Did Early Christians Sing Hymns and Psalms?

Tertullian, Apology Direct teaching

...an obstinate refusal to offer sacrifices, he found in their religious services nothing but meetings early in the morning for singing hymns to Christ and God, and sealing their way of life by a united pledge to remain faithful to their religion, forbidding murder, adultery, dishonesty, and other crimes. In reply, Trajan wrote back that Christians were by no means to be sought out. But if they were brought before him, they should be punished. O miserable deliverance. Under the necessities of the case, it is a self-contradiction. It forbids them to be sought out, as innocent, and it commands them to be punished, as guilty. It is at once merciful and cruel. It passes by, and it punishes. Why do you play this game of evasion with yourself, O Judgment? If you condemn, why do you not also inquire? If you do not inquire, why do you not also absolve? Military stations are set throughout all the provinces for tracking robbers. Against traitors and public enemies every man is a soldier. Search is made even for their confederates and accessories. The Christian alone must not be sought, though he may be brought and accused before the judge, as if a search had any other end than that! And so

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

..., both in your churches and in the dormitories. At the funerals of the departed, go with them while singing, if they were faithful in Christ. For "precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." And again, "O my soul, return to your rest, for the Lord has done you good." And elsewhere, "The memory of the just is with praises." Proverbs 10:7 And, "The souls of the righteous are in the hands of God." Wisdom 3:1 For those who have believed in God, although they are asleep, are not dead. For our Savior says to the Sadducees, "But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what is written, 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God, therefore, is not the God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to Him." Exodus 3:6; Luke 20:38 Therefore, among those who live with God, even their very relics are not without honor. For even Elisha the prophet, after he had fallen asleep, raised a dead man who had been killed by the Syrian raiders. For his body touched the bones of Elisha, and he rose and came back to life. Now this would not have happened unless the body of Elisha had been holy. And chaste Joseph embraced Jacob after

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

Children, praise the Lord; praise the name of the Lord. We praise You, we sing hymns to You, and we bless You for Your great glory, O Lord our King, the Father of Christ, the spotless Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. Praise is fitting for You, hymns are fitting for You, glory is fitting for You, O God and Father, through the Son, in the most holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen. Now, O Lord, let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

...re Helm of babes, Shepherd of royal lambs, gather Your simple children to give holy praise, to sing hymns without deceit with innocent mouths, to Christ the guide of children. O King of saints, all-subduing Word of the Most High Father, Ruler of wisdom, Support of sorrows, rejoicing through the ages, Jesus, Savior of the human race, Shepherd, Husbandman, Helm, Bridle, heavenly Wing of the all-holy flock, Fisher of men who are saved, catching the chaste fishes with sweet life from the hateful wave of a sea of vices. Guide us, Shepherd of rational sheep. Guide children unharmed, O holy King, O footsteps of Christ, O heavenly way, perpetual Word, immeasurable Age, Eternal Light, Fount of mercy, performer of virtue. Noble is the life of those who sing hymns to God, O Christ Jesus, heavenly milk of the sweet breasts of the graces of the Bride, pressed out of Your wisdom. Babes nourished with tender mouths, filled with the dewy spirit of the rational pap, let us sing together simple praises, true hymns to Christ our King, holy payment for the teaching of life. Let us sing in simplicity the mighty Child. O choir of peace, O Christ-begotten people, O chaste people, let us sing together

Acts 16:25 Direct teaching

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...h guests to sit at His table, that is, the holy and Catholic Church, with joyful and chosen people, singing hymns and praises to God, who has called them through us to life. And you, as far as it lies in you, have scattered them. You also of the laity, be at peace with one another, striving like wise men to increase the Church, and to bring back, tame, and restore those who seem wild. For this is the greatest reward promised by God: “If you bring out the worthy and precious from the unworthy, you shall be as my mouth,” Jeremiah 15:19.

Gregory Thaumaturgus, Oration to Origen Direct teaching

But let us place the praises and hymns offered in honor of the King and Overseer of all things, the everlasting Fountain of all blessings, into the hands of Him who, in this matter as in all others, heals our weakness and alone is able to supply what is lacking. I mean His first-born Word, the Defender and Savior of our souls, the Maker and Ruler of all things. With Him alone, both for Himself and for everyone else, whether privately as individuals or publicly as a group, it is possible to send up to the Father unbroken and endless thanksgivings. For He Himself is the Truth, and the Wisdom, and the Power of the Father of the universe. He is also in the Father, and is truly and completely one with Him. So it cannot be that, through forgetfulness, lack of wisdom, or any kind of weakness such as belongs to one separated from Him, He would either fail to have power to praise Him, or, having that power, would willingly neglect to praise the Father. To suppose that would surely be unlawful. For He alone is able most perfectly to give the full honor that is proper to Him, since the Father of all things has made Him one with Himself. Through Him, He all but completes the full circle of His

Methodius, Oration on the Psalms Supporting witness

...nly feast, so that He may show Himself to be the Lord of both, just as He is hymned with the common praises of both. Therefore the heavenly hosts sang, announcing salvation upon earth, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory," Isaiah 6:3. And those below, joining in harmony with the joyful hymns of heaven, cried, "Hosanna in the highest; Hosanna to the Son of David." In heaven the doxology was raised, "Blessed be the glory of the Lord from His place," Ezekiel 3:22, and on earth this was taken up in the words, "Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord."

Caius, Fragments Supporting witness

All the psalms, too, and hymns of brethren, which have been written from the beginning by the faithful, celebrate Christ the Word of God, ascribing divinity to Him.

Colossians 3:16 Supporting witness

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.

Ephesians 5:19 Supporting witness

speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

For the apostle adds again, Teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to God.

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

...y the law, others by the prophets, some to the divine mouth, and others to the heptad of the Spirit singing in harmony. And since the Lord is one, He is the same Instructor through all these things. Here, then, is a complete command, and an instruction for life that includes everything: "As you would want people to do to you, do the same to them." Luke 6:31. We can sum up the commandments in two, as the Lord says: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength; and your neighbor as yourself." Then from these He concludes, "On these hang the law and the prophets." Further, to the one who asked, "What good thing shall I do, that I may inherit eternal life?" He answered, "You know the commandments?" And when the man replied, "Yes," He said, "Do this, and you shall be saved." The love of the Instructor is especially clear in the different commands that bring salvation, so that discovery may be easier through the richness and arrangement of the Scriptures. We have the Ten Commandments given by Moses. By a basic principle, simple and of one kind, they identify sins in a way that leads to salvation: "You shall not commit adultery.

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

Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Background

As for the psalms that have no title, we must also ask to whom we should assign them. For why is it that even the simplest title is missing from them, such as one that says, "A psalm of David," or simply, "Of David," with nothing added? My view is that wherever this title appears by itself, what is written is neither a psalm nor a song, but some kind of utterance given under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and recorded for the benefit of the person who is able to understand it. But I have also heard the opinion of a certain Hebrew about these matters. He held that when there were many psalms with no title, but they were preceded by one that had the title, "Of David," all of these should also be counted as David's. And if this is so, then it follows that those with no title were written by those writers who are rightly considered, according to the titles, to be the authors of the psalms that come before them. This Book of Psalms before us has also been called by the prophet the Psalter, because, as they say, the psaltery alone among musical instruments sends back its sound from above when the bronze is struck, and not from below, as the others do. Therefore, so that those who unders

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

Let the temperate meal resound with psalms; and as your memory is tenacious and your voice musical, undertake this office, as is your wont.

Psalms 147:1 Supporting witness

Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

...iable, not gluttonous, but self-controlled, meek, troubling nobody, pious, modest, staying 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."

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

His sacrifices are prayers, and praises, and readings in the Scriptures before meals, and psalms and hymns during meals and before bed, and prayers also again during night.

Tertullian, Apology Supporting witness

After manual ablution, and the bringing in of lights, each is asked to stand forth and sing, as he can, a hymn to God, either one from the holy Scriptures or one of his own composing — a proof of the measure of our drinking.

James 5:13 Supporting witness

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

...ebrew psalms. All together, they raised the paean with their voices. Sometimes they also took turns singing as they drank healths in turn, and those who were more musical than the rest sang with the lyre. But love songs must be driven far away, and our songs must be hymns to God. For it says, "Let them praise His name in the dance, and let them play to Him on the timbrel and psaltery." And what is the choir that plays? The Spirit will show you: "Let His praise be in the congregation, the church, of the saints; let them be joyful in their King." And again he adds, "The Lord will take pleasure in His people." Psalm 149:4 Therefore, self-controlled harmonies are to be allowed. But as much as possible, we must drive from our strong mind those flowing harmonies which, by harmful skill in the changing of tones, train people in softness and indecency. But serious and modest melodies say farewell to the turmoil of drunkenness. Therefore chromatic harmonies are to be left to shameless feasts, and to elaborate and prostitute-like music.

Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Direct teaching

However it may have been with the time and the way this idea about the Psalms came to inspired David, he seems at least to have been the first, and indeed the only one, 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 c

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

...in, "Teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to God." And again, "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks 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

Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Background

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

Origen, Commentary on Matthew Supporting witness

... David and his son played before the Lord on instruments skillfully prepared with strength and with songs. 2 Samuel 6:4-5 For the instruments prepared in this way, with strength and with songs, had in themselves that musical symphony which is so powerful that when even only two people, together with the symphony that belongs to divine and spiritual music, present some request to the Father in heaven about anything at all, the Father grants the request to those who ask with symphony on earth. This is most wonderful. He grants those things that the ones who have made the symphony spoken of have asked. I understand in the same way the apostolic saying, “Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a time, so that you may give yourselves to prayer.” 1 Corinthians 7:5 Since the word harmony is applied to those who marry according to God in the passage from Proverbs which says, “Fathers will divide their house and property to their sons, but from God a woman is joined in marriage to a man,” it follows logically that if the harmony is from God, then both the name and the deed should have agreement for the sake of prayer, as is shown in the words, “unless it be by agreeme

1 Chronicles 25:7 Supporting witness

And the number of them after their brethren, those instructed to sing to God, everyone that understood singing was two hundred and eighty-eight.

2 Chronicles 5:13 Supporting witness

and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the LORD), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the LORD, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever,” the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud,

1 Chronicles 15:16 Supporting witness

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.

Psalms 98:5 Supporting witness

Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.

Psalms 150:3 Supporting witness

Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.

Psalms 33:2 Supporting witness

Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

Psalms 33:3 Supporting witness

Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.