Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Ephesians 5:19

"speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;" — Ephesians 5:19 (ASV)

The outcome of being filled with the Spirit is described in vv.19–20 in a series of four participles that virtually amount to imperatives. Each of these expressions of the Spirit’s fullness has to do with praise. The verb “to speak” (GK 3281) is not confined to normal conversation but covers utterance of any kind and so is perfectly applicable to the medium of psalms, hymns, and songs. Such communication is with “one another.” “Psalms” seems to refer to the OT Psalter, which was integrated with Christian worship from the first. Christian hymns exalted the name of Christ (v.19) or God (v.20). Such canticles appear in the NT itself (as at v.14). “Spiritual songs” may be so designated either to differentiate them from secular compositions or to represent spontaneous singing in the Spirit. Paul is describing the heart’s inner melody that keeps in tune with audible praise. If it is offered “to the Lord,” it does not need to be heard by others.