Singing In The New Testament
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The document discusses the Greek word "psallo" which is translated as "sing" or "make melody" in various Bible translations. It provides definitions of the word from Greek lexicons which indicate it means to pluck, touch, or twitch strings. The document also argues based on these definitions and consistency principles that when Paul commands believers to "address one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs," he intends it to mean singing without musical instruments. It includes several quotes from religious leaders expressing reservations about the use of instruments in worship.
Singing In The New Testament
- 3. Matthew 26.30 Acts 16.25 Romans 15.9 1 Corinthians 14.15 Ephesians 5.19 Colossians 3.16 Hebrews 2.12 Hebrews 13.15 James 5.13
- 4. “… addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart…” (Ephesians 5:18-21)
- 5. “… addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing (ado) and making melody (psallo) to the Lord with your heart…” (Ephesians 5:18-21)
- 6. “ to pluck off, pull out…to cause to vibrrate by touching, to twang…to touch or strike the chord. (Grimm-Wilke-Thayer Lexicon) “ To touch, to twitch, to pluck in the Septuagint, but in the New Testament, it means to sing and to chant. (Robinson)
- 7. ”’ Making melody’ is one word in Greek, psallontes. The verb psallo meant first to strike the strings of a harp or lyre. Then it meant to ‘strike up a tune.’ Finally it was used in the sense ‘to sing.’” Word Meanings in the New Testament
- 8. The 47 tanslators of the KJV translated it as sing or make melody. The 101 of the ASV translators translated psallo as to sing or make melody. The 104 translators and 12 critics/consultants of the NIV translated is as sing or make melody.
- 9. According to Greek language, Paul commands us to sing to each other. If play is used, then each of us, must play as we sing. It is a consistency principle.
- 10. "Musical instruments in celebrating the praises of God would be no more suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting of lamps, and the restoration of the other shadows of the law. The Papists therefore, have foolishly borrowed, this, as well as many other things, from the Jews. Men who are fond of outward pomp may delight in that noise; but the simplicity which God recommends to us by the apostles is far more pleasing to him. Paul allows us to bless God in the public assembly of the saints, only in a known tongue (I Cor. 14:16) What shall we then say of chanting, which fills the ears with nothing but an empty sound?" (John Calvin, Commentary on Psalms 33)
- 11. "Although Josephus tells of the wonderful effects produced in the Temple by the use of instruments, the first Christians were of too spiritual a fibre to substitute lifeless instruments for or to use them to accompany the human voice.” (Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 10, pg. 648-652.)
- 12. "The organ in the worship Is the insignia of Baal… The Roman Catholic borrowed it from the Jews." (Martin Luther)
- 13. “ I have no objection to instruments of music in our chapels, provided they are never heard or seen.” (John Wesley)
- 14. “ I would as soon pray to God with machinery as to sing to God with machinery.” (Charles Spurgeon)