserves to be remembered as one of history’s greatest hymn writers.
Early Life and Education
Isaac Watts was born on July 17, 1674 in Southampton, England. His father, also named Isaac Watts, was a schoolmaster and religious dissenter who rejected the established Church of England. His mother’s name was Elizabeth Taunton Watts. As a young child, Watts displayed an exceptional aptitude for learning languages. By the age of four, he was learning Latin. By age nine he was studying French, Greek, Hebrew and logic. He also began assisting his father teach students at his school. (Romans 12:11, Proverbs 22:29, Philippians 4:13)
Since the elder Watts was a religious nonconformist who rejected the Church of England, his son Isaac was prohibited by law from attending universities like Oxford and Cambridge. So instead, Watts attended the Dissenting Academy at Stoke Newington beginning in 1690. This academy provided Oxford-quality university education to those outside the established church. It was here Watts received a well-rounded education in language, literature, philosophy and theology. Watts learned Latin, Greek and Hebrew and became proficient in logic, science, theology, philosophy, history and literature. His education grounded him well for a life of scholarship, writing and theology. (Proverbs 9:9, Proverbs 1:5)
Early Ministry and Hymn Writing
After completing his education, Watts returned to London and served as a minister at an independent chapel on Mark Lane. However, Watts’ health was frequently poor, suffering from periods of sickness and weakness. So in 1712, he left his role as a full-time pastor and went to live with Sir John Hartopp’s family in Stoke Newington. This allowed him freedom to write extensively without the pressures of pastoral ministry. For the next 36 years, Watts lived with various supporters and patrons who provided for him financially so he could focus on scholarship and hymn writing. (Psalm 71:9, Psalm 73:26)
During these years, Isaac Watts began a prolific career as a hymn writer. At the time, singing in English Protestant churches was restricted exclusively to the Psalms. While Watts shared the traditional esteem for the Psalms, he lobbied for the singing of “hymns of human composure” as well. Watts complained that the Psalms were often outdated and focused on law rather than grace. He wanted new songs that conveyed the joys of faith rather than duty and judgment. This pushback led him to write hundreds of hymns presenting New Testament theology in fresh poetic verse.
In 1707, Watts published his first hymnal titled “Hymns and Spiritual Songs.” This was a remarkable departure from exclusive Psalm singing and included hymns conveying the Gospel story in joyful verse. Then in 1719, Watts published his most famous work, “The Psalms of David Imitated.” This monumental work contained Watts’ poetic paraphrases of the Psalms in the language of the New Testament. The book was quickly adopted for worship across English dissenting churches. During his lifetime, Watts authored over 750 hymns, many of which are still popular today. Well-known Isaac Watts hymns include “Joy to the World” (based on Psalm 98), “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”, “Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed” and “I Sing the Mighty Power of God.” (Colossians 3:16, Psalm 96:1-2)
Other Literary Works
In addition to hymns and Psalms, Isaac Watts was also a prolific writer on many other subjects. Altogether, he published more than 200 books, essays, theological treatises and manuscripts addressing a wide range of topics. His works cover fields such as logic, psychology, science, theology, education, geography and philosophy. Some of Watts’ most notable works include:
- “The Knowledge of the Heavens and Earth Made Easy” (1726) – Introductory texts on geography and astronomy
- “Logic, or The Right Use of Reason” (1724) – A leading textbook on logic for over 100 years
- “The Improvement of the Mind” (1741) – A popular educational text promoting self-education
- Various theological works defending free will against strict Calvinism
- “A Short View of the Whole Scripture History” (1732) – Survey of the Old and New Testament
- “The Ruin and Recovery of Mankind” (1740) – On the Fall and redemption
- “An Essay Towards a First Philosophy” (1722) – On the foundations of knowledge and ethics
This massive literary output cemented Watts’ reputation as one of early 18th century England’s leading scholars and theologians. His works helped educate ordinary people on geography, science, philosophy, theology and other topics. (Proverbs 9:9, Daniel 1:17)
Theology and Views
As a theologian, Isaac Watts was one of the first evangelical Anglican scholars to reflect the trends of the Enlightenment. He anticipated later trends by breaking with the staunch Calvinism of his day. Watts rejected the doctrine of predestination in favor of an Arminian emphasis on free will. He wrote a number of works defending man’s ability to repent and believe apart from absolute divine determinism. Watts also rejected the traditional doctrine of the Trinity in favor of an early form of Unitarianism that maintained the unity and primacy of God the Father. While controversial, these views did help pave the way for later evangelical trends. (1 Corinthians 14:40, 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)
Watts also believed reason and education could help people access divine knowledge apart from traditional church authority. He wrote many educational books to help common people gain wisdom, logic, science and other knowledge for themselves. Watts’ views departed from Calvinist notions of total depravity and helped articulate an evangelical theology compatible with Enlightenment reason. While he went too far at times, his works did help broaden English evangelicalism. (1 Corinthians 1:19-21, Romans 12:2)
Legacy and Impact
Isaac Watts died on November 25, 1748 in London at the age of 74. He never married and left his estate to his niece. While less celebrated today, Watts left an enduring impact on evangelical theology and English hymnody.
As a theologian, Watts pioneered early evangelical adaptations to Enlightenment rationalism. His views on salvation, the Trinity and reason helped pave the way for mainstream evangelicalism to move beyond rigid Calvinism. As a hymnist, Watts revolutionized English worship through his joyful hymns conveying New Testament theology. He helped displace dreary exclusive Psalm singing with Christ-exalting lyrical praise accessible to all. For these reasons, Watts deserves to be remembered as one of the most influential evangelical theologians and hymn writers of the 18th century. (Matthew 5:16, 1 Corinthians 15:58)