Prophetic Truth maintained from the Apostles until now

This is a synopsis of a message preached at Kilskeery Annual Conference. 

An audio recording of this message is available - click here.

Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, 

in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.           2 Timothy 1:13.

But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been 

assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.    2 Timothy 3:14.  

There were ‘things’ which Paul taught Timothy which he wanted this young man to ‘hold fast’ and to ‘continue…in’. These ‘things’, which Timothy had heard preached and taught by Paul, are described as ‘sound words’ in 2 Timothy 1:13.

By ‘sound words’ are meant doctrines, namely, the great doctrinal truths which make up the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is not referring to mere words, for the servants of the Lord are warned against striving about words, to no profit: Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers,” 2 Timothy 2:14. The Greek word translated ‘words’ in 2 Timothy 1:13, is translated as ‘doctrine’ in Hebrews 6:1: Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.

Over a dozen reasons why the argument for Exclusive Psalmody doesn't stand up, Part 9

9. The early New Testament Church did not believe in Exclusive Psalmody 

Exclusive psalmody cannot claim that this was the view of the early New Testament church. A number of different sources can be quoted:

1. There are some interesting comments made by Tertullian in chapter 39 of his Apology [Apology = a defence of Christianity]. Tertullian lived ca. 160-220 AD. He was born in Carthage, North Africa and is believed to have been converted in middle age. He was also believed to have been the son of a Roman army officer, who was stationed in North Africa. He did good work in formulating the doctrine of the Trinity. He also wrote a long defence of Christianity. 

Tertullian makes reference to the fact that the early New Testament Church did not sing Psalms exclusively. In the section where he writes about the observance of the Love Feasts in his day his apology reads: