| Summary: | Hymnology and hymnal studies are working interdisciplinary: History, linguistics, literary science and theology, especially the liturgical perspective, are being brought together and can provide valuable insight to social history and the history of mentality. Unfortunately this potential is rarely seen or acted upon. This paper on Tersteegens song Gott ist gegenwärtig gives an example of the possibilities of hymnology and hymnal studies. It also evinces Tersteegens interdenominational importance as a mystic. In the course of this enquiry terms like ‘pietism’ and ‘mysticism’ are outlined and set into the context of the Enlightment and the history of hymnals. Following this line of thought, it is to be ascertained how suitable the categories ‘pietist’ and ‘mystic’ are to describe Tersteegen and how important singing was to him personally. In the final analysis possible interpretations of Tersteegens song Gott ist gegenwärtig are brought to attention and the reception of his work in several hymn books is illustrated. The history of reception draws from the stock of the hymnal archive of the IAK Gesangbuchforschung.
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