“Gospel Plow” (also known as “Hold On”) is a traditional American folk song. It is listed in the Roud Folk Song Index, number 10075. The title is biblical, based on Luke 9:62. Bob Dylan included the song on his self-titled debut album in 1962. (More from Wikipedia)
As to his Christian period, I have already mentioned the Biblical imagery in “When the Ship Comes In”. The opening verse of the title track, “Highway 61 Revisited” on Highway 61 Revisited is a hip retelling of God’s command that Abraham sacrifice his long-awaited son Isaac. One of the songs on his very first album, Bob Dylan is a traditional folk song called “Gospel Plow”. So none of this is brand new either as I see it.
For one thing, Bob Dylan often used Biblical imagery in his songs. One obvious example is one of his loveliest songs, “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”, which is taken from the soundtrack of Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973). On his very first album, Bob Dylan (1962), the first song on Side 2 is “Gospel Plow”.
(August 2014)
