Colossians 3:16

ὁ λόγος τοῦ Χριστοῦ : probably, as usually explained, “the Gospel,” so called because He proclaimed it and speaks it through His messengers. Lightfoot interprets it as “the presence of Christ in the heart as an inward monitor”. The phrase occurs only here, but cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Thessalonians 3:1. ἐν ὑμῖν : according to Pauline usage must mean within you, and probably not collectively (Mey., Alf., Abb.) “in you as a Church,” but individually. ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ : to be taken with the following words (Beng., Mey., Alf., Ell., Ol., Haupt, Abb.), since ἐνοικ. is sufficiently qualified by πλουσίως, and σοφ. suits διδάσκ. much better than ἐνοικ. The balance is better preserved, as ἐν π. ς. is then parallel to ἐν χάρ. Lightfoot meets the last point by taking ἐν χάρ. with διδάσκ., but even if this were probable the other arguments are decisive for the connexion with the following words. διδάσκοντες καὶ νουθετοῦντες : cf. Colossians 1:28. Lightfoot regards the participles as used for imperatives, which Ellicott thinks impossible. There is a slight, but quite intelligible, anacoluthon here. ἑαυτοὺς, as in Colossians 3:13. ψαλμοῖς, ὕμνοις, ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς : to be connected with διδ. κ. νουθ., not with ᾄδοντες (Hofm., Kl [20], Weiss), with which the accusative should have been used. The precise distinctions intended are not certain, and perhaps they should not be sharply drawn. The meaning is, whatever kind of song it may be, let it be made the vehicle of religious instruction and admonition. ψαλ. may be restricted to the Old Testament Psalms, but this is improbable, ὕμν. are songs of praise to God. ᾠδ. has a wider sense, and was used of any class of song. Hence πν. is added to it, and not to the others, for ψαλ. is used exclusively and ὕμν. usually in a religious sense. The word of Christ is to dwell in them so richly that it finds spontaneous expression in religious song in the Christian assemblies or the home. ἐν τῇ χάριτι. Not with sweetness or acceptableness (Colossians 4:6), which does not suit τ. Θεῷ or the emphatic position. It may be “by the help of Divine grace,” but more probably the meaning is “with thankfulness” (De W., Sod., Haupt, Abb.), on account of the reference to thankfulness in Colossians 3:15; Colossians 3:17. Thankfulness finds expression in song. ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις. The reference is to the inner song of praise, which is to be the counterpart of the audible singing. What is meant is probably not singing from the heart, though cf. Matthew 22:37.

[20] Klöpper.