Wonderful Counselor, Father Supernal, Yes Mighty God Is He...

by snowbird 12 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  snowbird

  The word supernal from the song, Theocracy's Increase, has been in my thoughts all night long.

  Here's the definition from Encarta -

  su·per·nal [ soo púrn'l ]

  adjective

  Definition:

  1. in sky: coming from or located in the sky

  2. heavenly: suited to or characteristic of the sky

  [ 15th century. Via French< Latin supernus "heavenly" < super "over, above" ]

  The song comes from the text at Isaiah 9:6 where the Son is spoken of as Eternal Father, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, etc. I wonder why supernal was chosen?

  Sylvia
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  jambon1

  "Hail the HYPOCRISY, ever increasing" - I used to sing.
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  Leolaia

  Interestingly, the phrase "Father supernal" (outside of theosophical circles) is otherwise only attested in an old Christmas carol:

  PAST THREE O'CLOCK

  past three o'clock,
  on a cold frosty morning,
  past three o'clock,
  good morrow masters all.

  born is a baby
  gentle as may be,
  son of the Eternal,
  Father supernal.

  I wonder if that has a precedent in an older Bible translation, but not the KJV or Wycliffe, so probably not. I suspect that the carol was used by the Bible Students and influenced the modern Kingdom Melody. It is not in the Hymns of the Millenial Dawn (1905), although Hymn 211 (No Other Name) uses the phrase "bliss supernal". The song "Theocracy's Increase" is certainly a Rutherfordian-era theme, and the song appears in Songs to Jehovah's Praise, published in 1950.
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  Leolaia

  I found another example in another poem about the Nativity:

  For the deep thrilling
  Of Hope and of Fear
  In the fulfilling
  Of my divine sphere,
  That holily near
  Is bound by thy life to the Father Supernal

  That was from "Hymns For a Mother," by George Burleigh, published in 1849 in The Maniac: And Other Poems.
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  snowbird

  So the Father Supernal is not the Son?

  Sylvia
• 

  Atlantis

  (Credit goes to Leolaia )
• 

  snowbird

  Ah, I see the wording has changed slightly.

  Sylvia
• 

  Ténébreux

  Ah, I see the wording has changed slightly.

  And the music. That's a completely different tune to the one they sing now!
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  Leolaia

  Interesting that "Mighty is he" got changed to "Mighty god is he".
• 

  Finally-Free

  Is that image from the old pink song book or is there a new one out? The version I remember from the brown song book is very different.

  Now I can't get that stupid tune out of my head.

  W