Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Colossians 2:23

COM commentary-section · status:draft · license:PD

23. 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 ( :- ). So Uzziah was stricken with leprosy for usurping the office of priest ( :- ). Compare the will-worship of Saul ( :- ) for which he was doomed to lose his throne. This "voluntary worship" is the counterpart to their "voluntary humility" ( Colossians 2:18 ): both specious in appearance, the former seeming in religion to do even more than God requires (as in the dogmas of the Roman and Greek churches); but really setting aside God's will for man's own; the latter seemingly self-abasing, but really proud of man's self-willed "humility" ( Greek, "lowliness of mind"), while virtually rejecting the dignity of direct communion with Christ, the Head; by worshipping of angels. neglecting of the body — Greek, "not sparing of the body." This asceticism seems to have rested on the Oriental theory that matter is the source of evil. This also looked plausible (compare Colossians 2:18- : ). not in any honour —of the body. As "neglecting of the body" describes asceticism positively; so this clause, negatively. Not paying any of that "honor" which is due to the body as redeemed by such a price as the blood of Christ. We should not degrade, but have a just estimation of ourselves, not in ourselves, but in Christ ( Acts 13:46 ; 1 Corinthians 3:21 ; 1 Corinthians 6:15 ; 1 Corinthians 7:23 ; 1 Corinthians 12:23 ; 1 Corinthians 12:24 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:4 ). True self-denial regards the spirit, and not the forms of ascetical self-mortification in "meats which profit not those occupied therein" ( 1 Thessalonians 4:4- : ), and is consistent with Christian self-respect, the "honor" which belongs to the believer as dedicated to the Lord. Compare "vainly," Colossians 2:18 . to the satisfying of the flesh —This expresses the real tendency of their human ordinances of bodily asceticism, voluntary humility, and will-worship of angels. While seeming to deny self and the body, they really are pampering the flesh. Thus "satisfying of the flesh " answers to "puffed up by his fleshly mind" ( Colossians 2:18 ), so that "flesh" is used in its ethical sense, "the carnal nature" as opposed to the "spiritual"; not in the sense, "body." The Greek for "satisfying" implies satiating to repletion, or to excess. "A surfeit of the carnal sense is human tradition" [HILARY THE DEACON, in BENGEL]. Tradition puffs up; it clogs the heavenly perceptions. They put away true "honor" that they may " satiate to the full THE FLESH." Self-imposed ordinances gratify the flesh (namely, self-righteousness), though seeming to mortify it. return to ' Top of Page ' Colossians Col 1 Colossians Col Colossians Col 3 Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are a derivative of an electronic edition prepared from text scanned by Woodside Bible Fellowship. This expanded edition of the Jameison-Faussett-Brown Commentary is in the public domain and may be freely used and distributed. Bibliographical Information Jamieson, Robert, D.D.; Fausset, A. R.; Brown, David. "Commentary on Colossians 2". "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/ commentaries/ eng/ jfb/ colossians-2.html. 1871-8. terms of use • privacy policy • • rights and permissions • contact sl • about sl • link to sl To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient contact form StudyLight.org © 2001-2026 Powered by Light speed Technology Ads Free Profile .sub-menu{font-size:12px;padding:10px 0;max-width:1260px;width:100%;background-color:#f7f7f7;color:#6b6b6b;border-bottom:5px solid #6b6b6b;display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-wrap:nowrap;position:absolute;z-index:9998} .sub-menu .menu-group{width:100%;margin:0 5px 0;padding:0 5px 0;border-right:1px solid #6b6b6b} .sub-menu .menu-group-spacer{display:none} .sub-menu .menu-name{font-size:15px;font-weight:bold;color:#deac27} .sub-menu .menu-name a{color:#deac27} .sub-menu .menu-ul li a{color:#6b6b6b;} .sub-menu .menu-ul li:hover{color:#DD8000} .search-button{background-color:#6b6b6b;color:#fff;border:1px solid #6b6b6b;-webkit-appearance:square-button;padding:0 5px;font-size:13px} .int-search-div{display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-top:10px;flex-wrap:nowrap;width:100%} .int-search-div .int-s-query{border:1px solid #dadada;font-size:13px;padding:0 5px 0;margin-right:5px;width:30%;height:30px;flex:1 1 100%} .int-search-div .int-s-button{width:50px;margin-right:10px;height:30px;flex:0 0 50px} .int-selections-div{display:flex;flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:nowrap;width:100%;margin-bottom:20px} .int-selections-div .int-s-section{border:1px solid #dadada;color:#6b6b6b;font-size:13px;margin:5px 5px 0 0;width:70px;height:30px;flex:1 1 50%} .int-selections-div .int-s-translation{border:1px solid #dadada;color:#6b6b6b;font-size:13px;margin-top:5px;padding:2px;width:40%;height:30px;flex:1 1 40%} .lex-search-div{display:flex;flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:nowrap;width:100%} .lex-search-div .lex-s-query{border:1px solid #dadada;width:95%;height:30px;font-size:13px;padding:5px;margin-right:5px} .lex-search-div .lex-s-range{border:1px solid #dadada;color:#6b6b6b;height:30px;font-size:13px;margin-right:5px;width:100px} .lex-search-languages{width:95%;font-size:11px;display:flex;flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:nowrap;justify-content:flex-start;margin-top:5px} .ill-quo-div{display:flex;flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;width:100%;margin-top:10px} .ill-quo-s-query{font-size:15px;color:#6b6b6b;padding:0 10px 0;border:1px solid #dadada;height:30px;width:100px;margin-right:5px;flex:1 1 auto} .ill-quo-s-select{border:1px solid #dadada;color:#6b6b6b;padding:5px;height:30px;margin-rig

Pericope (part_of)

• part_of pericope/per-col-2-005

절 (explains)

bible-text/col-2-23

Source

• source-manifest/jfb — Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (PD)
• evidence_grade: T_theological