Psalms, Hymns, Spiritual Songs.
These occur in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16, but although they have here each only one corresponding Greek word, still it may be well briefly to point out the essential difference between them. Psalmos meant primarily to touch, then to touch a harp, then the harp itself, and finally it came to mean the song that was sung with the music. In the above passages the Psalms no doubt are those of David, Asaph etc., contained in the Old Testament. Humnos (hymn) originally was always in praise of God, never being merely descriptive or occupied with complaint or lamentation, as a Psalm, but always full of praise. The early Fathers taught that there were three essentials to a hymn, which we would do well to remember. First, it must be sung, Second, it must be praise, Third, it must be to God. We find hymns, in Luke 1:46-55; 68-79; Acts 4:24; 16:25. Odee (Spiritual Song) was originally a song used on a festive occasion, as for example at harvest time, after battle, etc. It is a freer composition than a hymn, and the meaning is well represented by the word used.
Remission.
The general word used for this is aphesis, but in Romans 3:25 however, we find another word paresis, which means not a remission of sins or a putting them away, but a praetermission, or a putting them by, which was the case with the sins of Old Testament saints until by the sacrifice of Christ their sins were put away. Since the death of Christ, the word aphesis and not paresis is applied to us.
Rebuke.
Two Greek words are thus translated, epitimao meaning simply to rebuke, and elencho to rebuke and convict or convince, that is, to bring the rebuke home to the person. Jesus was rebuked by Peter (Matthew 16:22), and one thief rebuked (same word) the other at the cross (Luke 23:40), but elencho is used in John 8:46, “which of you convinceth me of sin?” also in John 16:8, “He (the Comforter) will reprove (convict, R.V.) the world of sin,” etc. It is also used in John 3:20;8. 9.
Repent.
Metanoeo, one of the two words thus translated, means literally “to know after;” this after knowledge came to mean a “change of mind” for a second thought often differs from a first. It then implied regret, and lastly a change of conduct arising from the change of mind. But outside Scripture all this might be for evil equally as well as for good,—thus a murderer who spares a child, but afterward goes back to kill it, is said to repent in this sense. In Scripture, however, metanoeo always means a change of mind for the better. Metamelomai (Matthew 27:3; Hebrews 7:21 etc.), while it may be used in the same sense as metanoeo, literally means an “after care,” and hence a repentance often arising more from a dread of consequences than from a real inward change of mind.
Rest.
The two Greek words both translated “rest” are not exactly alike in meaning. The one anapausis means “ceasing from labor” and is the word used most appropriately by the Lord in Matthew 11:28, 29. Paul on the contrary, as in 2 Thessalonians 1:7, uses the other word anesis, which has the force literally of relaxation, that is, the loosing of cords of endurance.