2 Ti 3:16–17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
If the word of God is sufficient for all of the above, and God gave His people a songbook to use in worship, it seems odd to me that people prefer to not use it. In light of what we reformed hold dear, one would think that we would be inclined to sing the words of Christ. As well, it seems more odd to me that since we know we have a songbook, we still prefer man made song. It flies in the face of how we see scripture; on one hand we cry ‘sola scriptura’ and on the other, we openly reject it.
One would think that God had an intent in giving a songbook with His word. After all, His including it in the canon says much.
2 Pe 1:3–4 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Colossians 3:16
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Considering that there were no documented hymns written in the age Paul wrote these words, clearly amplifies what the apostle intended.
Daniel Kok writes:
‘1) The command in both Ephesians 5:19 & Colossians 3:16 is to “sing.” Paul assumes an extant collection of songs i.e. he does not propose for any to write but to sing those that already exist. One might argue that the command to compose is implied but that would be gratuitous.
“These are not commands to make hymns, but to use hymns and Spirit-given songs such as were already at hand. These could be found only within the volume of inspiration… W.I. Wishart, “The Psalms the Divinely Authorized and Exclusive Manual of Praise” (page 55) The Psalms in Worship (1907), edited by John McNaughter
As others note, this is supported by the fact that no gift of song writing or a new songbook is ever attributed to any NT author.
2) The standard EP explanation is that Paul is simply using a ‘standard’ three-fold phrase to refer to one collection of songs: “This use of “psalms, hymns, and songs” to refer to the collected Book of Praises thus echoes the OT summary for the Law of Moses, “commandments, testimonies, and statutes” (1 Chronicles 29:19), or Jesus’ summary of the Bible, “the Law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms.” (Luke 24:44).” Christian Adjemian, Psalms in Worship
“Jewish writers would list three identical or synonymous words or phrases, or list three aspects of a thing to emphasize perfection or completeness. See Ex 34.7; Dt 30.16; Is 6.3; Jer 7.4; Lk 24.44; Acts 2.22; 2 Cor 12.12; 1 Thess 5.23; 1 Tim 2.1” James R. Hughes, In Spirit and Truth: Worship as God Requires ‘