Title: What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Content:  "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" is a Christian hymn originally written by preacher Joseph M. Scriven as a poem in 1855 to comfort his mother, who was living in Ireland while he was in Canada. Scriven originally published the poem anonymously, and only received full credit for it in the 1880s. The tune to the hymn was composed by Charles Crozat Converse in 1868. The hymn also has many versions with different lyrics in multiple languages. The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal notes, "In spite of the fact that this hymn, with its tune, has been criticized as being too much on the order of the sentimental gospel type, its popularity remains strong, and the hymn retains a place in modern hymnals." In some settings, the lyrics have been matched to other tunes such as the Welsh "Calon Lân" (originally wedded to the Welsh poem translated as "A Pure Heart").
Title: What a Friend
Content:  "What a Friend" was released on September 15, 2017, as the second single from his fifth studio album Echoes. The song samples the Christian hymn What a Friend We Have in Jesus by Joseph M. Scriven, who wrote it in 1855 to comfort his mother in Iceland while he was living in Canada. Maher shows God’s faithfulness even in the midst of personal sorrow and devastation. On the song, Maher sings about the joy of our friendship with the Saviour. Aleteia described the song as "switching gears from quiet worship to bouncing folk-rock, with a country-pop hook, where the piece is infused with a jubilant energy, which is aided by a perfectly employed gospel-ish choir."
Title: What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Content:  Wade and Julia Mainer with unknown musicians (1989) ; Glen Campbell (1989, Favorite Hymns) ; Driving Miss Daisy (1989) sung at Little Friendship Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia ; The John Tesh Project (2000, Pure Hymns) ; Amy Grant recorded it as part of the medley "What a Friend We Have in Jesus/Old Rugged Cross/How Great Thou Art" on her 2002 studio album Legacy... Hymns and Faith, and later included on her 2015 compilation album Be Still and Know... Hymns & Faith. ; Alan Jackson (2006, Precious Memories) ; Brad Paisley (2008, Play) ; Ronnie Milsap (2009, Then Sings My Soul) ; Hugh Laurie (2013, Didn't It Rain as "Changes" by Alan Price) ; Monty Alexander (2013, Uplift 2) ; William Bolcom composed a setting of the hymn in 1979. 
Title: Jesus, Friend of Sinners
Content:  Musically, "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" has been described as a "pop hymn". Lyrically, it "admonishes the church to show compassion" and "laments how the world knows many Christ followers more by what they are against than what they are for". The opening verse of the song, "Jesus Friend of Sinners/we have strayed so far away/we cut down people in Your name/but the sword was never ours to swing/... The world is on their way to You/but they’re tripping over me/always looking around, but never looking up/I’m so double-minded", has been described as an example of the "bold lyric" that has been a "trademark" for Casting Crowns.
Title: Jesus, Friend of Sinners
Content:  others within the church with the song; he commented the first verse of the song speaks about himself. "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" was written by Mark Hall and Matthew West and produced by Mark A. Miller. It was recorded by Sam Hewitt at Zoo Studio in Franklin, Tennessee; additional recording was conducted by Michael Hewitt at Lifesong Studio in McDonough, Georgia. Some vocal recording was conducted by Billy Lord at Eagle's Landing Studio in McDonough, Georgia. The string sections on the song were arranged by David Davidson and recorded by Bacho Shin at Ocean Way Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. Mixing was handled by Sam Hewitt, while digital editing was done by Matt Naylor and Michael Hewitt. The song was submixed by Bacho Shin at ShinShack Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, and it was mastered by Andrew Mendleson at Georgetown Masters in Nashville, Tennessee.
Title: Jesus, Friend of Sinners
Content:  "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" is a song by American Christian rock band Casting Crowns. Written by Mark Hall and Matthew West and produced by Mark A. Miller, it was released as the second single from the band's 2011 album Come to the Well. The song has been regarded musically as a "pop hymn" and lyrically "admonishes the church to show compassion". "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" met with a positive reception from critics, many of whom praised the song's lyrical content. A music video has been released for the song. It has peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Soft AC/Inspirational chart, No. 2 on the Billboard Christian AC Indicator chart, No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs and Hot Christian AC charts, and No. 20 on the Christian CHR chart.
Title: What a Friend
Content:  "What a Friend" is a song performed by Canadian contemporary Christian music (CCM) artist Matt Maher. The song was released as the second single from his 2017 album Echoes on September 15, 2017. The song peaked at No. 10 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart, becoming his seventh Top 10 single from that chart. It lasted 26 weeks on the overall chart. The song is played in an E major key, and 110 beats per minute.
Title: What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Content: Rise Up Singing, page 98 ; The Lutheran Hymnal, hymn #457 
Title: What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Content: Washington Phillips, as "Jesus Is My Friend" (1928, Columbia Records) ; Bing Crosby (1951, Beloved Hymns) ; Tennessee Ernie Ford (1958, Nearer the Cross, Capitol Records) ; Rosemary Clooney (1959, Hymns from the Heart, MGM Records) ; The Stanley Brothers (1960) ; Reno & Smiley and the Tennessee Cut-Ups (1963) ; Ella Fitzgerald with the Ralph Carmichael Choir (1967, Brighten the Corner) ; Thurl Ravenscroft (1970, Great Hymns In Story and Song) ; Aretha Franklin (1972, Amazing Grace) ; Ike & Tina Turner (1974, The Gospel According to Ike & Tina) ; Lester Flatt & and the Nashville Grass (1975), the LP Flatt Gospel. Also performed by Flatt & Scruggs while Flatt and Earl Scruggs played together. ; Bill Monroe (Bear Family (German) BCD-16639 My Last Days On Earth 1981-1994 
Title: Jesus, Friend of Sinners
Content:  "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" began going for radio adds on the Christian AC, Christian CHR, and Soft AC/Inspirational formats on March 3, 2012. It has so far peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart, No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Christian AC chart, No. 2 on the Billboard Christian AC Indicator chart, No. 21on the Billboard Soft AC/Inspirational chart, and No. 20 on the Christian CHR chart.

Question: who wrote song what a friend we have in jesus?
Answer: Charles Crozat Converse.
Joseph M. Scriven.
William Bolcom.