Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY

Colossians 2:23

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
- 23 Although those things have an appearance of wisdom in a self-imposed form of worship and a false humility, a harsh treatment of the body,+ they are of no value in combating the satisfying of the flesh.

Colossians 2:23

The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures
- 23 ἅτινά Which (things) ἐστιν is λόγον word μὲν indeed ἔχοντα having σοφίας of wisdom ἐν in ἐθελοθρησκίᾳ self-willed form of worship καὶ and ταπεινοφροσύνῃ lowly-mindedness καὶ and ἀφειδίᾳ unsparing σώματος, of body, οὐκ not ἐν in τιμῇ honor τινὶ any πρὸς toward πλησμονὴν fullness τῆς of the σαρκός. flesh.

Colossians 2:23

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References
- 23 Those very things are, indeed, possessed of an appearance of wisdom in a self-imposed form of worship* and [mock] humility, a severe treatment of the body;+ but they are of no value in combating the satisfying of the flesh.+

Colossians 2:23

The Bible in Living English
- 23 ** which do have a show of wisdom in self-contrived religiousness and humility and severity to the body, not in some sort of honor for repletion of the flesh.

Colossians 2:23

American Standard Version
- 23 Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but are not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Colossians 2:23

The Emphasized Bible
- 23 The which things indeed, though they have an appearance of wisdom, In self-devised religious observance and lowliness of mind [and] ill-treatment of body Are in no honourable way unto a satisfying of the flesh.

Colossians 2:23

King James Version
- 23 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.

Colossians Study Notes—Chapter 2

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)
- 2:23
  
  a self-imposed form of worship: Lit., “self-willed form of worship.” This expression renders a Greek word that one lexicon defines in modern terms as “self-made religion, do-it-yourself religion.”
  
  the satisfying of the flesh: Paul here shows that for Christians, fasting and adhering to other self-imposed decrees (Col 2:16, 20, 21) are not effective ways to fight fleshly, or wrong, desires; nor will extreme self-denial make a person more spiritual. True, God’s servants in Bible times were willing to suffer rather than compromise their integrity to God. (Heb 11:35-38) However, the Scriptures do not promote the concept of seeking hardship for its own sake or as a means of spiritual growth. True spirituality comes from studying and applying God’s Word and exercising faith in Christ’s ransom.—Ro 3:23, 24; 2Ti 3:16, 17.