Our young Christians need to be taught the arguments for such issues as instrumental music in worship so they can “earnestly contend for the faith” (Jude 3). The new arguments are simply the old arguments. This discussion will be about some of the Greek words in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16, especially the word, psallo, and the arguments related to it. Each of these words represent a different type of music.
First, the word translated “song” is the Greek word ode, which simply means a song in its general sense. The word may be recognized in its transliterated form from Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” This word can mean any type of song. Many odes were sung for the welcoming home of heroes. However, if the adjective “spiritual” is added to modify the word, then the song becomes a specific type of song, namely, one that would be sung as worship.
Second, the word “hymn” is translated from the Greek word humnos. In the Bible, this word only occurs in the two verses being discussed here, and while the word ode simply means a song, humnos is more specifically, a religious song.
Third, note the word that is transliterated, “Psalms.” It is the Greek word psalmos. According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, this word is even more specific. While ode means “a song,” and humnos means a “religious song,” psalmos means “a religious song that is sung in Hebrew.” It refers to the Psalms of the Old Testament. These “psalms,” according to Strong, could be accompanied with the voice, harp or other instruments. Those arguing for instrumental music in worship often use this fact to what seems to be their advantage. However, notice that it can be accompanied with the voice or other instruments. The instruments do not have to be present in order for it to be a “psalm.”
It is often asserted that the base word for psalmos is psallo, which means to “pluck, pull, or twang.” (This word is used in Ephesians 5:19 and translated by the phrase, “making melody.”) Many will say that in order to pluck, pull or twang, you must have a mechanical instrument. This is simply not true. As a matter of fact, the Bible tells us what “instrument” we must use while we are “singing and making melody.” Ephesians 5:19 says, “…in your hearts.” We are to “pluck, pull or twang” our heartstrings according to this biblical command.
It is also important to note that in the KJV, the word psallo is used four other times and is translated “sing” those times. There is not a case of mechanical instruments being used in the New Testament to worship God. The Bible commands singing and nothing more.
