Ephesians 5:19 makes this statement, “Speaking to
yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody
in your heart to the Lord.” Note that
the words spiritual songs are used in this example of Bible principles of
musicing unto God. The Greek words
pneumatikos (4152) and oide (5603) mean spiritual i.e. non-carnal songs. Notice that the author of the letter to the Ephesians
was very careful not to use the Greek word oide by itself. If he had that would have admitted all melodies,
sounds and songs. We know further that
St, Paul who was a linguist, was referring to the formal properties of the
music because he follows the words Psalmos (5568), humnos (5215), pneumatikos
oide, and ado (103) with the words making melody (psallo 5567). The word psallo means to touch the parts of a
stringed instrument i.e. to play a melody on a stringed instrument.
Note that the word ado is a direct reference to singing
but the Greek word psallo does not refer to singing directly but rather to
accompanying singing (ado).When Paul used the word psallo he was without doubt
referring to the sounds produced from the formal properties of the music when
it was produced on a musical instrument.
St. Paul used the word pneumatikos to signify that it was necessary to
use non-carnal sounds when musicing unto the Lord. So, conversely there are sounds which may be
produced from the formal properties of carnal music that do not please God. This scripture is a Bible proof that musical
sounds do communicate meaning. If
musical sounds were (and therefore are) incapable of communicating meaning, St.
Paul would not have clearly stipulated the use of pneumatikos oide i.e.
spiritual or non carnal songs produced by touching the parts of a stringed
instrument.
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