Instrumental music in new testament worship

Instrumental music has a rich history in Christian worship, and the New Testament provides some insight into its use in early Christian gatherings. While the New Testament does not explicitly mention instrumental music, there are several passages that suggest its use:

  1. Colossians 3:16: "Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." This verse mentions "psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit," which could include instrumental music.
  2. Ephesians 5:19: "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord." This verse encourages believers to sing and make music in their hearts, which could include instrumental music.
  3. 1 Corinthians 14:7-11: In this passage, Paul discusses the use of tongues (glossolalia) in worship. While he does not explicitly mention instrumental music, he does mention the use of musical instruments in the context of worship (1 Corinthians 14:7-11).
  4. Acts 16:25: In this passage, Luke records that Paul and Silas sang hymns to God while in prison. While this passage does not explicitly mention instrumental music, it does show that singing was an important part of their worship.

In addition to these passages, there are several examples of instrumental music in the early Christian church:

  1. The Didache (circa 70-120 AD): This early Christian text mentions the use of instrumental music in worship, including the lyre and the flute.
  2. The Apostolic Constitutions (circa 380 AD): This text, attributed to the apostles, mentions the use of instrumental music in worship, including the use of the lyre, harp, and flute.
  3. Early Christian art: Many early Christian artworks depict scenes of worship with instrumental music, such as the lyre and the flute.

In summary, while the New Testament does not explicitly mention instrumental music, there are several passages that suggest its use in early Christian worship. Additionally, early Christian texts and artworks provide further evidence of the use of instrumental music in worship.