Speculation regarding liturgical occasion: According to Häfner, BWV 277, BWV 278, or BWV 279 could have served as the closing chorale for the lost Picander–Jahrgang cantata Es hat überwunden der Löwe written for Easter Day (Picander 28), in which case verse 6 of the hymn would have been used. (See NBA III/2.1 KB, pp.95–96 under Dietel 133; see also III/2.1 KB, p.50 or III/2.2 KB, p.276)