Colossians 3 16

Colossians 3:16 kjv

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.

Colossians 3:16 nkjv

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.

Colossians 3:16 niv

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

Colossians 3:16 esv

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.

Colossians 3:16 nlt

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

Colossians 3 verses

Colossians 3 16 Meaning

Colossians 3:16 calls believers to allow the entirety of Christ's teaching and divine person to thoroughly permeate their lives. This deep, internal assimilation of God's truth then becomes the driving force for mutual instruction and correction among believers, conducted with divine discernment. Furthermore, this internal transformation expresses itself outwardly in heartfelt worship, conveyed through various forms of song, all emanating from a profound sense of gratitude directed towards God. The verse establishes Christ's word as the foundational resource for both communal discipleship and authentic corporate and individual worship.

Colossians 3 16 Context

Colossians chapter 3 outlines the practical implications of a believer's new identity in Christ. Having established Christ's supremacy in previous chapters and exhorted believers to "set their minds on things that are above" (v.2), Paul contrasts the "old self" (v.5-9) with the "new self" (v.10-14). The preceding verses emphasize spiritual transformation, urging believers to "put on" virtues like compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness, culminating in love as "the perfect bond of unity" (v.14) and "the peace of Christ" ruling their hearts (v.15). Verse 16 directly follows this, detailing how the peace and love within the community are fostered: through the active, deep dwelling of the Word of Christ. In the context of early church challenges, particularly in Colossae with its various philosophies and legalistic asceticism, this verse counters any reliance on human wisdom or ritual by anchoring faith and practice solely in the sufficient and authoritative "word of Christ."

Colossians 3 16 Word analysis

• Let the word (ὁ λόγος - ho logos) of Christ (τοῦ Χριστοῦ - tou Christou) dwell (ἐνοικείτω - enoikéitō):

  • λόγος (logos) of Christ (Christou): Not merely isolated words, but the sum of Christ's revelation, His teaching, His divine person, and the gospel message about Him. It is living and active truth.
  • ἐνοικείτω (enoikéitō): An imperative verb meaning "to indwell," "to settle down," "to feel at home," or "to permanently reside." It's a command for active participation—believers must consciously allow and facilitate the Word's pervasive presence within them. This implies intimate fellowship, not superficial engagement.

• in you (ἐν ὑμῖν - en hymin): Plural "you," addressing the Colossian community collectively, emphasizing that this indwelling of the Word is a communal experience and has corporate implications.

• richly (πλουσίως - plousiōs): Abundantly, lavishly, fully, thoroughly. The Word should not merely be present but should permeate every aspect of their thought, feeling, and action, in depth and overflow.

• teaching (διδάσκοντες - didaskontes) and admonishing (νουθετοῦντες - nouthetountes): Participles indicating the ongoing effect of the Word dwelling richly.

  • διδάσκοντες (didaskontes): To instruct, impart truth, explain doctrines. Focuses on cognitive understanding.
  • νουθετοῦντες (nouthetountes): To counsel, warn, correct, encourage, often with a nuance of mild rebuke. Focuses on moral and behavioral application.

• one another (ἑαυτούς - heautous): Emphasizes reciprocal ministry within the community; all believers are empowered and responsible for mutual edification.

• in all wisdom (ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ - en pasē sophia): Pertains to divine wisdom, rooted in Christ (Col 2:3), which enables discernment and right application of truth. This is not human cleverness but spiritual insight that guides instruction and counsel.

• singing (ᾄδοντες - adontes) psalms (ψαλμοῖς - psalmois) and hymns (ὕμνοις - hymnois) and spiritual songs (ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς - ōdais pneumatikais):

  • ᾄδοντες (adontes): Present participle, describing continuous singing.
  • ψαλμοῖς (psalmois): Refers to songs from the biblical Book of Psalms, widely used in Jewish and early Christian worship.
  • ὕμνοις (hymnois): Praises specifically to God or Christ, often newly composed by early Christians.
  • ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς (ōdais pneumatikais): Broader category for spiritual songs, possibly spontaneous, prophetic, or Spirit-inspired songs that transcend the other categories. It highlights the divine source and character of the music.

• with thankfulness (ἐν χάριτι - en chariti) in your hearts (ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν - en tais kardiais hymōn) to God (τῷ Θεῷ - tō Theō):

  • ἐν χάριτι (en chariti): Literally "in grace," commonly translated "with thankfulness" or "gratefully" in this context due to other Colossians verses emphasizing gratitude and the outcome of grace often being thanks. It implies that the singing is done in a Spirit-led state of appreciation for God's grace.
  • in your hearts (en tais kardiais hymōn): Signifies sincerity, authenticity, and passion originating from the inner person, not merely outward performance.
  • to God (tō Theō): Identifies the ultimate object and recipient of worship and gratitude.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly": This phrase establishes the foundational principle: the profound internal appropriation of divine truth is essential for all spiritual activity that follows. It's a command requiring intentional effort.
  • "teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom": This segment defines the horizontal (intra-community) outflow of the indwelling Word. It details the mutual discipleship, correction, and edification among believers, guided by divine wisdom, for holistic growth.
  • "singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God": This describes the vertical (Godward) outflow, highlighting Christ-centered and Spirit-inspired worship. It emphasizes diverse forms of heartfelt, sincere praise to God, flowing from a place of gratitude, as a direct result of the Word dwelling richly.

Colossians 3 16 Bonus section

• The profound connection between this verse and Ephesians 5:18-20 highlights that the "word of Christ dwelling richly" in Colossians parallels "being filled with the Spirit" in Ephesians. This suggests that the deep assimilation of God's truth is intimately linked to the dynamic presence and work of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life and in corporate worship.
• The phrase "Let... dwell" is an imperative, indicating that while God enables the indwelling, believers have a proactive role and responsibility in continually opening themselves to, and nurturing, the Word's presence in their lives. It's not passive, but requires diligent engagement.
• The communal "you" (ὑμῖν) means this isn't just an individual exhortation, but a collective mandate for the church as a body to foster a rich environment for the Word to flourish among them, leading to shared growth and worship.

Colossians 3 16 Commentary

Colossians 3:16 serves as a pivotal verse for understanding the spiritual health of a Christian community. It begins with the fundamental prerequisite: the "word of Christ" – embodying His teaching and very person – must not just be acknowledged, but allowed to "dwell richly" within. This rich indwelling signifies a deep, pervasive assimilation that transforms the inner person, moving beyond intellectual assent to shaping one's values, thoughts, and affections.

From this foundation, two primary manifestations emerge: mutual edification and authentic worship. "Teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom" emphasizes the communal responsibility for spiritual growth. Believers are called to instruct in sound doctrine (teaching) and offer correction or encouragement (admonishing), not from human intellect but with "divine wisdom," which aligns with Christ's truth. This ensures healthy spiritual development within the body.

Simultaneously, the rich indwelling of the Word cultivates heartfelt worship. Singing "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" reflects diverse forms of musical expression—from established sacred texts to spontaneously Spirit-inspired melodies—all flowing from an inner wellspring. Crucially, this worship must be "with thankfulness in your hearts to God," stressing sincerity over performance, and positioning God as the sole recipient of all praise and gratitude. Thus, the verse paints a holistic picture of a vibrant, Word-saturated, Christ-centered community engaged in both intentional discipleship and Spirit-filled worship.