Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Study Note
Study Note
The command to 'let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God' integrates Word, community, and worship into a single practice. The parallel passage in Ephesians 5:18-19 attributes the same practices to being 'filled with the Spirit,' indicating that the indwelling Word and the Spirit's fullness are co-referential in Pauline theology. The three-fold musical forms — psalms (psalmoi), hymns (hymnoi), spiritual songs (ōdai pneumatikai) — likely reflect Jewish liturgical forms being adapted for use in the Christian community. The verse supports the Reformation emphasis on scriptural preaching and congregational singing as central practices of the Word-shaped community.
Other Translations
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing each other, in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, in grace singing in your hearts to the Lord;
Let the word of Christ be in you in all wealth of wisdom; teaching and helping one another with songs of praise and holy words, making melody to God with grace in your hearts.
Cross References
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a …
And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:
Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for …
Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so …
And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw …
So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the Lord, even all that …
For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise …
Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more …