“Reflecting their origins in an oral culture, even Homer’s epics were conveyed from generation to generation through social events of singing and play. The past was present not only in written records but in living speech. Paul’s admonition to “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” through “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Col 3:16) reflects this social context. The goal of such singing in public worship was not individualistic, either in terms of mystical contemplation or self-expression, but the enveloping of the community in the gospel” (Michael Horton, The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims On the Way, 88).