Matthew Poole and continuators on Colossians 3:16

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisedom , teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms, and Hymns, and spirtual Songs , singing with grace m in your hearts to the Lord .

One learned man conceives Paul to have written this first clause of the verse, as in a Parenthesis, joyning in the sense what next follows to be ye thankfull in the foregoing verse; another would have the Parenthesis to begin from the 14th. verse. The thing here exhorted to, is the plentifull inhabitation of the doctrine of the Bible more especially of the Gospel, that it may take up its residence and abode in our Souls, which comes from the spiritual incorporation or mixing of it with faith, Heb. 4.2, without which it may enter in as a stranger but will not abide, it may cast a ray, or shine but is not comprehended and doth not enlighten, Ioh. 1.5. 2 Cor. 4.4 it may afford some present delight, Mar. 6.20. but not lasting. The Apostle would have the word to be diligently searched, heartily received and carefully observed; a Child may have it in his memory, that hath it not in his heart, this indwelling of the word imports a regarding, as well as a remembring of it, Psal. 1, 2. Ioh. 5.39. & 20.31. Act. 17.11. 2 Tim. 3.15, 16, 17. If all the Saints at Colosse were concerned in this exhortation, the Papists oppose the spirit of God in excluding (those they call) the laity from familiarity with the Scriptures in their mother tongue.

Being that all Christians are here indispensably obliged to instruct and warn themselves (according to the original word) as well as each other mutually, see Ephes. 5.19.

And then that this holy singing be not onely harmonious and tuneable to the ear, but acceptable to God 'tis requisite it do proceed from a gracious spirit, or grace wrought in the heart by the holy spirit and the inhabitation of the word, Isa. 29.13. Mat. 15.8.

Then the use of the word, and the manner of expressing their thankfulness to God amongst themselves is in singing to his praise Psalms, and Hymns, and spiritual Songs. He doth not say teaching and admonishing from these (as elsewhere, Act. 8.35. & 28.23. but in them; implying it is a peculiar ordinance of Christ for Christians to be exercised in holy singing as Iam. 5.13. with an audible voice musically, Psal. 95.1, 2. & 100.1. Act. 16.25. as foretold, Isa. 52.8. with Rom. 10.14. Some would distinguish the three words the Apostle here useth from the manner of singing, as well as the matter sung. Others from the Hebrew usage of words expressed by the 70. in the Book of Psalms yet whoever consults the Titles of the Psalms and other places of the O. T. they shall find the words used sometimes promiscuously, compare Iudg. 5.3. 1 Chron. 16.8, 9. 2 Chron. 7.6▪ & 23.13. & 29, 30. Psal. 39.3.45.1.47.1.48.1. & 65.1. & 105.1, 2▪ Isa. 12.2.4. & 42.10. or conjunctly to the same matter, Psal. 30. & 48. & 65. & 66. & 75. & 83. & 87. hereupon others stand not upon any critical distinction of the three words, yet are enclined here, to take Psalms by way of eminency, Luk. 24.44. or more generally as the Genus noting any holy Metre whether composed by the Prophets of old, or others since assisted by the Spirit extraordinarily or ordinarily, Luk. 24.44. Act. 16.25. 1 Cor. 14, 15, 26. Iam. 5.13. here for clearness sake two modes of the Psalms, viz. Hymns whereby we celebrate the excellencies of God, and his benefits to man, Psal. 113. Mat. 26.30. and Odes o[illegible: 1 letter] Songs which word though ordinarily in its nature and use it be more general, yet here Sinechdochically in regard of the circumstance of the conjoyned words it may contain the rest of spiritual Songs of a more ample, artificial, and elaborate composure, besides Hymns, Rev. 14.2, 3. & 15.2, 3. which may be called spiritual or holy Songs from the efficient matter, or end, viz. that they proceed from the holy spirit, or in argument may agree and serve thereto. Being convenient they be so called from the argument, as opposed to carnal sensual and worldly ditties.

To the honour of God through Christ our Lord, Luk. 1.46, 47. Ioh. 5.23. 1 Pet. 4.11.