The letter to the Colossians contains a series of moral instructions in Colossians 3:12-17 and includes the admonition to "sing" among them. This study considers how music-making (specifically singing) supports moral formation according to the letter to the Colossians. Studies in ethnomusicology, anthropology of the voice, and music psychology offer useful frameworks for conceptualizing how a social practice like music-making forms participants into a community and shapes how they know themselves, their community, and the world. With the aid of these frameworks, we find that the singing in Colossians 3:16, as a corporate, vocal practice of music-making, enables the members of the church community to inhabit the story of reconciliation found in the Christ Hymn (Col 1:15-20).
Amy Whisenand Krall, ThD (2020), Duke University Divinity School, is Assistant Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at Fresno Pacific University. Her research and publications focus on the intersection of New Testament studies, ethics, and the practice of music-making.
Acknowledgements List of Figures
Introduction
1 The Question
2 My Approach to the Letter: What Purpose Does This Letter Serve?
3 Methodology/Methodologies
4 Significance for the Debate over Pauline Ethnics
5 Going Forward
1 The Historical Musical Context—a “Sonic Tour” of a First Century City in Asia Minor
1 Introduction
2 The Soundscapes of Ancient Cities
3 A Sonic Tour of an Ancient City in Asia Minor
2 Singing as a Corporate, Vocalized, Musical Act in Colossians 3:16
1 Introduction
2 A Sketch of Singing in Col 3:16: A Vocal, Corporate Practice of Music-Making
3 Singing “in Your Hearts” as an Individual, Inner, Silent, and Non-vocalized Act?
4 Conclusion
3 “Marvelous for What?” Singing as a Social Practice in the Life of a Community
Concepts and Questions from Ethnomusicology, Anthropology of the Voice, and Music Psychology
1 Introduction
2 Contributions from Ethnomusicology—“Music” as Action in a Social Context
3 Contributions from Anthropology of the Voice and Music Psychology—the Role of the “Voice”: Singing as Epistemic Medium
4 Conclusion
4 The Christ Hymn (Col 1:15–20), Its Undergirding Christological Narrative, and Moral Practice
1 Introduction
2 Colossians 1:15–20 as a “Hymn” Which “Fuels” Moral Action and the Social Imaginary
3 Colossians 1:15–20 and Its Necessary Contexts
4 Conclusion
5 The Practice of Music-Making, Reconciliation, and Maturity in Christ
1 Introduction
2 The Practice of Singing, “Participatory Knowledge,” and Formation
3 Singing, the Story of Reconciliation in Col 1:15–20, and Maturity in Christ
4 Conclusion
Conclusion
1 Introduction
2 Implications for Pauline Scholarship
3 Implications for the Christian Imagination for Worship
4 A Final Note
Bibliography Index
Scholars and students interested in New testament studies, ethnomusicology, anthropology of the voice, and music psychology