As we begin this study we need to recognize that the New Testament is the rule of faith and practice for all who would be pleasing to God.
Man's attitude toward the scriptures must be to believe that they are the inspired, inerrant, infallable, all-sufficient word of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Since he can't direct his own steps (Jere. 10:23), he must do only that which is authorized by the word.
"Speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord" (Eph. 5:19 ASV). The "making melody" is from the Greek word "psallontes," present participle of "psallo." "Singing" comes from the Greek word "adontes." If "adontes" means "singing" then obviously "psallontes" means something other than, and in addition to singing, for otherwise Paul would be commanding "singing and singing."
It should be observed that both "singing" and "making melody" are necessary, not optional. The coordinating conjunction and is used to join words of equal value. Therefore, both the "singing" and the "making melody" are necessary, not optional.
If the instrument is inherent in the word "psallo," then the instrument is not just authorized, but is demanded. All who sing are to "psallo." If the mechanical instrument is inherent in "psallo," then all who sing must also play the mechanical instrument. If not, why not? For many to sing, with only one "psalloing," would not meet the demands of the text.
The word "psallo" can be found with the following meanings: to pluck the hair; to twang the bowstring; to twitch a carpenter's line; to touch the cords of a musical instrument, that is, to make instrumental music; to touch the chords of the human heart, that is, to sing and to celebrate with hymns of praise.
The basic idea in "psallo" is touch but that which is touched does not inhere in the word itself. We must look elsewhere to see what is touched. For example, the basic meaning of "baptidzo" (baptize) is dip or immerse. But the element does not inhere in the word itself. The element in which one is immersed may be suffering, water, fire, or the Holy Spirit. We have to look beyond the word "baptidzo" to find the element.
In the Old Testament when the instrument was intended with "psallo," it was always named. "Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings" (Psa. 33:2). Likewise, in the New Testament the instrument is named..."Sing and make melody with the heart (Eph. 5:19). In Matt. 12:30, the Lord commands..."and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart,..." Just as the heart is the means or instrument by which love takes place, the heart is the means or instrument by which the "making melody" takes place.
"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God" (1 Pet. 4:11).
Don H. Noblin
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