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Paul's Thoughts of Church Music: In Ephesians 5:18-20 and Colossians 3:16

Since Paul was a Jew reared and educated in Jewish tradition, he must be familiar with Jewish religious music which includes songs in the Old Testament and Psalms, the most important Jewish sacred songbook. He quoted psalm verses 20 times and lines from the Song of Moses (Deut 32:1-43) three times in his letters. Scholars say that 12 new hymns or fragments may be found in his writings. Among his five passages referring to church music (Rom 15:6; 1 Cor 14:15, 26; Eph 5:18-20; Col 3:16), Ephesians 5:18-20 and Colossians 3:16, which are parallel passages, provide basic and important principles of church music. First of all, Paul indicates prerequisites for church music: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly" and "be filled with the Spirit." Church music is a natural fruit produced in the heart filled with the word of Christ and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, church musicians need to strive to become spiritually mature before getting in musical activities. Also, Paul lists three kinds of church music such as "psalms, hymns and spiritual songs." Psalms are usually considered as the book of Psalms in the Old Testament, which has been a source and a material for praising God to the people of Israel and Christians. Hymns can be defined as songs of praise to God. They basically indicate songs in the Bible and further numerous religious songs or poems written by faithful Christians such as ones in a hymnal. It is our responsibility to hand our Christian faith over to next generations by means of teaching hymns. Spiritual songs point to general and spiritual songs inspired by the Holy Spirit, and they sometimes have a characteristic of spontaneity. As shown in the words, "one another," "to the Lord," "to God the Father," and "to God," there are two objects of church music: God and His people. Church music should be offered "to God" and glorify Him. It should be also used to build up the people, the body of Christ, in Christian faith. Regarding the way of church music, Paul indicates three important things: "speak to one another," "in your heart," and "with gratitude." Speaking to one another can be understood as "musical speech," a communication to one another as demonstrated in many psalms, or antiphonal singing, a common way of singing from the Old Testament period. "In your heart" means singing not only with the mouth but also with the heart, the center of human personality. In addition, church music should be offered with the attitude of appreciation and from the heart full of thanksgiving about God's immeasurable grace. These principles presented in Paul's passages form a biblical framework of church music.