Colossians 3 and Ephesians 5

I think there is a danger of making too much of this, but it is interesting how in these parallel passages Paul says slightly different things.

For example :

Colossians 3:16 - 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.

Epghesians 5:18-19 -And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,

It doesn't seem to me to be enough to EQUATE being filled with the Word of Christ and being filled with the Spirit, but surely we have to conclude that they are linked in Paul's mind.

Then : (and I am thinking of my preparation for this weekend, where for the Chinese group on Saturday evening I am talking about Love and Marriage for Valentine's Day, and on Sunday about everything in the name of Christ for the International Church.)

Colossians 3:16-17 - singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Ephesians 5:19-20 - singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Paul goes on in both cases to talk about submission in the various rôles we have in life, in marriage, in the family, at work, etc.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A bit about music exams in UK and France

Good news from my sermon buddy

A brief sortie to North Wales