My question is about Colossians 3:16. On the surface it seems to be saying that the way to teach and admonish one another is through the singing of psalms, hymns and songs of the spirit. Discipling through song? So, I checked about 30 translations and only one (HCSB) had the word “and” between “teach and admonish” and the psalms etc. The only thing I can come up with is that in the early church, with scant access to Scripture and lower literacy levels, scripture-based songs would have been a good way to impart biblical teaching in a memorable way. Do you have any thoughts on this? Also, what exactly are “songs from the spirit” or “spiritual songs”? Perhaps they are songs with lyrics reflecting scripture? — A.K.
About Col 3:26, the “and” is in the original. Although copulatives don’t always have to be translated as such. I believe you are right that the songs were content-rich. But in participatory church services there were certainly people sharing reminiscences of the Lord and even of the apostles. Paul expected his letters to be read out. Probably there was no complete canonical gospel at the time of Colossians, but I bet that oral (and even perhaps written) tradition was alive and well. God’s powerful word is transformative, and will guide us as we become conformed to the image of Christ—discipled by him.
Not sure we can define “spiritual songs” with certainty, so I won’t guess. 😉
