Early Christian Views on Music and Instruments
Early Christian writers welcomed psalms, hymns, and singing in worship, but many warned against music tied to pagan feasts, idols, and loose living. Clement of Alexandria, Cyprian, Ignatius, and the Apostolic Constitutions speak positively about sacred song. Other writers like Athenagoras, Justin Martyr, Arnobius, and Tertullian use instruments mainly as warnings or as marks of pagan culture. The Bible passages here include both temple praise and sharp criticism of music used in sinful settings.
115 early-church witnesses · 192 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about music and Musical Instruments?
Early Christian writers gave music a mixed place. They praised singing, psalms, and hymn singing in worship, but many also warned against pagan instruments, feast music, and music tied to idolatry or loose living. Clement of Alexandria, Cyprian, Ignatius, and the Apostolic Constitutions support Christian song in worship, while Athenagoras, Justin Martyr, Arnobius, and Tertullian use instruments mainly as examples in pagan practice or moral warnings.
The Bible passages in this set also lean both ways: Davidic and temple music are positive, but some prophets criticize idle or sinful use of instruments. Overall, the evidence is broad for Christian singing and broad caution about instruments, but direct teaching that bans all instruments is thinner and more indirect. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Early Christians clearly approved of singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
- Several writers linked instruments to pagan feasts, idolatry, or moral danger.
- The material does not give one simple rule that all instruments were always forbidden.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did early Christians sing psalms and hymns in worship?
Several early Christian sources describe believers singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, especially in worship, meals, and household devotion. These texts present music primarily as praise and instruction directed to God.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Direct teaching
...nks to God and His Father." This is our thankful revelry. And even if you wish to sing and play the harp or lyre, there is no blame. You shall imitate the righteous Hebrew king in his thanksgiving to God. "Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous; praise is comely to the upright," says the prophecy. "Confess to the Lord on the harp; play to Him on the psaltery of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song." And does not the ten-stringed psaltery indicate the Word Jesus, who is manifested by the element of the decad? And as it is fitting, before partaking of food, that we should bless the Creator of all, so also in drinking it is suitable to praise Him when partaking of His creatures. For the psalm is a melodious and sober blessing. The apostle calls the psalm a spiritual song. Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching
...at home, singing, praying, reading, watching, and fasting, speaking to God continually in songs and hymns. And let her work with wool, and rather help others than be in need of help from them. Let her remember that widow who is honored in the Gospel by the Lord's testimony, who came into the temple and cast two mites into the treasury, which make a farthing. And Christ our Lord and Master, and Searcher of hearts, saw her and said, "Truly I say to you, this widow has cast into the treasury more than they all. For all they have cast in out of their abundance, but this woman out of her poverty has cast in all the living that she had."
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Ignatius, The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians (Short Version) Direct teaching
...justly renowned presbytery, worthy of God, is fitted as perfectly to the bishop as strings are to a harp. Therefore, in your concord and harmonious love, Jesus Christ is sung. And do you, each individually, become a choir, so that being harmonious in love, and taking up the song of God in unison, you may with one voice sing to the Father through Jesus Christ. This way, He may both hear you, and perceive by your works that you are indeed members of His Son. It is profitable, therefore, that you live in an unblameable unity, so that you may always enjoy communion with God.
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
But the Holy Spirit declares in the Song of Songs that the Church is one. He says, speaking in the person of Christ, “My dove, my undefiled, is one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her who bore her.” Song of Songs 6:9 About this He also says again, “A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring sealed up, a well of living water.” Song of Songs 4:12 But if the spouse of Christ, which is the Church, is a garden enclosed, then something that is closed cannot lie open to strangers and profane persons. And if it is a fountain sealed, then one who is outside and has no access to the spring can neither drink from there nor be sealed. And if the well of living water is also one and the same within, then he who is outside cannot be made alive and sanctified by that water, since only those who are within are allowed to use it or drink it. Peter also showed this. He taught that the Church is one, and that only those who are in the Church can be baptized. He said, “In the ark of Noah, few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water; the like figure to which even baptism shall save you.” 1 Peter 3:20-21 In this way he proves and testifies that the one ark of Noa
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
...tery of the divine tradition. We also see the sacred mystery of this unity expressed in the Song of Songs, in the person of Christ, who says, "My sister, my spouse, is a garden enclosed, a fountain sealed, a well of living water, a garden with the fruit of apples." Song of Songs 4:12-13 But if His Church is a garden enclosed, and a fountain sealed, how can someone who is not in the Church enter that garden or drink from its fountain? Moreover, Peter himself, showing and defending unity, has commanded and warned us that we cannot be saved except by the one baptism of the one Church. "In the ark of Noah," he says, "few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water; baptism will likewise save you also." 1 Peter 3:20-21 In a very short and spiritual summary, he has set forth the sacred mystery of unity. For just as, in that baptism of the world, when its ancient wickedness was washed away, the person who was not in Noah's ark could not be saved by water, so also a person cannot seem to be saved by baptism if he has not been baptized in the Church, which is established in the unity of the Lord according to the sacred mystery of the one ark.
Did early Christian writers treat musical instruments symbolically?
A number of fathers interpret instruments as figures for spiritual realities: the tongue, the mouth, the body, or a soul ordered toward heaven. In these passages, the instrument language is used to teach spiritual harmony rather than to discuss performance alone.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Direct teaching
...sound of a trumpet," because with the sound of a trumpet He will raise the dead. "Praise Him on the psaltery," because the tongue is the Lord's psaltery. And, "Praise Him on the lyre." By the lyre, he means the mouth, struck by the Spirit as if by a plectrum. "Praise Him with the timbrel and the dance" refers to the Church thinking deeply about the resurrection of the dead in the sounding skin. "Praise Him on the chords and organ." He calls our body an organ, and its nerves are the strings. By them it has received harmonious tension, and when it is struck by the Spirit, it sends out human voices. "Praise Him on the clashing cymbals." He calls the tongue the cymbal of the mouth, which rings out with the movement of the lips. Therefore He cried out to humanity, "Let every breath praise the Lord," because He cares for every breathing thing He has made. For man is truly an instrument of peace. But if you examine other instruments, you will find that they are instruments of war, stirring up lusts, or awakening sexual loves, or arousing anger.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Background
...n the priests and the Levites and the singers stood toward the east, praising and thanking God with cymbals and psalteries, and saying, "Praise the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endures forever." 2 Chronicles 5:13
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Tertullian, De Corona Supporting witness
Nay, if he also first strung the chord to give forth melody, I will not deny, when listening to David, that this invention has been in use with the saints, and has ministered to God.
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Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Direct teaching
The book of Psalms contains new doctrine after the law that was given by Moses. And so it is the second book of doctrine after the Scripture of Moses. After the death of Moses and Joshua, and after the judges, David arose, one considered worthy to be called the father of the Savior. He was the first to give the Hebrews a new style of psalmody. By this he did away with the ordinances established by Moses concerning sacrifice, and introduced a new way of worshiping God by hymns and acclamations. Through his whole ministry, he also taught many other things beyond the law of Moses. This is the sacredness of the book, and its usefulness. And the account to be given of its inscription is this. For since most of the brothers who believe in Christ think that this book is David's, and inscribe it as Psalms of David, we must state what has come down to us about it. The Hebrews give the book the title Sephra Thelim. And in the Acts of the Apostles it is called the Book of Psalms. The words are these: "as it is written in the Book of Psalms." But the name of the author in the inscription of the book is not found there. And the reason for that is that the words written there are not the words o
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Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Supporting witness
...ne, concerned with it, and that too at the earliest period, when he trained his fingers to play the psaltery. For if anyone before him showed the use of the psaltery and lute, that person at least did it in a very different way. He only put together some rough and clumsy device, or simply used the instrument without singing either with melody or with words, but only amused himself with a crude kind of pleasure. But after such people, David was the first to bring the matter into rhythm, order, and art, and also to join the singing of the song to the melody. And, what is more important, this most inspired man sang to God, or about God. He began in this way while he was still among shepherds and youths, in a simpler and humbler style. Later, when he became a man and a king, he attempted something higher and of more public interest. And he is said to have made this advance especially after he had brought back the ark into the city. At that time he often danced before the ark, and often sang songs of thanksgiving and songs celebrating its return. Then, little by little, assigning the whole tribe of the Levites to this duty, he appointed four leaders of the choirs, namely, Asaph, Aman
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Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Supporting witness
Since there are psalms, and songs, and psalms of song, and songs of psalmody, we still need to explain the difference between them. We think, then, that psalms are pieces played simply on an instrument, without the voice, and composed for the musical melody of the instrument. Songs are those performed by the voice together with the music. They are called psalms of song when the voice takes the lead, while the proper sound also accompanies it, made in harmony by the instruments. They are called songs of psalmody when the instrument takes the lead, while the voice has second place and accompanies the music of the strings. So much, then, for the literal meaning of these terms. But as for the mystical interpretation, it would be a psalm when, by striking the instrument, that is, the body, with good deeds, we succeed in good action, though we are not yet fully skilled in contemplation. And it would be a song when, by turning over the mysteries of the truth apart from practice, and fully agreeing with them, we have the highest thoughts of God and His oracles, while knowledge gives us light and wisdom shines brightly in our souls. And it would be a song of psalmody when good action takes
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Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Supporting witness
... with an instrument called by the Greeks the psaltery, and by the Hebrews the nabla. It is the only musical instrument that is completely straight and has no curve. Its sound does not come from the lower parts, as it does with the lute and some other instruments, but from the upper parts. In the lute and the lyre, when the brass is struck, the sound answers back from below. But this psaltery has the source of its musical notes above, so that we too may practice seeking the things above, and may not let ourselves be dragged down by the pleasure of melody into the passions of the flesh. And I think that this truth also was deeply and clearly shown to us in a prophetic way in the construction of the instrument, namely, that those whose souls are well ordered and trained have the way prepared to the things above. Again, an instrument that has the source of its melodious sound in its upper parts may be understood as like the body of Christ and His saints—the only instrument that remains straight. For He did no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth. This truly is an instrument that is harmonious, melodious, and well ordered. It admitted no human discord and did nothing out of mea
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Athenagoras, A Plea for the Christians Supporting witness
For at the musical contests the adjudicators do not pass by the lute-players and crown the lutes.
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Athenagoras, A Plea for the Christians Supporting witness
...ve its harmony, and strikes its notes, and sings the fitting strain, and not the instrument. For at musical contests the judges do not pass by the lute players and crown the lutes. Whether, then, as Plato says, the world is a product of divine art, I admire its beauty and adore the Maker. Or whether it is His essence and body, as the Peripatetics affirm, we do not fail to adore God, who is the cause of the motion of the body. And we do not stoop down to the poor and weak elements, worshiping passible matter in the impassible air, as they call it. Or if anyone understands the several parts of the world to be powers of God, we do not approach and pay homage to the powers, but to their Maker and Lord. I do not ask of matter what it does not have to give. Nor, passing by God, do I pay homage to the elements, which can do nothing more than what they were commanded. For although they are beautiful to look upon because of the skill of their Maker, they still have the nature of matter. Plato also bears witness to this view. For he says that what is called heaven and earth has received many blessings from the Father, but yet partakes of body. Therefore it cannot possibly be free from cha
Did early Christians warn against pagan music and instruments?
Some early writers criticize cymbals, drums, pipes, flutes, and other instruments when associated with pagan feasts, idolatry, theater, or moral disorder. These passages are not blanket rejections of all music, but they are strongly negative about certain musical settings.
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1 Chronicles 15:16 Background
And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.
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2 Samuel 6:5 Background
And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.
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1 Chronicles 6:17 Background
And they ministered in front of the tabernacle of witness playing on instruments, until Solomon built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem; and they stood according to their order for their services.
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2 Chronicles 29:26 Background
And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.
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1 Chronicles 23:5 Background
and four thousand doorkeepers, and four thousand to praise the Lord with instruments which he made to praise the Lord.
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1 Chronicles 13:8 Background
And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.
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Psalms 150:4 Background
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
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Psalms 68:25 Background
The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; Among them were the maidens playing timbrels.
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Psalms 150:3 Background
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
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Psalms 33:2 Background
Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
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Psalms 92:3 Background
Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.
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Psalms 98:5 Background
Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.
More related quotations from this section 12 shown
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Colossians 3:16 Direct teaching
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.
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Psalms 33:3 Background
Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
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Psalms 147:7 Background
Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre!
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Psalms 149:1 Background
Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.
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Psalms 95:2 Background
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
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Psalms 95:1 Background
O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
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Psalms 40:3 Background
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.
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Job 21:12 Background
They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
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Amos 6:5 Background
Who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments, And invent for yourselves musical instruments like David;
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Micah 6:5 Background
who excel in the sound of musical instruments; they have regarded them as abiding, not as fleeting pleasures;
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Isaiah 5:12 Background
And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.
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1 Corinthians 14:7 Background
Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played?
Common Questions
Did early Christians sing in worship?
Yes. Clement of Alexandria, Cyprian, Ignatius, and the Apostolic Constitutions all speak positively about psalms, hymns, and singing to God.
Did early Christians use musical instruments in church?
The strongest early Christian writings here stress singing more than instruments. Some writers mention instruments in Bible praise, but others speak of them mainly as pagan or feast music.
Were musical instruments always seen as wrong?
No clear one-line rule appears in these texts. The writers often criticize instruments in pagan or worldly settings, while Scripture passages about David and the temple treat them as part of worship.
Source Index for Music and Musical Instruments
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 157 ranked source links from 192 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 157 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 115
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 77 included
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.
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