God’s Word Translation
Colossians 2:23
23These things look like wisdom with their self-imposed worship, ⌞false⌟ humility, and harsh treatment of the body. But they have no value for holding back the constant desires of your corrupt nature.
Colossians 2:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
- New International Version (NIV)Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
- English Standard Version (ESV)These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
- New King James Version (NKJV)These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Context of Colossians 2:23
21People will tell you, “Don’t handle this! Don’t taste or touch that!” 22All of these things deal with objects that are only used up anyway. These things look like wisdom with their self-imposed worship, ⌞false⌟ humility, and harsh treatment of the body. But they have no value for holding back the constant desires of your corrupt nature.
Read all of Colossians 2Colossians 2:23 word by word
ἅτινά ἐστιν λόγον μὲν ἔχοντα σοφίας ἐν ἐθελοθρησκίᾳ καὶ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ καὶ ἀφειδίᾳ σώματος, οὐκ ἐν τιμῇ τινι πρὸς πλησμονὴν τῆς σαρκός.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Whichὅστιςhostis hētis ho6ti · who/whichG3748
- thingsλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
- haveεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- indeedμένmen · on the other handG3303
- a shewἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- of wisdomσοφίαsophia · wisdomG4678
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- will worshipἐθελοθρησκείαethelothrēskeia · self-made religionG1479
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- humilityταπεινοφροσύνηtapeinophrosunē · humilityG5012
- neglectingἀφειδίαapheidia · unsparingG857
- of the bodyσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983
- notοὐou · noG3756
- anyτιςtis · oneG5100
- honourτιμήtimē · honorG5092
- toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- the satisfyingπλησμονήplēsmonē · gratificationG4140
- of the fleshὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- of the fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
Cross-references for Colossians 2:23
- Genesis 3:5“God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened. You’ll be like God, knowing good and evil.”
- Matthew 23:27“How horrible it will be for you, experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You are like whitewashed graves that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of dead people’s bones and every kind of impurity.
- 2 Corinthians 11:13People who brag like this are false apostles. They are dishonest workers, since they disguise themselves as Christ’s apostles.
- 1 Timothy 4:3They will try to stop others from getting married and from eating certain foods. God created food to be received with prayers of thanks by those who believe and know the truth.
- Colossians 2:8Be careful not to let anyone rob you ⌞of this faith⌟ through a shallow and misleading philosophy. Such a person follows human traditions and the world’s way of doing things rather than following Christ.
- Ephesians 5:29No one ever hated his own body. Instead, he feeds and takes care of it, as Christ takes care of the church.
Commentaries on Colossians 2:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Which things have indeed a show of wisdom - All these prescriptions and rites have indeed the appearance of wisdom, and are recommended by plausible reasons; but they form a worship which God has not commanded, and enjoin macerations of the body, accompanied with a humiliation of spirit, that are neither profitable to the soul, nor of any advantage to the body; so that the whole of their religion is nothing worth. What is here termed will-worship…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Which things - Which scrupulous observance of the numerous precepts enjoining rites and ceremonies, the observance of days, and the distinctions between meats and drinks. Have indeed a show of wisdom - Have a great appearance of piety and of regard for the will of God They have a show of “wisdom,” too, or of a deep acquaintance with divine things. They who insist on them appear to be learned in what constitutes religion, and to have a deep insight into…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-23Verses 18-23 It looked like humility to apply to angels, as if men were conscious of their unworthiness to speak directly to God. But it is not warrantable; it is taking that honour which is due to Christ only, and giving it to a creature. There really was pride in this seeming humility. Those who worship angels, disclaim Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and man. It is an insult to Christ, who is the Head of the church, to use any intercessors…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23they are of no value: These rules come from the world, not from Christ (2:19). They cannot conquer a person's evil desires.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. have--Greek, "are having"; implying the permanent characteristic which these ordinances are supposed to have. show of wisdom--rather, "a reputation of wisdom" [Alford]. will-worship--arbitrarily invented worship: would-be worship, devised by man's own will, not God's. So jealous is God of human will-worship, that He struck Nadab and Abihu dead for burning strange incense (Le 10:1-3). So Uzziah was stricken with leprosy for usurping the office of…Read the comment
Topics related to Colossians 2:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Colossians 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries