I have often mentioned in my philosophical writings the
importance of Colossians 1:16 which states, “For by him are all things created,
that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they
be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things are created
by him and for him.” There are two words
in this Scripture that are of great importance to our discussion. They are visible (horatos 3707) and invisible (aoratos 517).
When it comes to God’s creating music there is the
portion that one is able to see (horatos) and the portion that one cannot see
(aoratos). The musical score is a part
of music that one can see and musical sound is a part that one cannot see. Although the written part may communicate
meaning to the trained musician who is capable of audiating it [i.e. the
ability to see pitch, rhythm and harmony on the musical score and hear them in
one’s mind], it is the sounds that are what really matters to the rest of the
people who are incapable of audiating it in their minds. Music that is still on the page of the score,
if it doesn’t have words, may very well be considered to be to be neutral to
the non-musician. However, when sounds
are produced from that score they take on life and communicate meaning to
everyone who hears them
In Colossians 1:16 there is a list of things that were
created by the exceeding God (Theos 2316).
Among this list is the word exousia (1849) which, among other things,
means delegated influences. I believe
that the invisible part of music belongs to this category. Colossians 1:16 explains that all these
categories of creation were made by the exceeding God for the exceeding
God. I believe that God, in his creative
power, gave music the delegated authority to influence mankind with musical
sound. The composers, arrangers,
performers, and conductors have been given the delegated authority to influence
all those who hear them produce sound.
Because God always gives mankind a choice, all those who compose,
arrange, perform, and conduct music may influence others for good or evil with
the musical sounds that they produce. So, ipso facto musicians are able to
influence others with the message that a particular sound communicates to the
auditor.
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