Upbringing and work in the free church movement Born in
Mönsterås,
Kalmar County, in
Småland, Boberg was the son of carpenter Nils Petter Jonsson Boberg and Hedvig Gustava Jonsdotter. The religious
revival movements of the time strongly affected him as a young man.
Political roles and views Boberg served in the
Riksdag's
Första kammare (upper house of Parliament) from 1912 to 1931. From 1921, he was also a state auditor.
Writings He published more than 60 poems, hymns, and gospel songs, including a collaboration with Swedish hymnist
Lina Sandell. Of his works, "" ('O Great God'), upon which "
How Great Thou Art" is based, the best known. The song is a natural romantic description of God's creation, which in each chorus ends with the songwriter wanting to cry out that God is great. It was written after Boberg experienced a thunderstorm at the
Kalmar Strait. Boberg is represented in the
Church of Sweden's fourth
hymnal,
Den svenska psalmboken (1986) with three works, ("", , and ) and in other hymnals such as the Swedish-American '''' (1892), 's ''
(1895), the (1986) and the Bibeltrogna Vänner hymnal '' (1987). He is abundantly represented in the Mission Covenant Church's 1920 hymnal '
. Several of his songs are also published for children in the Sunday school hymnal ' (1908).
Family On 5 January 1884 Boberg married Anna Maria Elisabet Pettersson. On 23 November 1915 he married Selma Charlotta Elisabet Ydrén. == Legacy ==