Music

by David Lasseter


 

In this portion of our study we'll examine the use of music in our worship to God.  Every religious group I know of uses music in their worship, but many different types of music are used.  What are the Bible's instructions regarding music in our worship to God?  To answer this question we'll study the NT scriptures dealing with music, consider the Greek words used by the NT writers as they recorded the scriptures, and review the history of music in Christian worship.


Definitions

  1. Sumphonia (Strong's 4858, translated "musick")
  2. Mousikos (3451, "musicians")
  3. Ode (5603, "song")
  4. Hoplon (3696, "instruments"; also translated "weapon" and "armour")
  5. Ado (103, "sing", "singing")
  6. Humneo (5214, "had sung", "sang", "will sing")
  7. Psallo (5567, "sing", "will sing", "making melody", "sing psalms")
  8. Kumbalon (2950, "cymbal")
  9. Kalkos (5475, "sounding brass"; also translated "money")
  10. Paizo (3815, "play")
  11. Kithara (2788, "harp", "harps")
  12. Kitharizo (2789, "harped", "harping")
  13. Kitharodos (2790, "harpers")
  14. Aulos (836, "pipe")
  15. Auleo (832, "have piped", "what is piped")
  16. Auleetees (834, "pipers", "minstrels")

Old Testament references to Music (partial list)

  1. Instrument(s) of music:  21 references
  2. Play musical instruments:  4 references

The Bible has much to say about music in our worship to God.  In our quest to understand the worship practices of the one body of Christ we must spend a significant period of time considering music.  As we look around us we see many different types of music practiced by different religious organizations.  These varied types of music can be broken down into two major groups:  vocal and mechanical.  While all forms of music are in some way mechanical (that is, an instrument generates different wavelengths of sound, producing different tones), when I speak of mechanical forms of music in this study I'll refer to the varied forms of non-vocal music.  Instruments producing such forms of music include the piano, organ, guitar, trumpet, etc.  Vocal music will refer solely to music produced by the human voice.

With the definitions established let's proceed with a detailed examination of music in the Lord's church.  While I'm sure there are many different ways to approach music in the church, I'd like to do so by asking and answering a series of questions.  Once we know the answers to these questions we'll understand music as it is authorized for the members of the one body of Christ.  Below I've included every NT scripture (KJV) containing the words music (musick in the KJV), musicians, song, instrument (or instruments), making melody, sing, sang, sung, singing, cymbal, sounding brass, harp, harps, harped, harpers, harping, pipe, piped, pipers, minstrels, or play.  I've included the verses in the table below.  Following each verse is a series of columns.  Each column contains the answer to one of the following questions:

  1. Is vocal (V) or mechanical (M) music practiced in this verse?
  2. If vocal music is practiced, what was its purpose?
  3. If mechanical music is practiced, what was its purpose?
  4. Does this verse refer to music as practiced in heaven (H) or on earth (E)?
  5. If this verse refers to music on earth, is it music offered by members of the Lord's body in an assembly of the church?

Verse

1

2

3

4

5

Matthew 9:23

M

 

Reflect mood

E

N

Matthew 11:17

M

 

Example

E

N

Matthew 26:30

V

Worship

 

E

N

Mark 14:26

V

Worship

 

E

N

Luke 7:32

M

 

Example

E

N

Luke 15:25

Either

Secular

 

E

N

Acts 16:25

V

Worship

 

E

N

Romans 6:13

Neither

 

 

 

 

Romans 15:9

V

Worship

 

E

N

1 Corinthians 10:7

Neither

 

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 13:1

M

 

Example

E

N

1 Corinthians 14:7

M

 

Example

E

N

1 Corinthians 14:15

V

Speaking to one another

 

E

Y

Ephesians 5:19

V

Speaking to one another, worship

 

E

Y

Colossians 3:16

V

Teaching, Admonition

 

E

Y

Hebrews 2:12

V

Worship

 

E

Y

James 5:13

V

Reflect mood

 

E

Y

Revelation 5:8

M

 

Worship

H

 

Revelation 5:9

V

Worship

 

H

 

Revelation 14:2

M

 

Worship

H

 

Revelation 14:3

V

Worship

 

H

 

Revelation 15:2

M

 

Worship

H

 

Revelation 15:3

V

Worship

 

H

 

Revelation 18:22

M

 

Secular

E

N

From the table we can now evaluate the use of vocal and mechanical music as authorized by New Testament scripture:

  1. Mechanical forms of music are recorded as being used on earth and in heaven.  On earth, this form of music served to reflect a mood (sorrow at the death of a ruler's daughter) or as an illustration (a parable spoken by Jesus, showing how those of that generation were like children who didn't dance when a pipe was played; to show how one speaking in tongues without love is like a "sounding brass or tinkling cymbal"; to show how one speaking in tongues with no interpreter is like a pipe or harp playing indistinct notes; to show the sad state of "Babylon" after its destruction in that there would no more be heard the sounds of harps or pipes in this city).  There is no record of it being used as part of a worship assembly.  In heaven, it is recorded as being used in worship to God (harps).
  2. Vocal music as well is recorded as being used on earth or in heaven.  On earth it was used in a secular sense or in worship to God.  In a secular sense, the elder son heard music coming from his house after the return of his prodigal brother.  In worship, it was used in either an assembly of the members of the Lord's church, or outside such an assembly.  In Matthew and Mark we read of Jesus and His disciples singing a hymn prior to entering the Mount of Olives shortly before Jesus' crucifixion.  In Acts we see Paul and Silas singing praises while imprisoned.  In Romans we see the response of the Gentiles to the good news that Jesus was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God (Romans 15:8-12).  In each of these three occasions we see vocal music being used to worship God outside an assembly of the Lord's church.  In an assembly of the Lord's church we see vocal music serving several functions:  speaking to one another, worship, teaching, admonition, and to reflect the mood of one who is merry.  Vocal music used in heaven is recorded as being used to worship God.

What conclusion must we reach from a study of the NT scriptures that deal with music used in the worship assemblies of the Lord's church?  Only vocal music is authorized!  But why do so many religious organizations use instrumental music in their services?  Authorization for such use could come from one of two sources:  commandments of men or the Old Testament.  In this study of the church I could redo lessons that many have already published on the internet.  But I feel that would be of limited value and would do little other than to increase the volume of material already available.  In my study of the church I chose to spend most of my time establishing authority, and limit the time I spend on topics such as instrumental music.  In the end, what I say makes absolutely no difference.  However, if what I teach is based on a firm foundation, then one would do well to seriously consider these studies.  We've already laid the foundation.  We know that today one cannot look to the Old Testament for religious authority.  We know that one cannot look to the unfounded teachings of men for religious authority.  Opinions abound regarding instrumental music in worship.  Having established the New Testament as the sole authority in religious matters today renders a study of music in the worship assemblies of the Lord's church fairly simple.  If it's not authorized in the NT, it's not authorized at all.  Naturally, in order to justify the use of instrumental music, several have attempted to twist the meaning of psallo to force it to include the use of instruments in its meaning.  I would like to take a brief look at this word to see if instruments could possibly be included in its definition.

Psallo

The word is used 5 times in the NT:  Romans 15:9, 1 Corinthians 14:15 (twice), Ephesians 5:19, and James 5:13.  We see from the table above that the account in Romans does not refer to music used in an assembly of the Lord's church (even if it did, it is translated "sing" and the same rules noted below apply).  Therefore we will limit this discussion to the latter 3 verses.  In each of the three we see an absolute exclusion of mechanical instruments of music (other than the voice).  Why?  What did Paul tell the Corinthian brethren to do?  To sing with the spirit and with the understanding.  But how does this exclude non-vocal music?  Please notice who (or what) is to have the spirit and the understanding:  the one singing!  How does a piano sing with understanding?  It cannot!  The same statement can be truly made regarding every other non-vocal instrument.  The instrument cannot understand anything.  It simply responds to the commands given it by the musician.  One group may say, "I'll sing while playing an instrument."  This doctrine still cannot overcome the difficulties presented in 1 Corinthians 14:15.  Every instrument "singing" is required to do so with understanding.  Even with the members singing and playing an instrument, the instrument will never be capable of understanding what it is "singing."  We see a similar dilemma in Ephesians.  In this verse we see that we are to speak to one another, "in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;".  Again we must consider who is doing the singing:  The one with the melody in his heart.  But how does an organ develop a melody within its heart?  It cannot!  Just as the piano is a lifeless instrument with no understanding, the organ is equally lifeless and incapable of making a melody within its heart.  Here we again have that coordinating conjunction "and", which we've spent much time considering in other studies.  "And" renders "singing" and "making melody in your heart" of equal importance.  Someone will say, "Singing may refer to an instrument of music, while making melody in the heart refers to the one playing the instrument."  Is this valid?  Let's look at all of verse 19 to answer this question.  Notice what Paul says, "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;".  Before Paul mentions singing he uses the following words:  "speaking", "psalms", "hymns", and "spiritual songs."  Let's look at each of these as we evaluate the validity of the position noted above.

  1. Speaking:  The Greek word is laleo.  This word refers to the use of the voice to utter articulate sounds, to use words, to talk.
  2. Psalms:  The Greek word is psalmosThe word may refer to either the striking or twanging of a musical instrument, or to a pious song.  Psalmos is derived from psallo.
  3. Hymns:  The Greek word is humnos.  This word refers to a song in the praise of gods, heroes, or conquerors, or a sacred song.
  4. Spiritual:  The Greek word is pneumatikos.  The definition is complex, so please link to the on-line lexicon for further study.
  5. Songs:  The Greek word is ode and is translated "song."  Ode is derived from the primary word ado, which means "To the praise of anyone, to sing."

With these definitions in mind lets return to Ephesians 5:19.  Paul begins the verse with the phrase, "speaking to yourselves."  The word "speaking" requires the use of the voice to utter articulate sounds (Greek laleo).  This word excludes instruments of music.  His next phrase states, "in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs."  The word "in" is a preposition, and serves as a "function word to indicate means, medium, or instrumentality." So the voice is to be used as a means to utter articulate sounds in the form of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.  The phrase "singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" follows Paul's commandment for us to speak to each other.  Can we correctly interpret the word "singing" in Ephesians 5:19 to include musical instruments?  No!  To do so would require taking the word "singing" completely out of the context of the verse in which it lies. Everything before it requires the voice, as does everything after it (again, a lifeless musical instrument is incapable of making melody in its heart).  So to state that "Singing may refer to an instrument of music, while making melody in the heart refers to the one playing the instrument" is an erroneous interpretation of Ephesians 5:19.  With this in mind, what other proof do we have that a musical instrument is not authorized in this verse?  Let's say one decides that "singing" in this verse can be done with a guitar.  What will be required of the congregation in this scenario?  Each and every member must have a guitar and must be playing the instrument!  "But why do you say that" some might ask.  Because the two phrases are connected by a coordinating conjunction!  Singing is just as important as making melody in the heart.  If a group decides that musical instruments will be used in their services, they are required to provide each member with an instrument to play.  But who takes this necessary step to properly apply this erroneous interpretation of this verse?  No religious group I'm aware of.  So we see that those who wish to use this verse to justify instrumental music misapply it two different ways!  First, an instrument cannot make a melody within its heart.  Second, even if it could, each member of the congregation would be required to play one.

In James we read the third verse in which psallo is used to indicate music during a worship service.  James says to his readers, "Is any among you afflicted?  Let him pray.  Is any merry?  Let him sing psalms."  The phrase "among you" specifies an individual who is part of the brethren to whom James is writing (the "Twelve tribes which are scattered abroad", whom James calls "My brethren" in chapter 1:1-2).  Chapter 5:13 could certainly indicate the one who is merry singing by himself, so this verse may be applied to either the worship service or one singing as an individual.  In either situation we see again that instruments of music are absolutely excluded.  What is required of the one who sings?  They must be merry!  Again, how can a set of drums be "merry?"  Just as with the piano, organ, guitar, trumpet, violin, banjo, or any other non-vocal instrument they are incapable of experiencing emotion.    Only the voice has the necessary ties to one's heart to sing in the fashion required by James.  If you look at the Greek words for "sing" and "psalms" in this verse, you'll find that they are both the same word, psallo!  Here James lays to rest the issue of psallo referring to one plucking the strings of a mechanical instrument of music.  Psallo is an act of the one who is merry.  Musical instruments experience no emotion and cannot be merry.  The strings which are plucked in James 5:13 are the strings of the heart, and is manifest as songs sung using the voice of the one who is merry.

Summary

The purpose of this study on music in the Lord's church has been to evaluate the teachings found in the New Testament dealing with this topic.  My intention was not to re-write previously published material recording the history of instrumental music in "Christian" worship.  Many sources may be easily found on the internet that provide a concise review of the acceptance of instruments of music in "Christian" worship.  As we've seen in our study, the Lord never authorized inclusion of musical instruments in our worship to God.  "But what difference does it make!" some will ask.  If you are asking this question yourself, please reconsider the account of Nadab and Abihu.  As you recall, they made one seemingly insignificant change in their worship to God.  As human beings we are prone to ask, "Fire is fire.  What difference does it make where the fire came from?"  With regards to music in the church some might say, "Music is music.  What difference does it make what type of music I use in worship?" Such questions are not ones we can ask.  All we must do is accept God's pattern for worship.  Such worship we can confidently affirm is in spirit and in truth.  As we've seen, Jesus tells us that the time has now come when the true worshippers of God will worship Him in such a fashion (John 4:23).  To change the pattern of worship delivered to us is to fail to worship God in truth.  Such worship is vain.  I hope this study of acceptable music in the Lord's church has been of benefit to you.  I'm sure the concept of instrumental music rendering worship vain is foreign to many people.  If you find yourself in this group, please carefully reconsider the teachings of the New Testament and determine to worship God as He has instructed us.

Article on instrumental music by Maurice Meridith

Does "sing" mean also "to play", by Jim Massey


 

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