Colossians 3:16, commentary and pictures

Let the word of Christ live richly and abundantly within believers in all wisdom, as the plain standard for those risen with Christ and dead to the old life. This dwelling comes by daily feeding on Scripture, searching it, storing the mind with its truths and obeying it, until Christ himself abides by faith to govern thought and action rather than remaining a mere intellectual assent. The overflowing word teaches, warns and corrects one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, sung from the heart with grace and understanding as an act of worship as real as prayer. It purifies and sanctifies heart and character, guards against temptation, puts away harsh and critical speech, and melts believers into tenderness, unity, thankfulness and peace. Lived out daily, it shapes the home, the school and all work, controlling speech and conduct into cheerful gratitude, kindness and loving service.

Meaning of Indwelling Word

The word of Christ, the word of God, is to live richly and abundantly within believers in all wisdom. It is to fill them and dwell in them, guiding them wisely and shaping their shared life together with God. Its indwelling overflows in teaching and warning and correcting one another through psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with singing to the Lord from hearts made gracious toward Him.

Dwelling richly comes by feeding on Christ's words and feeding on Scripture and obeying it. It comes by searching the Bible for truth as for hidden treasure and daily contemplating the living oracles, discovering new beauty in them unto a precious experience. The mind is to be stored with its truths, the living Word taken as it reads and obeyed and learned from for duty and doctrine, for inwardly knowing it while acting against it makes it ineffective. So received, it shapes the soul and supplies wisdom and gives grace and strength to live righteously, purifies thoughts and words as precious metal is purified from dross in the furnace, and becomes the standard by which to compare one's own words and works. When temptation comes the Holy Spirit can bring its words to mind to resist temptation, and a life shaped by it displays a living faith that sanctifies and transforms character in Christian cheerfulness, kindness, patience and love, with conversation centered on heavenly things.

The indwelling is Christ Himself, His Spirit and grace and love, dwelling richly in heart and thoughts by faith as an abiding presence. When His words are received and take possession, Jesus governs thoughts and ideas and actions and fills the whole life with His instruction for character and daily duties, for His words are spirit and life; self no longer rules, for Christ lives within as the hope of glory. The gospel is to have room within and truth is to reign in the heart and sanctify the soul, bearing the fruit of praise and thanksgiving. He is to be invited daily and kept continually as a constant companion, not in occasional glimpses, with an abiding sense of His love and grace. The Spirit must engrave truth on the soul and write the eternal Word on the heart to be treasured and ready for use and to sanctify and guide conduct, not remain mere intellectual assent. This inward dwelling controls speech and conduct so no occasion is given for evil speaking, no impatient words are uttered, and no cheap and common expressions are used; one becomes reserved on commonplace matters yet free in speaking of God's love with praise and thanksgiving, giving free expression to gratitude instead of discouragement. Its presence is tested and expressed in practical consecration in present everyday relationships: revealing Christ in daily words and actions, loving others and following the golden rule, rejecting selfishness and corrupt thoughts, treating others with kindness and affection and esteeming others above self, wearing religion sincerely rather than as a cloak, and showing sympathy by kind unselfish deeds as a co-laborer with Christ. As believers keep looking to Jesus they reflect His image and are drawn away from dwelling on disappointments by the sight of His love.

Letting the word dwell richly is the Bible standard to be reached for claiming the precious promises by exercising living faith, drawing nearer and nearer to Jesus and looking away from the things of this life to the future immortal life. It is part of God's requirement of perfection, nothing less than perfection, reached by putting no confidence in self and daily knowing that self is not to be trusted, by grasping the promises with firm faith and asking for the Holy Spirit in full realization of helplessness, by giving self no glory when the Spirit works, and by letting the Spirit keep the heart and bring to it the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, so believers are kept by the power of God through faith. It requires closely examining the heart to see if its graces are cultivated and living by the Word and examining oneself, since a heart not subdued by grace is treacherous and leads to ruin, and without the Word living richly within no one can sanctify the Lord in the heart. It calls for constant watchfulness and unceasing prayer unto an individual experience no one else can obtain for another, and unto the genuine fruit of righteousness in those in living connection with Christ who manifest His spirit. Evil is to be removed as weeds that righteousness and holiness may be borne, and varied traits are to be harmonized to be of one mind and one judgment, speaking in agreement with no division, from which no one is excused. When the Word dwells and abounds within, it enables reflecting Christ's glory in sacred work, opposed to gloom and dejection and joined to a cheerful Christian life.

Setting in New Life

The verse belongs to those risen with Christ, who seek things above where Christ sits at the right hand of God and set affection on things above and not on things on the earth, through the transforming power of grace affecting heart and character. It describes the new life entered with Christ by the pledge of baptism, in which the old sinful life is dead, believers are baptized into His death and raised in likeness of His resurrection, dead to the world and separate from worldly methods and practices, with life hid with Christ in God, rooted and complete in Him. In that life the wisdom of Christ is to live richly within, filling believers abundantly with wisdom, shaping shared instruction and correction through psalms, hymns and spiritual songs and grateful singing from the heart to the Lord. This is living in the new covenant with God's law written in the heart, showing fruits of righteousness and faithfully keeping baptismal vows, practicing the virtues of the character of Christ.

In its setting the instruction stands with putting on, as God's holy and beloved elect, mercy and tender mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind and humility, meekness, longsuffering and patience, forbearance and mutual forbearance, forgiveness and forgiving any quarrel just as Christ forgave, and above all love and charity as the bond of perfection and completeness. With these belongs letting the peace of God and of Christ rule in the heart as members of one body, with thankfulness, letting the word of Christ dwell richly in all wisdom in teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs and singing with grace and thankfulness in the heart to the Lord, and doing all in word and deed in the name of the Lord Jesus with thanks to God the Father. This character creates a clear distinction between those who serve God by honoring Him in keeping His commandments and those who disobey, with those looking to the future reward separating from the disobedient in this life, and becoming Bible students leaves no doubt about the merciful, kind, humble, meek, patient, forgiving, loving, peaceful and thankful character to be developed to make calling and election sure. The verse means hardness of heart dishonors God, since life day by day depends on His mercy and forgiveness while people are reluctant to forgive others, and no provocation excuses dislike, resentment or retaliation, for continual transgression against God is far more grievous yet He does not cast off but bears with perversity and is ready to forgive upon repentance and humbling, so that no trust is placed in own goodness but only in the abounding mercy of Jesus that pardons transgressions and sins and makes partakers of the divine nature who show the same tender, compassionate, forbearing, merciful and loving spirit. Heeding this injunction keeps the soul in subjection to the Spirit of God against temptation in an enemy's land, makes a true Christian with the grace of Christ revealed in thinking no evil, and guards against blindness of mind, suspicious jealousy, unjust criticism, unkind thoughts and uncharitable feelings.

The verse is a straight, plain, unvarnished command giving the part believers are to act in preparing for heaven, consecrating powers of mind and body to honor God, overcoming every evil habit, and becoming fitted for entrance into the heavenly courts. Kept with praying in faith, staying watchful in prayer, and then singing songs of praise and thanksgiving in belief, it keeps unwary feet from the trap Satan has placed, guards weak points of character, resists seducing spirits, and brings power and wisdom from Father, Son and Holy Spirit to stand victorious over every temptation that would deny Christ. The whole of Colossians 3 is plain instruction for how Christians should live so unbelievers receive a favorable impression of the truth, to be read and practiced in words, in spirit and in action, including walking humbly with God and uniting with brethren in humility rather than choosing only one's own society and separating from anyone who will not give up their own ideas and plans. It is to be read and studied by young men preparing for ministry as part of preparation for true service, teaching first attention to self, giving the self to the Lord for sanctification to His service, a godly example, trimming the lamp of the soul, replenishment with the Spirit, and grace and clearness of comprehension for successful work with Christ formed within as hope and strength of life.

Peace ruling in the heart with thankfulness belongs with the indwelling word, so that psalms, hymns and spiritual songs rise from hearts made gracious and thankful toward the Lord and shape wisdom and mutual teaching and correction. This inward peace and love makes words a comfort and help to one another rather than empty talk, complaint, criticism, or worthless and harmful words, with speech guided by Christ's word. Dwelling on past trials can drive that peace away, while God's peace dwelling in the heart leads a person to give thanks to Him in everything. These practices belong to the fellowship of believers and express the loving, faithful counsel with prayerful care that Christian friendship requires, in a life ruled by God's peace, marked by thankfulness and love, and expressed in everything done in Jesus' name.

Teaching and Admonishing Together

The word of Christ is to fill believers richly and wisely, shaping how they teach, warn and correct one another through psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. That singing is to come from hearts made gracious toward the Lord, with both spirit and understanding, making melody to God. This shared life of teaching and praise is more acceptable to God than worthless or harmful talk, for speech is to be guided by Christ's word rather than spilling out as empty words. God's peace ruling the heart with thankfulness belongs with this indwelling word, and practicing it means loving one another as brethren, so that unity and love reveal Christ's character.

Mutual admonition is a practical good of Christian friendship and fellowship. It is to be done faithfully and with prayerful care, as loving, faithful counsel that fellowship requires. Christ's grace is to soften reproof, so that it wounds in order to heal.

Those who teach must have Christ's word living richly within them, filling mind and heart with the truths of Scripture. They are to teach the Saviour's lessons to church members and students, not theories He never taught, fables, or vain imaginings. For young ministers this means earnestly seeking the Lord and making the Word their unfailing source as they faithfully explain it, with study, prayer and wholehearted effort. Workers appointed over a large church must in this way give every person his portion in due season, which means more than sermonizing; it means educating and organizing the church into working elements, setting things in order and carrying out well-organized plans for labor. It means teaching doctrines, promises, precepts, warnings, examples, reproof and correction in righteousness, rightly dividing the word of truth, and laboring especially for the young.

Faithful teaching as shepherds of the flock converts souls and brings thought into captivity to Christ by keeping to the vital question of the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus, giving the work a mold in harmony with the third angel's message. It teaches practical godliness, repentance and faith, and the positive requirements of God. It forbids diverting minds with phrenology, marriage subjects, anecdotes, commonplace cheap illustrations, high-flown ideas soaring from simplicity, and symbols and representations that do not uplift the mind and purify the heart. Mingling the sacred and the common in this way confuses minds, belittles truth, sows imaginings that Satan nurtures to an evil harvest, and prevents yielding the will to God.

For gospel leaders, being filled abundantly with His teaching in all wisdom makes Scripture their weapon in conflict with the enemy. The word dwelling abundantly is the Spirit's sword, living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. It is not fleshly but mighty through God to pull down strongholds, to cast down imaginations and every high thing exalted against the knowledge of God, overthrowing proud thoughts. By it every thought is brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

Singing With Grace

Psalms and spiritual songs teach and warn with wisdom and grace, and the pattern is given in Christ who when assailed by temptation sang praise and thanksgiving to God instead of yielding or being provoked, so that the speech of tempters was stopped and thanks was given to the Father. Those who love God and keep His word therefore sing praise and thanksgiving rather than speaking accusing, faultfinding and murmuring words, and they make for peace. Christ showed the same daily walk with God in holy song by singing psalms and heavenly songs with cheerfulness while engaged in toil in Nazareth, keeping time and thought for heaven amid weariness and worldly care and raising His voice in praise and thanksgiving. In song He held communion with heaven, cheered weary companions by sweet melody falling from His lips, drove away evil angels and filled the place with sweet fragrance as incense, and carried minds away from earthly exile to the future eternal home, showing that men can commune with God in words of holy song.

Singing is part of religious worship and is as much an act of worship as prayer, and many songs are prayers. Understanding the words being sung helps value their meaning, impresses spiritual truth on the heart, and opens the way for penitence and faith. Song is therefore to be used along with prayer and the spoken word to proclaim the gospel, including singing with people as part of ministry to the unsaved.

Singing is to offer praise and devotion to God with beauty, feeling and power, thoughtfully planned and disciplined so that it can have its proper effect and rise to God as an acceptable offering. It may be joined when practicable by instrumental music and by musical instruments skillfully handled, whose use in the work is not to be opposed. A number are to be chosen to take part in leading the song service and to conduct it carefully, yet singing is not to be left to a few but the entire congregation is to join as often as possible. Singing to God from the heart means praising the Lord and giving glory to God for light and truth rather than praising, flattering or fixing attention on any speaker or human instrument, by losing sight of the human instrument and keeping Jesus in view and by talking of the truth and of the Christian's hope and heaven. Singing that turns the mind from God and heavenly things to what is light and trifling dishonors Christ, while inward peace and love make words a comfort and help to one another rather than empty talk, complaint or criticism.

Believers as children of God are to open their hearts and speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs and make melody in their hearts to the Lord, which cannot be done unless love for one another is cultivated and the mind is set upon heaven. Doing this restores the happiness of first love for Jesus and love for meeting with brethren to speak of Jesus, brings heaven near, gives to the world the testimony of the great things the Lord has done, and through Jesus makes believers more than conquerors by taking hold of His power. The inward presence of the abounding Word enables reflecting Christ's glory in sacred work with a cheerful Christian life opposed to gloom and dejection. Spiritual strength is gained by turning the mind from self-focused thoughts and unimportant talk to spiritual things and prayer, and this inward devotion makes melody in the heart to God with a contented, cheerful spirit. God's peace dwelling in the heart leads to giving thanks in everything, whereas dwelling on past trials can drive that peace away.

Power for Holy Living

Obeying the command to let the word dwell richly keeps unwary feet from the trap laid for them, for those who would be like Christ pray in faith, remain watchful in prayer, and then sing songs of praise and thanksgiving in belief. Kept in this way, with prayer and watchfulness and praise, weak points of character are guarded, seducing spirits are resisted, and power and wisdom are given from the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit to stand victorious over every temptation that would deny Christ. Feeding on Scripture and obeying it supplies grace and strength for righteous living, so that when temptation comes the Holy Spirit can bring its words to mind to be used in resistance. When the word dwells richly within it prepares a person to draw good things from the Word and to wear God's armor when assailed, to be studied and to rule in the heart so it can be drawn upon in attack. This abiding presence is illustrated by Enoch, who walked with God and spoke with Him when tempted, showing that believers may have Christ as constant companion and Counselor, commune with God on earth, have life hidden with Christ in God, represent Him in daily conduct, and have selfishness rooted out, even though Enoch had no written "It is written" as believers now do.

The richly dwelling word purifies the soul and purifies the church, bringing harmony when every member shows a practical Christlike life from faith that works by love while doing God's work. It gives the practical work of harmonizing varied traits of character meeting as children of God, to be of one mind and one judgment and to speak in agreement with no division, from which no one is excused, through close examination of the heart to see if its graces are cultivated, with constant watchfulness and unceasing prayer and an individual experience no one else can obtain for another. Faith shaped by the word is to be a living reality that sanctifies and transforms heart and character, with conversation centered on heavenly things and displaying Christian cheerfulness, kindness, patience, and love. When its vital truths influence the mind and heart and Christ's grace is cherished within, that inward power becomes an inward influence visible to others, blessing both receiver and others.

The verse sets the Bible standard to be reached by exercising living faith in the promises of God so the precious promises can be claimed. That standard is nothing less than perfection, reached by putting no confidence in self and daily knowing that self is not to be trusted, by grasping the promises with firm faith and asking for the Holy Spirit with full realization of helplessness, by giving self no glory when the Spirit works, and by letting the Spirit take the heart into His keeping and bring to it all the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, so believers are kept by the power of God through faith. Without the Word living richly within, a person cannot sanctify the Lord in the heart, and this requires living by the Word and examining oneself, since a heart not subdued by grace is treacherous and leads to ruin. This indwelling by faith is expressed in practical consecration in present everyday relationships, not merely spoken or imagined, revealing Christ in daily words and actions, treating others with kindness and affection, and esteeming others above oneself.

Heeding the injunction keeps the soul in subjection to the Spirit of God against temptation in an enemy's land, belonging with putting on mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance and forgiveness as Christ forgave, and above all charity which is the bond of perfection, with the peace of God ruling in the heart and with thankfulness as one body. It makes one a true Christian with the grace of Christ in the soul revealed in the character, thinking no evil, and guards against blindness of mind, suspicious jealousy, unjust criticism, unkind thoughts and uncharitable feelings. It marks those who receive Christ as children of God, put on the renewed nature in His image, and overcome in the battle of life as lights shining amid sin and crime. For those entrusted with watching for souls and managing others, it requires gentle, encouraging speech instead of sharp, dictatorial words, and merciful, wise dealing with every mind in word and deed in the name of Jesus.

Christlike Speech and Unity

The verse requires obedience in speech and temper, putting away a harsh, dictatorial, cold, critical and sarcastic spirit with sharp rasping words that hurt and discourage souls. It forbids sharp words, harsh criticism, denunciation, scolding, evil speaking, accusing and faultfinding, including misrepresenting brethren when one's own ideas are not given highest value. The heart filled with the love and Spirit of Jesus becomes a vessel unto honor, answering every person with grace, and scolding is replaced by gracious singing that improves the atmosphere wherever believers work. For those watching for souls and managing others this means gentle, encouraging, merciful and wise dealing in word and deed instead of sharp dictatorial words.

The indwelling word melts the heart into tenderness of spirit, kindness, courtesy and refinement of feeling. It makes men careful in dealing with others because they are purchased by the blood of Christ and precious to God, treating them as they desire to be treated. This is keeping the golden rule and loving one's neighbor, rejecting selfishness, selfish imaginings and corrupt thoughts, and wearing religion sincerely rather than as a cloak or mere outward respectability. Speech thus shaped is heavenly rather than common, earthly or sensual, and religion is guarded with care because God sees the heart.

Lived by daily practice the verse harmonizes varied traits of character in church life into being of one mind and one judgment, speaking in agreement with no division, from which no one is excused. Believers are not to draw apart to choose only their own company but to dwell together in unity and love that reveals Christ's character, practicing His Word and loving one another as brethren in one body. To enjoy peace and love sins must be put away and harmony with God attained, and then harmony with one another follows, with selfish ambition and desire for supremacy dying when Christ possesses the affections and with sympathy, tender compassion and unselfish love shown to those He died to redeem. So practiced it makes deportment ever marked by Christian politeness to all and constantly increases influence for good, showing the new man renewed in knowledge after the image of the Creator, and it purifies the church through practical Christlike life from faith that works by love.

Inward peace and love make words a comfort and help to one another rather than empty talk, complaint, criticism, or worthless and harmful words. Conversation is to be centered on heavenly things and display Christian cheerfulness, kindness, patience and love, showing a living faith that sanctifies and transforms character before the world. This calls for encouraging speech toward one another and for singing from hearts made gracious and thankful, rather than singing that turns the mind from God to what is light and trifling. When love for one another is cultivated and the mind is kept constantly upon heaven, opening the heart in psalms and hymns restores first love and nearness to heaven and testifies of God's great deeds.

Practice at Home and Work

The word of Christ dwelling richly in wisdom is work to be practiced in every family and household. There it is marked by peace and joy and rest in the Lord rather than faultfinding or harshness. Prayer and singing to God belong with a life shaped by Christ's character and governed by God's peace, reflected in family life by using speech for good and cultivating a peaceful spirit. It is the privilege of all who believe to cultivate home and church religion in this way, as those who have put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy speech and lying with the old man and have put on the new man renewed after the image of the Creator.

That new life in the home puts on mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance and forgiveness even as Christ forgave, and above all charity as the bond of perfection, with the peace of God ruling in the heart and thankfulness. Husbands especially are forbidden bitterness and harsh rule, even when the wife is erring and full of faults, because bitterness does not remedy evil. Teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, and singing with grace in the heart to the Lord, belong to this household practice.

Schools established in different localities are to educate and prepare students by this word to have thorough knowledge of what constitutes Christian character and fitness for work in Christian missions, with intellectual and divine enlightenment. The word is to take possession of teachers' minds, fitting them to educate others according to the Bible. When its vital truths influence students and Christ's grace is cherished within, that inward influence becomes visible to others. Dwelling richly in those risen with Christ, baptized into His death and raised in the likeness of His resurrection under the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, produces teaching and admonishing in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with grace in the heart, with peace ruling, thankfulness, and doing all in word or deed in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Christian workers must let Christ's word shape life and conduct if they are to bless rather than harm the work of God. The love that binds believers to Jesus is to be expressed in clear, distinct tones. Its practice replaces scolding with gracious singing and helps create a better atmosphere in the workplace, making workers more ready to show mercy and tenderness to those needing help, strength, and grace. When the Word abounds within, it enables reflection of Christ's glory in sacred work, opposed to gloom and dejection and joined to a cheerful Christian life, teaching how to bring the light of God's glory to the work done and to those around.

Letting Jesus Himself reign and dwell richly within comes by inviting His presence into the heart daily and making Christ a constant companion. Christ must be kept in the heart continually, not in occasional glimpses, with an abiding sense of His love and grace, for His Spirit dwells richly by faith. This inward dwelling controls speech and conduct so no occasion is given for evil speaking, no impatient words are uttered, and no cheap and common expressions are used. It makes a person reserved when speaking on commonplace matters yet free in speaking of the love of God with praise and thanksgiving because it is due to God. Gratitude for God's blessings is given free expression in words of praise about God's goodness and love instead of talk of discouraging experiences, with sympathy and love shown by kind, unselfish deeds as a co-laborer with Christ, revealing Christ in daily words and actions, treating others with kindness and affection, and esteeming others above self in present, everyday relationships.