DOES “PSALLO” NECESSITATE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC?*

Victor M. Eskew

 

            The churches of Christ are known for their refusal to use instruments of music in worship.  The practice involves a matter of authority.  Jesus said that we are to teach what He has commanded to be taught (Matt. 28:20).  Paul commands that whatever we do in word or deed must be done “in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col. 3:17), that is, by His divine authority.  The question that we raise with our religious neighbors is:  “Where is instrumental music commanded in the New Testament?”

            One verse to which some will appeal is Ephesians 5:19.  The words of the inspired apostle read:  “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”  Those who approve of instrumental music in worship make note of the words, “making melody.”  The Greek word is “psallo.”  The contention is that this Greek word authorizes the use of instrumental music.  Strong defines “psallo” as follows:  “Probably strengthened from…psao (to rub or touch the surface…); to twitch or twang, that is, to play on a stringed instrument (celebrate the divine worship with music and accompanying odes)” (e-sword).  Using Strong’s definition, the argument seems to be very strong in favor of instrumental music.  Does “psallo” necessitate instrumental music?  How do we answer this argument?

            First, the Greek word “psallo” is found five times in the New Testament.  Let’s look at how the word is translated in the New Testament.  The first time we find it is in Romans 15:9.  Paul writes:  “And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, for this cause I will confess thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.”  In this verse “psallo” is translated “sing.”  In I Corinthians 14:15, Paul uses the word twice in one verse.  “What is it then?  I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also:  I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”  Again, “psallo” is translated “sing.”  In James 5:13, it is translated “sing” once more.  “Is any among you afflicted:  let him pray.  Is any merry?  Let him sing psalms.”  Ephesians 5:19 is the other time it is used.  We have seen that in this text “psallo” is translated “make melody.” 

            It is interesting that in every standard translation that has been produced by a committee that not one of them includes instrumental music in the translation.  This includes the King James Version, the American Standard Version, the Revised Standard Version, the New American Standard Version, the New King James Version, and the English Standard Version.  These translations were produced by a large host of Greek scholars.  These individuals were well trained in the original languages and did not believe that instrumental music was inherent in the word “psallo.”  There is not one intimation of instrumental music in any of the texts they translated using the word in the New Testament.  This is a potent argument against “psallo” necessitating the use of instrumental music.

            Second, let’s assume that instrumental music is inherent in the Greek word “psallo.”  There are some conclusions to this view that are true, but no one would force these conclusions upon others.  One conclusion is that if instrumental music in inherent in the word, then the command cannot be obeyed without the accompaniment of an instrument.  In other words, a Capella music could NEVER be used in worship.  Another conclusion is that every Christian must play an instrument while singing.  Notice the same person who is to sing is to make melody.  The third conclusion is that the instrument that one uses must be plucked.  Pianos, organs, percussion instruments, and wind instruments would not fulfill the command to twitch or twang.  Harps, guitars, and banjos would have to be purchased by all worshippers.  Again, these are the conclusions.  However, those who advocate for the use of instrumental music based on the word “psallo” will not accept these conclusions.  Dear readers, all doctrines must be followed to their logical ends.  If not, why not?

            Third, it is imperative for us to understand that words have histories.  The meanings of words sometimes change over time.  From a secular standpoint, the meaning of the word “marriage” has changed.  It used to involve the legal union of a man and a woman.  Unfortunately, our society has now defined the word “marriage” as a legal union between those of the opposite sex and those of the same sex.  We bring this up because the word “psallo” has evolved over time.  During the Classical period (900 B.C. to 330 B.C.), “psallo” meant “to touch sharply, to move by touching, to pull, twitch.”  By 300 B.C., the word included three definitions:  1) playing an instrument with no singing, 2) singing with the accompaniment of an instrument, and 3) vocal music only.  How can we confirm this?  All one has to do is look at how the word “psallo” was used in the Septuagint version (LXX).  The Septuagint version is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament.  The word “psallo” is used in all three ways in that version.  What the Septuagint reveals is that instrumental music DID NOT inhere in the word “psallo” when the LXX was being translated.  By the time of the first century, the primary meaning of “psallo” had developed into “sing.”  This is why all the translators translate the term simply as “sing.” 

            The Greek lexicographers of the New Testament understood this.    Thayer defines “psallo” as:  “in the NT to sing a hymn, to celebrate praises to God in song.”  Vine references the classical definition, and then says:  ‘in the NT, to sing a hymn, sing praise.”  The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia reveals this:  “In the New Testament it refers to singing God’s praises (not necessarily accompanied by strings).”  The Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament says:  “In the N.T. psallo always refers to a song of praise to God.”  Ralph Earle writes the following in his work, Word Meanings of the New Testament:  “’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.”  This helps us to understand why not one instrument of music is mentioned in the book of Acts or in any of the epistles.  The definition of the word “psallo” had changed over the years.  In the first century, the word simply meant “to sing.” 

            Fourth, the history of the church after the first century also affirms that the church sang without the accompaniment of instrumental music.  When the worship services of the church are described by those who lived in those times, no instruments are mentioned.  J.M. Brown produced an article in The Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge wherein he affirms:  “That instrumental music was not practiced by primitive Christians…it evident from church history” (www.churchesofChrist.net, “The Case against Instrumental Music in Worship”).  We could produce quotes from many Church Fathers such as Justin Martyr, Chrysostom, Tertullian, and Eusebius that would testify that the practice of the early church was to simply sing.  In their Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, McClintock and Strong make this statement on page 759 in Volume 6:

 

                        “The Greeks as well as the Jews were wont to use instruments as                                                                         accompaniments in their sacred songs.  The converts to Christianity                                                       accordingly must have been familiar with this mode of singing; yet                                                         it is generally believed that primitive Christians failed to adopt the                                                                 use of instrumental music in their religious worship.  The word                                                              ‘psallein,’ which the apostle uses in Eph. 5:19, has been taken by                                                                 some critics to indicate that they sang with such accompaniments…                                                          But if this be the correct inference, it is strange indeed that neither                                                               Ambrose…nor…Basil…nor Chrysostom…in the noble encomiums                                                         which they severally pronounce upon music, make any mention of                                                             instrumental music.  Basil, indeed expressly condemns it as minister-                                                        ing only to the depraved passions of man…and [he] must have been                                                          led to this condemnation because some had gone astray and borrow-                                                           ed this practice from the heathen…The general introduction of instru-                                                 mental music can certainly not be assigned to a date ealier than the                                                        5^th or 6^th centuries.”

 

            The arguments against the word “psallo” including musical instruments in New Testament worship are very strong.  Now, let’s go back to our introduction.  Jesus taught His disciples, saying:  “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you… (Matt. 28:20).  What did the Lord command in the New Testament?  He commanded singing (Eph. 5:19; Col 3:16).  Since we can only teach what has been commanded, we will rightly and safely teach that worship involves singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs without the accompaniment of instruments.  When we do this, we know that we are speaking, teaching, and admonishing just as the New Testament commands us to do.

*Wayne Jackson and the Christian Courier are to the thanked for much of the information in this article.  The article can be found at: 

 

Jackson, Wayne. "Psallo and the Instrumental Music Controversy." ChristianCourier.com. Access date: May 25, 2021. https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/829-psallo-and-the-instrumental-music-controversy