Most evangelical Christians identify the Apostle Paul as the author of Colossians (and therefore of Colossians 3:16). Below is a concise summary of who Paul was, why evangelicals attribute Colossians to him, and what that authorship means for interpreting Colossians 3:16.

Who Paul was (evangelical summary)
– The apostle to the Gentiles: Paul (formerly Saul of Tarsus) was a Jewish Pharisee and Roman citizen who persecuted the early church until his conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). After his conversion he became the primary missionary and theological leader in the early church, planting congregations across Asia Minor and Greece.
– Background and ministry: A native of Tarsus, trained under Gamaliel, he undertook multiple missionary journeys, wrote letters to churches he founded or shepherded, and was imprisoned at various times for the sake of the gospel. He is traditionally credited with at least seven undisputed New Testament letters (e.g., Romans, 1–2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, Philemon) and many evangelicals also accept Colossians as genuinely Pauline.
– Early church confirmation: Early church testimony and the internal character of the letter (personal greetings, known companions, theology and style) support Pauline authorship in evangelical scholarship.

Why evangelicals accept Paul as the author of Colossians
– Internal evidence: The letter names Paul (Colossians 1:1) and includes personal touches (mentions of Epaphras, Tychicus, Onesimus) and concerns consistent with Paul’s known ministry.
– Theological continuity: The high Christology (the supremacy of Christ), emphasis on salvation by grace through Christ, and pastoral exhortations fit Paul’s theology and pastoral style.
– Historical tradition: Early Christian writers treated Colossians as Pauline, and many evangelical scholars see the weight of internal and external evidence as supporting Paul’s authorship.
– Note: Some critical scholars have proposed a later (Deutero-Pauline) authorship, but most evangelical interpreters continue to read Colossians as written by Paul—commonly dated to Paul’s Roman imprisonment around AD 60–62.

Context of Colossians 3:16 and how Paul’s authorship shapes interpretation
– Immediate context: Colossians 3:16 falls in a practical-ethical section where Paul applies the gospel to Christian life: putting off the old self, putting on virtues (compassion, humility), and living as God’s chosen people (Col 3:1–17).
– Verse summary: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (basic sense)
– How Paul’s voice helps interpret it:
– Authority of the message: If Paul wrote it, the exhortation carries apostolic authority; “the word of Christ” is set as the guiding, shaping norm for Christian worship and life.
– Christ-centeredness: Paul’s emphasis on the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ (a major theme in Colossians) frames “the word of Christ” as teaching that proclaims and applies Christ’s lordship to daily living.
– Corporate practice: Paul often links doctrine and worship with mutual edification. Here he instructs believers to let Christ’s teaching dwell richly in the community so they can teach, admonish, and worship one another in thankfulness.
– Pastoral and practical: The verse blends theology (the word of Christ) with concrete practice (teaching, singing, gratitude), typical of Paul’s pastoral letters.

Practical evangelical implications drawn from Paul’s instruction
– Centrality of Christ’s word: Scripture and its Christ-centered message should shape the believer’s heart and community life.
– Mutual discipleship: Christians are to use the word to teach and admonish one another—ministry is communal, not merely professional clergy-to-laity.
– Worship as theological and congregational: Singing (psalms, hymns, spiritual songs) is a vehicle for teaching and forming devotion; worship is both doctrinal and heartfelt.
– Gratitude and transformed life: True worship and teaching produce thankfulness and ethical transformation—the hallmark of Paul’s pastoral concern.

Further reading (evangelical resources)
– Look in evangelical study Bibles and commentaries (e.g., ESV Study Bible, NIV Application Commentary, or treatments by evangelical scholars) for fuller exegesis of Colossians. Authors such as F. F. Bruce and John Stott are commonly recommended among evangelicals for helpful, pastoral scholarship.

If you’d like, I can:
– Give a verse-by-verse explanation of Colossians 3, or
– Summarize evangelical responses to the scholarly debate about Colossians’ authorship.