Hymn: Occurs only
(Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16) The verb to "sing an hymn" occurs
(Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26) The same Greek word is rendered to "sing
praises"
(Acts 16:25) (R.V., "sing hymns") and
(Hebrews 2:12) The "hymn"
which our Lord sang with his disciples at the last Supper is
generally supposed to have been the latter part of the Hallel,
comprehending (Psalms 113-118) It was thus a name given to a number of
psalms taken together and forming a devotional exercise. The noun
hymn is used only with reference to the services of the Greeks, and
was distinguished from the psalm. The Greek tunes required Greek
hymns. Our information regarding the hymnology of the early
Christians is very limited.
