Eph 5:19-20, Jam 5:13 | JFB | e4.org | 19. ( ). to yourselves —"to one another." Hence soon arose the antiphonal or responsive chanting of which PLINY writes to Trajan: "They are wont on a fixed day to meet before daylight [to avoid persecution] and to recite a hymn among themselves by turns, to Christ, as if being God." The Spirit gives true eloquence; wine, a spurious eloquence. psalms —generally accompanied by an instrument. hymns —in direct praise to God (compare ). songs —the general term for lyric pieces; "spiritual" is added to mark their being here restricted to sacred subjects, though not merely to direct praises of God, but also containing exhortations, prophecies, &c. Contrast the drunken "songs," . making melody — Greek, "playing and singing with an instrument." in your heart —not merely with the tongue; but the serious feeling of the heart accompanying the singing of the lips (compare ). The contrast is between the heathen and the Christian practice, "Let your songs be not the drinking songs of heathen feasts, but psalms and hymns; and their accompaniment, not the music of the lyre, but the melody of the heart " [CONYBEARE and HOWSON ]. to the Lord —See PLINY'S letter quoted above: "To Christ as God."

‏ Ephesians 5:19-20

to yourselves—"to one another." Hence soon arose the antiphonal or responsive chanting of which PLINY writes to Trajan: "They are wont on a fixed day to meet before daylight [to avoid persecution] and to recite a hymn among themselves by turns, to Christ, as if being God." The Spirit gives true eloquence; wine, a spurious eloquence.

psalms—generally accompanied by an instrument.

hymns—in direct praise to God (compare Ac 16:25; 1Co 14:26; Jas 5:13).

songs—the general term for lyric pieces; "spiritual" is added to mark their being here restricted to sacred subjects, though not merely to direct praises of God, but also containing exhortations, prophecies, &c. Contrast the drunken "songs," Am 8:10.

making melody—Greek, "playing and singing with an instrument."

in your heart—not merely with the tongue; but the serious feeling of the heart accompanying the singing of the lips (compare 1Co 14:15; Ps 47:7). The contrast is between the heathen and the Christian practice, "Let your songs be not the drinking songs of heathen feasts, but psalms and hymns; and their accompaniment, not the music of the lyre, but the melody of the heart" [CONYBEARE and HOWSON].

to the Lord—See PLINY'S letter quoted above: "To Christ as God."

20. thanks . . . for all things—even for adversities; also for blessings, unknown as well as known (Col 3:17; 1Th 5:18).

unto God and the Father—the Fountain of every blessing in Creation, Providence, Election, and Redemption.

Lord Jesus Christ—by whom all things, even distresses, become ours (Ro 8:35, 37; 1Co 3:20-23).

‏ James 5:13

13. afflicted—referring to the "suffering affliction" (Jas 5:10).

let him pray—not "swear" in rash impatience.

merry—joyous in mind.

sing psalms—of praise. Paul and Silas sang psalms even in affliction.