A third-century Christian hymn is being revived for a modern audience.

Known as The First Hymn, the song was discovered over 100 years ago on a scrap of papyrus in the Egyptian desert.

The fragment, which contained only a few lines, was housed in a climate-controlled vault at Oxford University until biblical scholar John Dickson uncovered its significance in 2022, as reported by The Baptist Press.

"Why has no one brought this back to life? This is a song from before there were denominations", Dickson shared. "It’s thoroughly Orthodox Christian theology."

The hymn, dating back to the mid-200s, predates the Council of Nicaea, which formalised the doctrine of the Trinity in 325 AD.

To reintroduce the hymn to modern Christians, Dickson has teamed up with renowned worship songwriters Chris Tomlin and Ben Fielding.

Together, they transformed the ancient text into a new version while preserving the original words.

The collaboration culminates in The First Hymn Project, a song set to release on 11th April, followed by a documentary on 14th April.

Fielding, best known for hits such as What A Beautiful Name and Mighty to Save, expressed his excitement about the project.

"I had no idea that such a significant discovery lay quietly in England," he said. "Now we were tasked with bringing it back to life so that the Church today might sing the very same words our brothers and sisters in Christ were singing 1,800 years ago".

With only 35 preserved words, Dickson and his team carefully translated the hymn, which praises the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Let all be silent, the shining stars not sound forth, all rushing rivers be stilled as we sing our hymn to the Father, Son, the Holy Spirit', the hymn begins.