The Hebrews didn’t have the word a cappella–it was invented by the English! The issue is, where are we told NOT to praise God with instrumental music?

Topic(s): Bible Authority, Bible Study, Denominationalism

Todd Clippard

[The Hebrews did not have the word a cappella! That was invented by the English!]

This claim is incorrect. The word a cappella is a LATIN word which means, “in the style of the church.” This means the style of the church was without instrumental accompaniment. The apostate Roman church introduced instrumental music into their worship several hundred years after the establishment of the New Testament church. In fact, most denominations in existence today did not use instrumental music until the last 200 years.

[The issue is, when were we told NOT to praise him with musical instruments?]

This is again incorrect. The issue is, where is the authority in the New Testament to use instruments? Everything we do must be done by the authority of Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:17). There is not one single command in the New Testament for the church to use the instrument. Not a single verse can be cited as an example of the church using the instrument. The use of instrumental music is not even implied in the New Testament. The instrument is conspicuously absent from the pages of the New Testament. Therefore, it is not difficult to see how the word a cappella got its meaning.

I will show you the verse expressly forbidding using instruments in worship when you show me the verse expressly forbidding the worship of the devil.