New Living Translation
Colossians 2:22
22Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them.
Colossians 2:22 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
- New International Version (NIV)These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.
- English Standard Version (ESV)(referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings?
- New King James Version (NKJV)which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men?
Context of Colossians 2:22
20You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, 21“Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. 23These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.
Read all of Colossians 2Colossians 2:22 word by word
ἅ ἐστιν πάντα εἰς φθορὰν τῇ ἀποχρήσει κατὰ τὰ ἐντάλματα καὶ διδασκαλίας τῶν ἀνθρώπων·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- toεἰςeis · towardG1519
- perishφθοράphthora · corruptionG5356
- with the usingὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- with the usingἀπόχρησιςapochrēsis · using upG671
- afterκατάkata · according toG2596
- the commandmentsἔνταλμαentalma · preceptG1778
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- doctrinesδιδασκαλίαdidaskalia · teachingG1319
- of menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
Cross-references for Colossians 2:22
- Mark 7:18“Don’t you understand either?” he asked. “Can’t you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile you?
- John 6:27But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”
- 1 Corinthians 6:13You say, “Food was made for the stomach, and the stomach for food.” (This is true, though someday God will do away with both of them.) But you can’t say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies.
- Isaiah 29:13And so the Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.
- Daniel 11:37He will have no respect for the gods of his ancestors, or for the god loved by women, or for any other god, for he will boast that he is greater than them all.
- Matthew 15:3Jesus replied, “And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God?
- Mark 7:7Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’
- Revelation 17:18And this woman you saw in your vision represents the great city that rules over the kings of the world.”
Commentaries on Colossians 2:22
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22Which all are to perish with the using - These are not matters of eternal moment; the different kinds of meats were made for the body, and go with it into corruption: in like manner, all the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish religion now perish, having accomplished the end of their institution; namely, to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. After the commandments and doctrines of men? - These words should follow the 20th verse, of…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 22Which all are to perish with the using - This is commonly marked as a part of the parenthesis, or the quotation; and there is considerable difficulty in ascertaining its true meaning. It seems most probable that these are the words of the apostle himself, thrown in in the rapidity of composition, and that they are not to be connected with the phrase “touch not,” etc. If so, the idea is, that it cannot be of so much consequence as the Jewish teachers…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. 16-23Paul rejects the false teachers and their demands, explaining that their ideas come from human teachings (see 2:8). They advocated various rules of conduct that had no basis in Christ.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2222. Which--things, namely, the three things handled, touched, and tasted. are to perish--literally, "are constituted (by their very nature) for perishing (or 'destruction by corruption') in (or 'with') their using up (consumption)." Therefore they cannot really and lastingly defile a man (Mt 15:17; 1Co 6:13). after--according to. Referring to Col 2:20, 21. All these "ordinances" are according to human, not divine, injunction. doctrines--Greek, teachings."…Read the comment
Topics related to Colossians 2:22
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
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