Why Did the Early Church Sing Without Instruments?
In our previous study we observed that the New Testament consistently instructs Christians to sing. It never commands the church to use instrumental music in its assemblies.
That observation raises another question.
If instruments were common in Old Testament worship, why do we find only singing in the New Testament?
The answer begins with understanding the difference between the Old Covenant and the New.
Under the Law of Moses, God specifically commanded the use of instruments in temple worship (2 Chronicles 29:25). Those instruments were not introduced by David's personal preference alone. They were part of the worship God authorized for Israel under the Old Covenant.
With the coming of Christ, however, the New Testament presents worship in a different setting.
The temple is no longer the center of God's people.
Animal sacrifices have ended.
The Levitical priesthood has been fulfilled.
God's people themselves have become His temple (1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 2:19-22).
When the New Testament describes the assemblies of the early church, it consistently speaks of Christians singing to one another and to God. The emphasis is on the message of the songs, teaching, encouragement, and praise flowing from thankful hearts.
History tells us that for many centuries the early church worshiped without instrumental accompaniment. Whether one agrees with that practice or not, it shows that the earliest Christians understood the New Testament's instructions to be fully satisfied by singing.
This does not, by itself, settle every question. Our authority is not church history but Scripture.
Church history can tell us what early Christians did.
Only Scripture can tell us why.
That brings us back to the question we've asked throughout this library:
What does the text actually say?
Our goal is not to restore first-century culture.
Our goal is to follow first-century teaching.
Where the New Testament speaks, we want to listen carefully.
Where it is silent, we want to study carefully before drawing conclusions.
That has been our approach from the beginning, and it remains our approach here.
Continue Your Study
Jesus gave His disciples a simple memorial before His death.
How did the early church observe it?
What did it mean?
And why did it become such an important part of the church's assembly?
Related Bible Studies
What Does the New Testament Teach About Music in Worship?
What Does the Bible Teach About Silence?
How Do We Distinguish Between an Aid and an Addition?
What Does the Bible Teach About the New Covenant?
Companion Video
Why Did the Early Church Sing Without Instruments?
Read First. Conclude Later.