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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