Exclusive psalmody – What is it?

Restoration The Church Church

TL;DR:

Exclusive psalmody is when a church only allows the Psalms to be used in worship. God-honoring songs beyond the Psalms are both biblical and welcome.

There is no biblical mandate that says we must only sing Psalms. Singing worship together goes back thousands of years to the Israelites who sang to the Lord (Judges 5) to the early church described in the New Testament (1 Timothy 3:16; 2 Timothy 2:11–13). Moreover, in Ephesians 5:18–21, Paul gives instruction for the church to address each other in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs—emphasizing the variety by which we can express thanks and praise to God. Paul then restates these three forms of praise in Colossians 3:16. In James 5:13, James shares a similar sentiment, stating that if someone is cheerful they should sing praise to God. Ultimately, the Bible encourages creativity and variety in our worship of God. In fact, Psalm 96:1 encourages us to sing new songs to God!

from the old testament

While a church’s preference may be to stick to the Psalms while in corporate worship, it can certainly sing other God-honoring songs. Even Psalm 96:1 says, "Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!"
There were times in which the Israelites sang songs to God that were outside of the book of Psalms, such as Deborah and Barak’s song of victory in Judges 5. We can biblically sing other songs to God as well.

from the new testament

In Ephesians 5:18–21, Paul instructs the church to "… be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ."
Singing hymns and spiritual songs can inspire thankfulness to God, and there is no biblical mandate stopping us from creating or using other songs outside of the Psalms. Colossians 3:16 says: "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.”
Scholars believe many passages of the New Testament record early Christian hymns. A couple examples are 1 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Timothy 2:11–13.
Various God-honoring songs can help us express praise to God. James 5:13 says: “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.”

implications for today

Exclusive psalmody limits musical worship in a church service to only the Psalms. Adherents say the inspired words of God (the Bible) should always trump the words of people, no matter how pious, God-honoring, or "inspired" they may be. Churches which ascribe to this prohibit using any songs that do not originate with scriptural wording within the book of Psalms. Such churches include some Reformed groups such as the Free Church in Scotland and the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America.

While singing the Psalms and other Scriptures is allowed in a church setting it is nowhere biblically mandated as the only mode of worship. In fact, Scripture indicates that different forms of worship are excellent and even encouraged, as seen in Ephesians 5:18–21 and Colossians 3:16. While exclusive psalmody claims the Psalms are only words Christians can use for their worship times, this is simply not biblical. The imposed restriction against Christians exercising their skills of composing worship songs and God-honoring lyrics is not biblically based, either.

The purpose of worship is to pray, teach the Word, sing, fellowship regularly, and such. Scripture doesn't mandate where or when this is to happen, nor does Scripture regulate such facets as the order of service, offering practices, and the origin of worship songs.

understand

The Bible does not require worship to use only Psalms.
The Bible encourages a variety of God-honoring songs.
Exclusive psalmody is a tradition, not a biblical mandate, and worship can include creative expressions of praise.

reflect

What role do the Psalms play in your personal worship to God?
How do the different types of worship music deepen your gratitude and praise to God?
In what ways do you seek to meditate on and share Scripture with others as an act of praise to God?

engage

How does incorporating a variety of God-honoring songs affect the unity and spiritual growth of a body of believers?
What are the potential benefits and challenges of moving beyond exclusive psalmody in corporate worship?
How can we encourage creativity in worship while still honoring biblical principles?

More Resources

Theology

What is Christian worship?

Christian worship involves loving, revering, and prioritizing God in our lives. Worship is both personal and communal, with God at the center.

Theology

How can I worship the Lord in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24)? What is true worship?

Worship is a life response to the object of our worship. We worship God in spirit and truth when we recognize God alone is worthy of our praise and declare it with our attitudes, actions, and words.

Church

What is the importance of corporate worship?

Corporate worship unites believers to glorify God together and strengthens faith. Gathering as one body reflects heaven’s worship and reminds us that we grow best in God’s presence—together.

Church

What makes for a truly biblical worship service?

A truly biblical worship service puts God—not performance or preference—at the center, responding to who He is with hearts grounded in His Word. When Christ is central, God’s Word shapes what is done, and everything is done to glorify God, worship is truly biblical.