2:18

who takes delight in a false humility: Paul is here warning against false teachers who took delight in appearing to be humble. Apparently, some of them insisted that having God’s favor depended on their observing self-imposed forms of abstinence. Their practices included renouncing material things, abstaining from certain foods, or observing religious days, all of which were not required of Christians. While these practices might have made those men appear to be humble, they were actually “puffed up” by a “fleshly frame of mind,” and their display of piety was designed to impress others.​—Mt 6:1.

a false humility: This expression renders a Greek word that simply means “humility,” or “lowliness of mind.” However, Paul says later in the verse that false teachers were “puffed up,” making it clear that he is referring to humility that is not genuine.​—For a discussion of what true humility involves, see study note on Ac 20:19.

a form of worship: The Greek word (thre·skeiʹa) used here is understood to designate “a form of worship” whether true or false. (Ac 26:5) The same word appears at Jas 1:27, where it is rendered “form of worship” in the main text and “religion” in the footnote. At Jas 1:26, it is rendered “worship.”

a form of worship of the angels: Paul gives no details regarding this form of worship. The Greek phrase allows for various possibilities, such as these: Some Colossians may have pretended to copy the worship that angels performed; they thought that they were imitating the reverent attitude of angels. Or they were directly worshipping angels, perhaps invoking them for help or protection. There is evidence of angel worship in the region of Colossae in later times both in so-called Christian religions and in pagan ones. In fourth-century Laodicea, church authorities condemned such worship; yet, it persisted for at least another century. In any case, Jehovah’s loyal angels refuse to be worshipped. (Re 19:10; 22:8, 9) Paul here states that such worship was often accompanied by “a false humility.” (See study note on a false humility in this verse.) Worship of created beings would “deprive [Christians] of the prize” of everlasting life.​—Compare Mt 4:10; Ro 1:25.

“taking his stand on” the things he has seen: Here Paul apparently describes the position taken by certain false teachers. The expression “taking his stand on [lit., “stepping into,” Kingdom Interlinear]” may have meant that these teachers went into detail about things they claimed to have seen. Paul may be referring to mystery (initiation) rites or to visions that false teachers claimed to have received. In any case, it seems that these false teachers felt that their wisdom was superior to that of their Christian brothers. They based their authority on it. Such people were insisting that the congregation could look for direction from sources of knowledge and wisdom other than God’s Son. That is why Paul gives them counsel.​—See study note on Col 2:3.