Final answer:
The concept of singing the Psalms to Jesus is rooted in the Christological interpretation of the Psalms, supported by historical illustrations like those found in the Utrecht Psalter which depict these biblical songs as prefigurations of Jesus' life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The discussion about singing the Psalms to Jesus refers to a theological interpretation of biblical texts, which falls into religious studies, a subset of the broader category of arts and humanities. The practice of Christological interpretation of the Psalms, such as the Utrecht Psalter, suggests that believers can indeed sing the Psalms in worship of Jesus, seeing them as foreshadowing Christ's life, death, and resurrection. Kathleen Doyle's description of the Psalter's illustrations as both literal and Christological in nature supports this.
Moreover, the historical context provided by Charles Colcock Jones's use of hymns and psalms to educate slaves highlights a complex interaction of cultural, social, and religious elements. It underscores how these texts and their interpretations can evolve and adapt across different communities and periods.
Finally, using the illustrations from the Utrecht Psalter, which are expressive and closely tied to the Psalm texts, enriches the understanding of how early Christians might have visualized and conceptualized the Psalms' relevance to their faith in Jesus. These illustrations help to bring the Psalms alive in the context of New Testament theology.