In both Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16, the Apostle Paul refers to Christians singing “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” John Calvin commented on the latter passage as follows:
Moreover, under these three terms he includes all kinds of songs. They are commonly distinguished in this way: a psalm is to the accompaniment of some musical instrument; a hymn is properly a song of praise, whether it be sung simply with the voice or otherwise; an ode contains not merely praises, but exhortations and other matters. He wants the songs of Christians to be spiritual, and not made up of frivolities and worthless trifles. For this relates to his argument (John Calvin, The Epistles of Paul to the Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians, 353).
In that comment, Calvin clearly does not take the view that God intended His Church to sing exclusively the psalms in the Book of Psalms. Otherwise, there would have been no necessity of Calvin’s comment that God “wants the songs of Christians to be spiritual, and not made up of frivolities and worthless trifles.” The Psalms of the Bible are always spiritual and cannot be made up of worthless trifles because they are part of the inspired Word of God. I have known some who hold to the exclusive singing of psalms who have tried to make the argument that Paul was simply defining the Book of Psalms (to them the inspired song book of the Scripture) in three different categories—psalms in the proper sense; hymns which are also psalms; and, songs which are also psalms. I realize that Scripture often says the same thing by using synonyms, but in this instance it would seem to be a needless and useless tautology. Moreover, there would be unnecessary to exhort Christians to make their psalms or hymns or songs “to be spiritual.” They would already be spiritual because they are Scripture. While I do not expect to convince anyone who is convicted of exclusive psalm singing, I want to put forth in this article some reasons why that position is not, in my opinion, what the Scripture teaches.
First, there is no place in the Scripture where exclusive psalm singing is commanded or required. If the Book of Psalms are the sacred hymnbook of the Church then why does the Scripture make that plain? I am persuaded that Church should include psalm singing in their corporate worship and almost every hymnal has some hymns that are essentially psalms. I am in favor of inclusive—not exclusive—psalm singing.
Second, the exclusive psalm singing position seems fraught with inconsistencies, in my opinion. There are other songs in the Scripture which are not psalms. Where is the passage which says that psalms may be sung but no other songs of the Scripture can be sung by the Church? Consider, for instance, Numbers 21:17, 18; Deuteronomy 31:19-22; 32:1-47; Judges 5:1-31; the whole Song of Solomon (which is also titled, The Song of Songs); Isaiah 5:1-30; Revelation 5:9; and Revelation 14:3. If only the inspired songs of Scripture can be sung by the Church, then why are those songs omitted by those who hold to the exclusive singing of psalms? Moreover, what is wrong with taking other portions of Scripture and arranging them in a manner in which they can be sung? One of my favorite hymns is “Like a River Glorious.” It is a great hymn of the church that is based on two verses in Isaiah, chapter 66:12 and chapter 26:3. Please, someone explain to me why it is not permissible (according to exclusive psalm singers) to sing those verses in worship even as various psalms are sung.
Third, none of the psalms in the Hebrew Scriptures are arranged for singing in English. They have to be rearranged, translated or paraphrased, and prepared for singing in English or in many other languages. The final product is not the very words of Scripture. It is close, but it misses the mark as widely or even more so than various paraphrases of the Scripture. If the purpose of exclusive psalm singing is to prevent the interjection of the human element, then that purpose has failed. When Jane and I went to Austria several years ago, we visited the place where the great movie, The Sound of Music, was filmed. Interestingly, out guide told us that the words to the theme sung were very difficult to translate into Austrian German. I have noticed that English hymns are sometimes very clumsy when translated and sung in Russian or some other language. “How Great Thou Art” is not nearly as beautiful in Russian as it is in English and I have sung it in both languages.
Fourth, if the Book of Psalms alone can be sung by the Church, then Christ is praised only in very shadowy ways, but the great substance of His redemption is left silent. That is a very Old Testament way of worship for a New Testament Church and is contrary to the whole analogy of faith or the progressive revelation of truth. New Testament worship should be broader, deeper, and richer than Old Testament worship. If psalms only are sung in worship, the opposite is true. Now, I love the singing of psalms and many great truths are represented in them. Yet, I am glad that we do not try to do the same thing to theology. That is, I am glad we do not argue that we can only present Christ as the Messiah by the use of the Old Testament Scriptures. Such can certainly be done since that was the method Paul used in witnessing to the Jewish synagogues among the Diaspora. Yet, there is so much more richness with the completion of revelation in the New Testament. Now we have the completed revelation of Scripture that shines the light of truth more brightly on the Person and work of Christ. In fact, there is even a great deal more information about Jesus the Messiah in other parts of the Old Testament than the psalms alone. There are many purposes of the Psalms other than to be a worship hymnbook. Why would the Lord restrict His Church from singing about the glories of Christ in all His fulness? That is a position that does not make sense to me.
Fifth, someone might reply that the Directory of Worship of the Westminster Assembly required exclusive psalm singing. That is a fact, but that is not a compelling argument. The touchstone of truth is always the Scripture. In my understanding, the Lord did not give all the truth to any particular period of church history or to any uninspired group of people. Even the Westminster divines did not give us the final word on every point of theology. There are important subjects that are not even addressed in the Confession. Thus, we appreciate the great work of the Westminster divines, but we call no man—or group of men—Master. We are all subservient to the Scriptures—Sola Scriptura.
Therefore, I encourage all churches to sing the very best psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.
Dewey Roberts, Pastor of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Destin, Florida
www.vanguardpresbyterianchurch.com
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