OK, got it. But I think you’re missing my point as well. I’m not arguing from the English. I’m arguing from the Greek. When I look up λέγω in BDAG, I find a general word with the following suggested uses:

1. to express oneself orally or in written form, utter in words, say, tell, give expression to,

2. to express oneself in a specific way, say

3. to inform about / tell of someth., speak, report

4. to identify in a specific manner, call, name

As I did a quick survey through the uses, λέγω appears to be a very general word with a wide range of uses. But no where (although I could have missed it), did BDAG suggest the word was broad enough to include music.

That’s not to say that it *couldn’t* include music I suppose, but there would have to be some contextual clue to indicate this broadened usage. As I look through the passage, I find no textual indicator to move me in that direction. While you contend that the denial of singing is based on the English, I suggest the broadened use of λέγω is based upon the English.

“I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, straining upon the start. The game’s afoot,” so as always, I stand ready to be corrected.

Saying that something sounds singable…really…is that your argument? This is your attempt at humor, right? Something sounds singable? I can’t imagine in the deepest recesses of my sanctified imagination a more subjective criteria than that.

But then again, (as I end all my sermons these days) what do I know?

> as the saying goes, “Fool’s rush in…”

… where angels fear to sing?

> Is there anyplace else in Scripture where angels are said to sing?

How about Job 38:7, “the morning stars sang together”? In the context, I think it’s fairly clear that the reference is to angels. There were no other sentient creatures at the time referenced.

> Is there anything in the text that suggests music in any way?

Well, the content of αἰνέω seems pretty appropriate to song to me! “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” That sounds eminently singable.

You seem to think the burden of proof lies on those who would allow, but not require, that the medium be song. I would think that the negative assertion, denying something that the text does not explicitly deny, would carry the lion’s share of the proof. I’m not claiming the angels did sing. I’m only suggesting that the denial of such a possibility is based only on the English translation and not on the Greek word.

I’m probably not, but could have been that radio preacher. I consider singing to be something distinctly human that we possess because we are created in the image of God who sings. (Zeph 3:17).

What I find baffling is the logic to the objection to this position. To say that the Greek uses a general word for communication is a long way from saying that it allows for singing. Is there anything in the text that suggests music in any way? Not that I have found. Wouldn’t the most normal reading be “to say?” It would seem to me that the burden of proof is upon those that insist that angels sing, for the only motivation for this position seems to be to justify our hymnody.

Is there anyplace else in Scripture where angels are said to sing? Not that I’ve found. The only possibility is Rev 5:9 depending on who is the referent to the pronoun “they,” as well as identifying who are the four living creatures and who are the elders. That’s a lot of “ifs” to justify the words of a hymn!

As for the argument that Eph 5:19 justifies an expansion of “general communication” to include singing, this seems to be reading into the text. If one takes the general sense in context it makes good sense. So you could read, “Communicate to one another with singing.” No one is arguing that singing isn’t a form of communication. But merely stating that the general communication in this text is singing is a long way from saying that it always in every context includes the idea of singing.

Additionally, this argument is a classic case of equivocation. In Luke 2:13 the Greek is λέγω where in Eph 5:19 the Greek is λάλος. Assigning a meaning to one is not the same as assigning it to the other.

There, I’ve said it. You may fire when ready Gridley.

Oh BTW, Rod if you want some entertaining listening, Joel Williamson and I have started a podcast. It’s called “Becoming Mature” and you can find it on the iTunes store. I’m doing all the technical work so the intermittent problems I’m having with iTunes are my fault. You can also find it here: www. becomingmature.org/podcast. I didn’t respond to this post as an opportunity for shameless self-promotion, but when a target of opportunity presents itself…