3:16a
the word of Christ: This can mean either:
(1) the word from Christ, that is, the words, or the message, which Christ taught.
(Good News Translation, God’s Word, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004))
(2) the word about Christ, that is, the message about Christ.
(Contemporary English Version, SSA)
Actually there is little difference in meaning between the two. You can follow either interpretation in your translation.
richly: The Greek word plousiōs that the Berean Standard Bible translates richly is a form of a word that means “wealthy.” However, in this context, it means “lavishly, abundantly, completely, thoroughly.”
dwell within you: Paul used the word dwell figuratively. Just as a person lives in a house, so the Colossians were to allow the word of Christ to live in them. It means that they should think about the word of Christ often and let it influence the things they do and say. Find a natural way to say this in your language. For example:
Carry the message about Christ with you daily.
3:16b–c
In 3:16a, Paul commanded the Colossian believers to let the word of Christ dwell in them richly. In 3:16b–c he follows this command with three verbs: “teaching…counseling…singing.” These are specific ways in which the Colossians were to let the message dwell in them.
3:16b
teach and admonish one another with all wisdom: 1:28b was very similar to this part of the verse. See the note there.
admonish: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates admonish means, “warn, admonish, instruct, advise.” Paul was still writing about “the word of Christ” from 3:16a. He was instructing the Colossians to warn each other to obey that message.
with all wisdom: Here the meaning is clear: “Teach and advise each other as wisely as you can.”
3:16c
and as you sing: This instruction from Paul is parallel to 3:16b. This was another specific example of how the Colossians were to let the word of Christ dwell in them richly.
psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs: Paul was describing three types of songs. It may not be easy to make a clear distinction between them.
psalms: Most scholars agree that psalms refer to parts of the book of Psalms in the OT.
hymns: This Greek word, according to ancient Christian writings, refers to songs of praise to God and to Christ.
spiritual songs: This is where there is most disagreement. Some people say that these were songs emphasizing some point of Christian doctrine, others say they were unwritten songs that a person sang as the Holy Spirit inspired him .
It is probably best if you avoid being too specific in making a difference between these terms. If you do not have three different terms, you could combine two or more of these terms in your translation. For example:
Sing all sorts of songs to praise God.
with gratitude in your hearts to God: The word gratitude means being grateful/thankful. In this verse, Paul was instructing the Colossians to “sing” with gratitude, that is, to be singing songs that express their thankfulness to God.
in your hearts: This phrase can be connected to the rest of the verse in two ways:
(1) It is connected to “sing.” So Paul was instructing the Colossians to “sing” in their hearts. This probably does not mean to sing silently, but rather to sing sincerely, to express in their songs how they really felt.
(God’s Word, Revised English Bible, SSA)
(2) It is connected to “gratitude.” This is how many English versions translate this part of the verse.
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, NET Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004))
The word order in the Greek text supports the first interpretation. Many commentaries support this also. So although many English versions follow the second interpretation, it is recommended that you follow the first interpretation (1).
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