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Meaning and Usage of Pulpit in Worship

The term "pulpit" in Christian worship refers to an elevated stand or structure from which the sermon is delivered. Its biblical precedent is found in Nehemiah 8:4, where Ezra stood upon a "pulpit of wood" to read the Law to the people [1, 14]. This structure was likely a raised scaffold or platform, large enough for multiple individuals, indicating its function as a place for public instruction and declaration of divine truth [14].

In Christian tradition, the pulpit became a central fixture in church architecture, symbolizing the importance of the preached Word of God. The public services of the sanctuary are understood to include both worship and instruction, with instruction encompassing the reading and preaching of God's Word [9]. Reformed traditions, in particular, emphasize the centrality of preaching. Charles Hodge, for instance, notes that while public prayer and singing are vital components of worship, the reading and preaching of the Word are essential for instruction, and these elements should be preserved in due proportion [9].

Historically, the development of the pulpit reflects a shift in emphasis within Christian worship. While early Christian worship included elements like the Lord's Supper, which was instituted by Jesus and his disciples during the Passover [2, 6], the formalization of preaching from a dedicated structure gained prominence. The Lord's Supper itself is also known as "the Lord's table," "communion," and "eucharist," signifying its role as a commemoration of Christ's sacrifice and a means of giving thanks [6].

The physical arrangement of a church building often reflects theological priorities. John Calvin, a key figure in the Reformed tradition, discussed the legitimate use of churches, emphasizing that they are not inherently more sacred places for prayer than any other location, as believers themselves are considered "true temples of God" [13]. However, the dedicated space for the pulpit underscores the value placed on the proclamation of Scripture within the gathered assembly.

Different Christian traditions have varying approaches to the balance between worship elements. Some churches may devote more time to worship (prayer and singing) than to instruction (reading and preaching), while others prioritize the latter [9]. For example, the Lutheran tradition, as articulated in the Augsburg Confession, states that the Mass (Eucharist) is retained and celebrated with reverence, with ceremonies preserved to teach the unlearned, often incorporating German hymns alongside Latin parts for instructional purposes [12]. Sacraments, in the Lutheran view, are not merely marks of profession but "signs and testimonies of the will of God" intended to awaken and confirm faith [16].

The concept of an "altar" also holds significance in worship, though its meaning varies. In the Old Testament, altars were places for offerings [3, 5]. In the New Testament, the apostle Peter describes believers as "living stones" built into a "spiritual house," a "holy priesthood" offering "spiritual sacrifices" acceptable to God through Christ [8]. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, interprets the "altar of God" in Psalm 43:4 as Christ himself, on whom sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving are offered [15]. This spiritualization of the altar contrasts with the physical altar often found in Catholic churches, where the Eucharist is celebrated. Aquinas, a Scholastic theologian, describes the actions and words in the celebration of the Eucharist as signifying Christ's Passion and mystical body [11].

Musical instruments, such as the psaltery and harp, were used in ancient Israelite worship to accompany the voice [4, 7]. John Gill notes that the trumpet was used for calling assemblies and in temple service, and was typical of the Gospel, which gives a "certain and joyful sound" [10]. These elements of worship, whether instrumental music or the spoken word from the pulpit, contribute to the overall experience of communal praise and instruction.

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Pulpit — (Neh. 8:4). (See [512]EZRA.)”
  2. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Lords Supper — The words which thus describe the great central act of the worship of the Christian Church occur but in a single passage of the New Testament-- (1 Corinthians 11:20) + Its institution .--It was instituted on that night when Jesus and his disciples met together to eat the passover, (Matthew 26:19; Mark 14:16; Luke 22:13) (on Thursday evening, April 6, A.D. 30). It was probably instituted at the third cup (the cup of blessing) of the passover [see on [821]Passover], Jesus taking one of the unleavened cakes used at the feast and breaking it and giving it t”
  3. Psalms “Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my exceeding joy. I will praise you on the harp, God, my God. -- Psalms 43:4”
  4. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Psaltery — This was a stringed instrument of music to accompany the voice. The Hebrew nabel or nebel is so rendered in the Authorized Version in all passages where if occurs, except in (Isaiah 5:12; 14:11; 22:24), marg.; (Amos 5:23; 6:6) where it is translated viol . The ancient viol was a six-stringed guitar. In the Prayer Book version of the Psalms the Hebrew word is rendered "lute." This instrument resembled the guitar, but was superior in tone, being larger, and having a convex back, somewhat like the vertical section of a gourd, or more nearly resembling that of ”
  5. Joel “Put on sackcloth and mourn, you priests! Wail, you ministers of the altar. Come, lie all night in sackcloth, you ministers of my God, for the meal offering and the drink offering are withheld from your God’s house. -- Joel 1:13”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Lord's Supper — (1 Cor. 11:20), called also "the Lord's table" (10:21), "communion," "cup of blessing" (10:16), and "breaking of bread" (Acts 2:42). In the early Church it was called also "eucharist," or giving of thanks (comp. Matt. 26:27), and generally by the Latin Church "mass," a name derived from the formula of dismission, Ite, missa est, i.e., "Go, it is discharged." The account of the institution of this ordinance is given in Matt. 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:19, 20, and 1 Cor. 11:24-26. It is not mentioned by John. It was designed, (1.) To commemorate t”
  7. Psalms “Psalms 150:3 (Webster) — Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.”
  8. I Peter “I Peter 2:5 (Webster) — Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”
  9. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 73: a custom when the grounds on which it was introduced no longer exist; or to make a church ordinance the substitute for a divine institution. 707 Public Prayer. The public services of the sanctuary are designed for worship and instruction. The former includes prayer and singing; the latter, the reading the word of God and preaching. These elements should be preserved in due proportion. In some churches instruction is made entirely subordinate to worship; twice the time being devoted to the latter that is allotted to the former. This seems ”
  10. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 150:3: Praise him with the sound of the trumpet,.... Which was used in calling the assembly together, for worship and on other occasions; and at the feast of blowing of trumpets, and in the year of jubilee, Num 10:1; and by the priests in temple service, Ch1 16:6; and was typical of the Gospel, which gives a certain and joyful sound, and is the cause and means of praising God, Isa 27:13; praise him with the psaltery; to which psalms were sung; and harp; which were instruments of music, both used in divine worship under the former dispensation; and in which David was wel”
  11. theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of the Rite of This Sacrament, Art. 5: Article: Whether the actions performed in celebrating this sacrament are becoming? I answer that, As was said above (Question [60], Article [6]), there is a twofold manner of signification in the sacraments, by words, and by actions, in order that the signification may thus be more perfect. Now, in the celebration of this sacrament words are used to signify things pertaining to Christ's Passion, which is represented in this sacrament; or again, pertaining to Christ's mystical body, which is signified th”
  12. Augsburg Confession (Lutheran) “Augsburg Confession (Lutheran, 1530), 1 Falsely are our churches accused of abolishing the Mass; for: 1 Falsely are our churches accused of abolishing the Mass; for the Mass is retained among 2 us, and celebrated with the highest reverence. Nearly all the usual ceremonies are also preserved, save that the parts sung in Latin are interspersed here and there with German hymns, which have been added 3 to teach the people. For ceremonies are needed to this end alone that the unlearned 4 be taught [what they need to know of Christ]. And not only has Paul commanded to use in the church a language un”
  13. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 75: in churches. Also Book 4, chap. 4 sec. 8, and chap 5 sec 18, as to the ornaments of churches. If this is the legitimate use of churches (and it certainly is), we must, on the other hand, beware of imitating the practice which commenced some centuries ago, of imagining that churches are the proper dwellings of God, where he is more ready to listen to us, or of attaching to them some kind of secret sanctity, which makes prayer there more holy. For seeing we are the true temples of God, we must pray in ourselves if we would invoke God”
  14. Nehemiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Nehemiah 8:4: Ezra . . . stood upon a pulpit of wood--Not made in the form known to us, but only a raised scaffold or platform, broad enough to allow fourteen persons to stand with ease upon it. Ezra's duty was very laborious, as he continued reading aloud from morning until midday, but his labor was lightened by the aid of the other priests present. Their presence was of importance, partly to show their cordial agreement with Ezra's declaration of divine truth; and partly to take their share with him in the important duty of publicly reading and expounding the Scr”
  15. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 43:4: Then will I go unto the altar of God,.... Which was in the tabernacle, either of burnt offerings, or of incense, there to offer up the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for mercies received. The altar under the Gospel dispensation is Christ, on which such sacrifices being offered, are acceptable to God, Heb 13:10; unto God my exceeding joy; as over the mercy seat, upon a throne of grace, and as his covenant God; or this is exegetical of the altar, which is Christ, God over all, blessed for ever; and who is the object of the unspeakable joy of his people, in his p”
  16. Augsburg Confession (Lutheran) “Augsburg Confession (Lutheran, 1530), 1 Of the Use of the Sacraments they teach that the Sacraments: 1 Of the Use of the Sacraments they teach that the Sacraments were ordained, not only to be marks of profession among men, but rather to be signs and testimonies of the will of God 2 toward us, instituted to awaken and confirm faith in those who use them. Wherefore we must so use the Sacraments that faith be added to believe the promises which are offered and set forth through the Sacraments.”
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