Who was Isaac Watts? What’s the Story Behind “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross?”

Isaac Watts was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England, in 1674. His father was a nonconformist, and Isaac became the same.  Because of his nonconformist views, he could not attend Oxford or Cambridge, which were restricted to Anglicans.  Instead, he attended the Dissenting Academy at Stoke Newington. After graduating, he became the pastor of Mark Lane Congregational Chapel, yet his theology was more nondenominational or ecumenical than nonconformist Congregationalist.

Isaac Watts is best remembered as a prolific hymn writer.  However, he was also a theologian and logician. He wrote many books and essays, including his book Logic, in which he divided logic into four parts: perception, judgment, reasoning, and method.  That book became the standard text on logic at Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, and Yale.  It was used at Oxford for more than 100 years.  In 1741, Watts wrote a supplement to his famous book, The Improvement of the Mind, which was widely used in schools to teach morals.

Hymn Writing

Many of the hymns Watts wrote are still sung often today.  His best-known ones include the popular Christmas song, Joy to the World (based on Psalm 98),  Our God, Our Help in Ages Past (based on Psalm 90), and When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, 

The Story

The Song

Watch -- Stories behind the songs and those who wrote them:

Who Was Horatio Spafford? What’s the Story Behind “It Is Well With My Soul”
Who Was Robert Robinson? What’s the Story Behind “Come Thou Fount”
Who Was Fanny Crosby? What’s the Story Behind “Blessed Assurance”
Who Was Charles Wesley? What’s the Story Behind “Christ the Lord is Risen Today”
Who was Isaac Watts? What's the Story Behind "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross?"
Who Was William Cowper? What’s the Story Behind "There is a Fountain Filled with Blood"