Paul, the Lord's apostle, wrote the following words to the Ephesians,
"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled
with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart."
(Eph. 5:19)
Two questions of importance are before us at this time: (1) What are
"psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs?" (2) Is there a sharp distinction
in meaning between "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs" in the passage
cited above?
The plural noun "psalms" is the translation of psalmois and refers to
"a vocal musical expression in NT worship, song of praise." (The
Concise Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Frederick
William Danker, page 386) The word "psalm" refers generally to a
song of praise. (1 Cor. 14:26; Col. 3:16)
The plural noun "hymns" is the translation of humnois and it refers to
"a song with religious content, hymn, song of praise." (A Greek-English
Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature,
Bauer-Danker, page 1027) "Hymn" denotes any festive hymn of praise.
(Isa. 42:10{Septuagint}; Acts 16:25; Heb. 2:12)
The phrase "spiritual songs" translates pneumatikais odais. The
reference is to non-secular, spiritual, or sacred songs in honor of
God. (op. cit., pages 837, 1101) "Songs" denotes compositions
in which God's acts and greatness are praised and glorified.
(Rev. 5:9; 14:3; 15:3)
It is likely that no sharp distinction between "psalms" (psalmois);
"hymns" (humnois), and "spiritual songs" (pneumatikais odais) is
intended. It appears that they are used synonymously, and should be
interpreted to mean all forms of sacred songs used to praise God.
They describe the full range of singing which extols the praises of
the deity.
What do we learn from the phrase "psalms, hymns, and spiritual
songs?" We learn that our singing is to consist of songs that praise
God, that express joy to God, and that extol God's glory.
RD
Copyright 2011
"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled
with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart."
(Eph. 5:19)
Two questions of importance are before us at this time: (1) What are
"psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs?" (2) Is there a sharp distinction
in meaning between "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs" in the passage
cited above?
The plural noun "psalms" is the translation of psalmois and refers to
"a vocal musical expression in NT worship, song of praise." (The
Concise Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Frederick
William Danker, page 386) The word "psalm" refers generally to a
song of praise. (1 Cor. 14:26; Col. 3:16)
The plural noun "hymns" is the translation of humnois and it refers to
"a song with religious content, hymn, song of praise." (A Greek-English
Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature,
Bauer-Danker, page 1027) "Hymn" denotes any festive hymn of praise.
(Isa. 42:10{Septuagint}; Acts 16:25; Heb. 2:12)
The phrase "spiritual songs" translates pneumatikais odais. The
reference is to non-secular, spiritual, or sacred songs in honor of
God. (op. cit., pages 837, 1101) "Songs" denotes compositions
in which God's acts and greatness are praised and glorified.
(Rev. 5:9; 14:3; 15:3)
It is likely that no sharp distinction between "psalms" (psalmois);
"hymns" (humnois), and "spiritual songs" (pneumatikais odais) is
intended. It appears that they are used synonymously, and should be
interpreted to mean all forms of sacred songs used to praise God.
They describe the full range of singing which extols the praises of
the deity.
What do we learn from the phrase "psalms, hymns, and spiritual
songs?" We learn that our singing is to consist of songs that praise
God, that express joy to God, and that extol God's glory.
RD
Copyright 2011
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