Colossians 3:16 - Exposition

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom ( Colossians 1:5 , Colossians 1:9 , Colossians 1:27 , Colossians 1:28 ; Colossians 2:2 , Colossians 2:3 ; Colossians 4:5 , Colossians 4:6 ; Ephesians 1:17 , Ephesians 1:18 ; Ephesians 3:8 , Ephesians 3:9 ; 1 Corinthians 1:5 , 1 Corinthians 1:6 ; 2 Timothy 3:15 ). The "word of Christ" is the Christian doctrine, the gospel in the widest sense of the term ( Colossians 1:5 ), as proceeding from Christ ( Galatians 1:11 , Galatians 1:12 ; Hebrews 2:3 ; Matthew 28:20 ; 2 Corinthians 13:3 ). This precise phrase occurs only here, where the name of Christ is emphasized in so many ways. The apostle, it may be, alludes primarily to the personal teaching of Christ himself (comp. Acts 20:35 ; 1 Corinthians 7:10 ). "You" is understood collectively by Meyer and others ("amongst you"); but the verb "dwell in" ( Romans 8:11 ; 2 Timothy 1:5 , 2 Timothy 1:14 ) requires the stronger sense, suggested also by the "in your hearts" of Colossians 3:15 (comp. note on "in you," Colossians 1:27 ). As "the word" is rich in the Divine wealth stored in it ( Colossians 1:27 ; Ephesians 1:7 , Ephesians 1:18 ; Ephesians 2:4 , Ephesians 2:7 ; Ephesians 3:8 ; Titus 3:6 ), so it is to dwell "richly" in those who possess it. "In all wisdom" God's grace abounded ( Ephesians 1:8 ), and St. Paul himself taught ( Colossians 1:28 ); so with the richly indwelling word in the minds of the Colossians, especially as they were beset by intellectual forms of error ( Colossians 1:9 ; Colossians 2:2-4 , Colossians 2:8 , Colossians 2:23 : comp. Colossians 4:5 ; Ephesians 5:15 ). In this connection of thought, the phrase appears to belong to the previous sentence; so English Version and Lightfoot. Bengel, Meyer, Alford, and Ellicott, however, attach it to the words which follow. Teaching and admonishing each other [or, yourselves: comp. verse 13, note] ( Colossians 1:28 ; Romans 15:14 ; Hebrews 5:12 ; Hebrews 10:24 , Hebrews 10:25 ; Ephesians 4:15 , Ephesians 4:16 ). What he is doing in his own ministry and by writing this letter, he bids the Colossians do for each other. "Teaching" precedes, being suggested by "wisdom." With psalms, hymns, spiritual songs ( Ephesians 5:19 ; 1 Corinthians 14:26 ). These are to be a chief means of mutual edification. The repeated "and," also the singular "heart," and "Lord" in place of "God" in the sequel of the verse, are borrowed by the Received Text from Ephesians 5:19 . The Greeks, the Asiatic Greeks in particular, were devoted to the arts of music. Song and jest, stimulated by the wine cup, were the entertainment of their social hours ( Ephesians 5:4 , Ephesians 5:18 , Ephesians 5:19 ). Their Christian intercourse is still to be enlivened by the varied use of song, and by the play of wholesome wit ( Colossians 4:6 ; Ephesians 4:29 ); but both song and speech are to be "in grace," stamped with a spiritual character and governed by a serious Christian purpose. A "psalm" (from ψάλλω , to play an instrument) is "a song set to music;" but this name was already in the LXX appropriated to its present use. Whether its application here is restricted to the psalms of the Old Testament is doubtful. "Hymn" ( ὕμνος ) denotes a solemn, religions composition, or song of Divine praise. The word "song" ( ode, ᾠδή ) is wider in sense; hence is qualified by "spiritual," equivalent to "with [or, 'in'] the Spirit" ( Ephesians 5:18 )—"songs of a spiritual nature, inspired by the Holy Ghost" (comp. "spiritual wisdom," Colossians 1:9 ). Such songs would echo the varied sentiments and experiences of the Christian life. In Ephesians 5:14 and 2 Timothy 2:11-13 , very possibly, we have fragments of early Christian song. St. Paul's own language, in more exalted moods, tends to assume a rhythmic and lyrical strain (see introductory note on Colossians 1:15-20 ). In grace singing, in your hearts, to God ( Colossians 4:5 ; Ephesians 5:19 ; 1 Corinthians 14:2 , 1 Corinthians 14:15 , 1 Corinthians 14:28 ; Romans 8:27 ; 1 John 3:19 ; Revelation 2:23 ; 1 Samuel 16:7 ; 1 Chronicles 28:9 ). "The correct reading is ἐν τῇ χάριτι (in the grace);" so Lightfoot, Tischendorf, Tregelles, Westcott and Herr in margin, rejected by the Revisers. The tendency to omit the article in prepositional phrases should be taken into account in its favour here. And the article helps the sense by giving "grace" a definite Christian meaning (so "the love," 2 Timothy 2:14 ). Otherwise, ἐν χάριτι may mean no more than "gracefully," "pleasantly;" comp. Colossians 4:6 . "The (Divine) grace" is the pervasive element and subject matter of Christian song. Its constant refrain will be, "to the praise of the glory of his grace!" ( Ephesians 1:6 , Ephesians 1:12 , Ephesians 1:14 : comp. Romans 1:5 , Romans 1:6 ). "In your hearts" ( Colossians 4:15 )—the inner region of the soul—there is the counterpart, audible "to God," of the song that vibrates on the lips. In Ephesians 5:19 we read, "with your hearts"—the instrument (here the region) of the song. (For the connection of "in your hearts" and "to God," comp. Ephesians 5:22 , Ephesians 5:23 ; Luke 16:15 ; Acts 1:24 ; Acts 15:8 ; Romans 8:27 ; 1 Thessalonians 2:4 ; 1 John 3:19 .)