The Instrumental Music Question

1
The Instrumental Music Question

• Answering Arguments from the Bible
• Part 2

2
Answering Arguments

• Used in Patriarchal times (Gen.421 Ex.
  1520-21). Answer What was used by individuals
  in Patriarchal times does not apply to the local
  church in the New Testament.

3
Answering Arguments

• Used by King David in the Psalms
  (1 Chron.235 2 Chron.2925-28 Psa.985-6
  1493 1503-5). Answer What was used in the
  Temple service in the Old Testament does not
  apply to the local church in the New Testament.
  The Law of Moses as has been abolished (Rom.76
  Col.214 Heb.109). Are you willing to introduce
  other Old Testament practices into the church
  such as the Sabbath Day, the Passover, animal
  sacrifices, incense, etc? In Psalm 149 and 150
  there is dancing with instruments. Would this
  authorize church dancing today? In Psalm 6615
  there is sacrifices and incense. Would this
  authorize church burnt offerings and incense
  today?

4
Answering Arguments

• Used by the father of the prodigal (Lk.1525).
  Answer What was used by individuals in a
  personal party does not apply to worship in the
  local church (see also Mt.1116-17).
• Used by Paul (1 Cor.131 147-9). Answer Paul
  was using an illustration of an instrument to
  make a point, not giving a description of New
  Testament worship (see also 1 Cor. 924).

5
Answering Arguments

• Used in Eph.519 because the Gr. psallo is used.
  Answer Paul wrote, speaking in psalms and
  singing (Eph. 519). The heart (see also
  Col.316) is specified as the object of making
  melody. Note The object an instrument of any
  kind is not inherent in the definition. The
  object must be determined, specified or supplied
  by the context.

6
Two Parallel Passages
Ephesians 519 Colossians 316
speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord. ... teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God.
7
Answering Arguments

• Used in Eph.519 because the Gr. psallo is used.
  Answer Someone says, But I thought psalms
  were played on an instrument like King David did.
  The Gr. psallo means to play an instrument. Yes,
  the Gr. word psallo can mean to play an
  instrument, but in NT times, it meant to sing.
  The basic meaning of the Gr. psallo is lit. to
  pluck to twang to twitch to strike then, to
  play an instrument then, to sing. Greek
  lexicagraphers are careful to point out the
  change in meaning from OT times to NT times from
  plucking, to playing, to singing.

8
Psallo in the New Testament
Greek Word Meaning Passage
psalleto sing psalms Jas. 519
psallantes making melody Eph. 519
psallo sing Rom. 159 1 Cor. 1415 (2x)
psalmo / psalmon psalms (quoted) Lk. 2042 Ac. 120 1333
psalmois in psalms (quoted, singing) Lk. 2444 Eph. 519 Col. 316
psalmon a psalm (spoken) 1 Cor. 1426
Psalms were quoted, spoken, and sung, but
never played in the NT
9
The C.E.I. Store, Athens, AL., 1957
10
Both Sides of the Music Question Discussed, page
36
11
Both Sides of the Music Question Discussed, page
37
12
Thayers Greek-English Lexicon of the NT, page 675
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Psallo Summary

• Psallantes (making melody) is a command for
  everyone, not just one member or a few
• Psallantes (making melody) is done with your
  heart, not with an mechanical instrument
• Psalms were quoted, spoken, and sung in the NT,
  but never played
• Psallo, by NT times, meant to sing, not to
  play

14
Answering Arguments

• Used by Jesus (1 Thess.416). Answer What Jesus
  uses at His second coming has nothing to do with
  New Testament worship. See also 1 Cor.1552.

15
Answering Arguments

• Used in Heaven (Rev.142). Answer John heard a
  voice, not an instrument. The voice began to
  sing (v.3). Also, the word as or like (Gr.
  hos ) is used three times in v.2 to show what the
  voice sounded like (see ASV, NASV, NIV, RSV,
  NRSV). But what about Rev.57-8 152-3? What is
  done in this heavenly scene does not apply to the
  New Testament church on earth (cf. Mt.2230).
  Revelation also speaks of a throne, a sea of
  glass, golden bowls, lamps, living creatures,
  precious stones, and incense in heaven. Should
  these things also be in the church today?

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The Instrumental Music Question

• Do we understand better the issue over the
  instrument?
• We sing because that is what God said he
  wanted. We refuse to play a mechanical instrument
  because God never authorized it in the New
  Testament.
• We can unite upon what is in the New Testament.
  We can never unite upon what is not in the NT.
  Mechanical instruments of music in worship to God
  by Christians is never found in the New Testament.