Let the Word Dwell Richly

Let the Word Dwell Richly

Eugene Peterson described what he called the 'Great Reversal' in how people relate to Scripture: instead of allowing themselves to be formed by the text, many Christians try to master the text — to acquire information from it rather than be shaped by it. 'The common practice,' he wrote, 'is to read the Bible to get information, inspiration, and verification for what we already believe. The uncommon practice — the one the church has always called formative — is to let the text read you.' Colossians 3:16 describes this formative richness: the word of Christ dwelling among you richly, not visited occasionally.

Colossians 3:16 describes a community formed by the rich indwelling of Christ's message — not occasional consultation but continuous dwelling. The word 'richly' (plousios) means abundantly, luxuriously — the word of Christ is meant to fill the community the way furniture fills a home, the way music fills a concert hall. And the result is communal: teaching, admonishing, singing together. Scripture is not just a personal resource; it is the shared air of the community. A community where the word dwells richly is a community that teaches each other, corrects each other, and worships together with a common vocabulary and a shared formation. How richly does the word of Christ dwell in your community?