Songs in the New Testament

NEW TESTAMENT SONGS AND MUSIC The New Testament contains a number of songs, not all of which are ordinarily considered to be songs. There is the Magnificat, or Song of Mary, sung in anticipation of the birth of JESUS (Luke 1:46-55); and the Benedictus, or Song of Zacharias, sung after the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:67-79); and the Song of the Angels, sung to the Bethlehem shepherds upon the birth of JESUS (Luke 2:14); the Apostle Paul's Hymn of Redemption (Ephesians 1:3-14)12; and a Hymn of the Early Church (I Timothy 3:16). John's book of Revelation contains several references to songs and music. "A new song" is sung in Heaven in chapter 5:9, 10. "The Song of Moses" and "The Song of the Lamb" are sung in chapter 15:3, 4. Babylon's fall is described graphically, and concerning it John said: "And the In his vision of Heaven John "heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps," and a song was sung before GOD's throne (Revelation 14:2,3). The word for "harp" used here is not the equivalent of the Old Testament word, more correctly rendered "lyre," which was a portable harp. Rather it is indeed a harp, the music of which is sweeter than that of earth's most beautiful instruments. [Manners And Customs of Bible Lands]