An instrument for use with a bone anchoring device in spinal surgery is provided, where the bone anchoring device includes a bone anchoring section and a receiving part having a bottom end adjacent to the bone anchoring section, a top end opposite to the bottom end, and a channel for receiving a rod, the channel having a bottom for supporting the rod. The instrument includes a holding member configured to hold the receiving part, where the holding member has first and second arms that are movable relative to each other and an engagement portion at a bottom end to engage the receiving part. The first and second arms are movable between an open position in which the receiving part is insertable between the first and second arms, and a closed position in which the receiving part is held between the first and second arms. The instrument also includes a rod contacting member configured to contact the rod, where the rod contacting member is movable between the first and second arms of the holding member. In the closed position, the rod contacting member can be advanced in the holding member to move the rod towards the bottom of the channel of the receiving part.