Much has been written about the hymnody of Christians. Nevertheless, a scientific treatment of this subject is still lacking. Particularly interesting in this context is the problem of the origin of the hymn and its development and use in the early centuries. Indeed, this is also the most challenging aspect, primarily because our material on early hymns is very limited. However, it is possible to gain a general overview of the history of early Christian hymns at least in broad outlines. It must be detached from its isolation. One must carve a path to it from the ground from which it has grown. It is essential to uncover the two sources from which it has been nourished: Judaism and Greco-Roman paganism. These two factors differ in characteristic ways, yet they are also interconnected.