Music in the Early Church: What Can We Learn?

# Music in the Early Church: What Can We Learn?

## Introduction

Understanding how the earliest Christians worshipped can illuminate our own practice. While we should not slavishly imitate every detail, the early church offers wisdom for worship today.

## New Testament Evidence

### Jesus and the Disciples

Jesus and His disciples sang together: "And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives" (Matthew 26:30). This was likely the Hallel (Psalms 113-118), traditional at Passover.

### Pauline Instructions

Paul provides our clearest New Testament instructions:

> "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." — Colossians 3:16

Note the three terms:
- **Psalms** (psalmois): Likely Old Testament Psalms
- **Hymns** (hymnois): Songs of praise to God
- **Spiritual songs** (odais pneumatikais): Spirit-inspired compositions

### Early Christian Hymns in Scripture

Several passages appear to be early hymn fragments:

- **Philippians 2:6-11** — The kenosis hymn about Christ emptying Himself
- **Colossians 1:15-20** — Hymn to Christ as creator and redeemer
- **1 Timothy 3:16** — Creedal hymn about Christ's incarnation and exaltation
- **Revelation 4-5** — Heavenly worship songs

## Patristic Sources

### Pliny the Younger (c. 112 AD)

This Roman governor wrote to Emperor Trajan describing Christians who "were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god."

Key observations:
- Corporate singing
- Responsively (antiphonal)
- Hymns to Christ
- Early morning worship

### The Didache (late 1st/early 2nd century)

This early church manual describes worship practices including thanksgiving prayers that sound hymnic in structure.

### Justin Martyr (c. 150 AD)

In his *First Apology*, Justin describes Sunday worship:
> "On the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read... Then we all rise together and pray... bread and wine are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings."

Music is not explicitly mentioned here, but singing was part of the "prayers and thanksgivings."

### Tertullian (c. 200 AD)

Tertullian describes agape feasts where "each is asked to stand forth and sing, as he can, a hymn to God, either from the holy Scriptures or of his own composing."

This suggests:
- Congregational participation
- Both Scripture songs and new compositions
- Charismatic element (individual contributions)

## Characteristics of Early Christian Music

### 1. Christological Focus

Early hymns centered on Christ—His identity, work, and glory. The Philippians 2 hymn is paradigmatic: it tells the story of Christ from pre-existence to exaltation.

### 2. Psalms as Foundation

The Psalter remained central. Christians sang the Psalms with christological interpretation, seeing Christ throughout.

### 3. Unaccompanied Singing

Evidence suggests early Christian worship was primarily a cappella. This was likely for several reasons:
- Distinction from pagan temple worship
- Emphasis on words over spectacle
- Practical limitations of house church settings

### 4. Congregational Participation

Unlike later developments, early worship was participatory. All believers sang, not just a professional choir.

### 5. Teaching Function

Music served to instruct. The content mattered as much as the experience.

## Lessons for Today

### What We Should Imitate

1. **Christological content:** Our songs should be saturated with Christ
2. **Congregational singing:** Worship is not a spectator sport
3. **Scripture-soaked lyrics:** The Bible should shape our songs
4. **Theological depth:** Early hymns were dense with meaning
5. **Corporate unity:** Singing together builds the body

### What We Shouldn't Assume

1. That the early church was perfect in its practice
2. That every detail should be replicated
3. That instruments are inherently wrong
4. That our context is identical to theirs

### Questions for Reflection

- Are our songs as focused on Christ as the early hymns?
- Does our congregation actually sing, or merely listen?
- Do our songs teach doctrine as rich as Colossians 1:15-20?
- Are words prioritized, or have we become about "the experience"?

## Conclusion

The early church knew that what they sang mattered. In an age of persecution, their songs confessed Christ at the risk of death. Do our songs reflect that same conviction? Are they worthy of the faith once delivered to the saints?

---

*"Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart." — Ephesians 5:19*