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The Christian hymn "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" was written by Joseph Scriven in 1855 to comfort his mother during a time of illness. He originally wrote it as a poem to send to her in Ireland while he was in Canada. Scriven had experienced his own deep sorrows, including the loss of two fiancées. The poem was later set to music by Charles Converse and became a popular hymn. Origin: Joseph Scriven wrote the poem in 1855 to comfort his ill mother in Ireland. He could not visit her, so he sent her the poem in a letter. Scriven's background: Scriven had experienced significant tragedy. His first fiancée drowned the night before their wedding, and his second fiancée died of pneumonia before they could marry. Becoming a hymn: The poem was anonymously published until later in Scriven's life. Horace Bonar discovered it and shared it with Ira Sankey, who set it to music, and the hymn "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" was born. Scriven's life: After his losses, Scriven devoted himself to a life of charity work in Canada, helping the poor and destitute, which earned him the nickname "The Good Samaritan of Port Hope". His quote: When asked if he wrote the hymn, Scriven famously replied, "The Lord and I did it between us". The hymn "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" is inspired by several Bible verses, most prominently John 15:15, where Jesus says, "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you". Other verses, such as Proverbs 18:24 ("A friend sticks closer than a brother") and Romans 8:35 ("Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?"), also convey similar themes of Jesus's devoted friendship. Key Bible verses John 15:15: "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you". This verse directly states that Jesus calls his followers friends. Proverbs 18:24: "A friend sticks closer than a brother". This verse highlights the closeness and loyalty of true friendship, a quality that the hymn applies to Jesus. Romans 8:35: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?". This verse is about the unwavering and unbreakable love of Christ, reinforcing the idea of a steadfast friend. 1 Corinthians 15:57: "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ". While not the origin of the phrase, this verse is sometimes mentioned in connection with the hymn as it speaks of the victory we have through Jesus.