Colossians 2:23

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

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.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἅτινά ἐστιν λόγον μὲν ἔχοντα σοφίας ἐν ἐθελοθρησκείᾳ, καὶ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ, καὶ ἀφειδίᾳ σώματος· οὐκ ἐν τιμῇ τινι πρὸς πλησμονὴν τῆς σαρκός.

Transliteration

Which things estin logon indeed echonta of sophias in ethelothrēskeia, and tapeinophrosynē, and apheidia of sōmatos; not in timē any pros plēsmonēn of the sarkos.

Grammar Details

• *estin*: present active indicative, 3rd person singular - is
• *logon*: accusative, masculine, singular - word/appearance
• *echonta*: present active participle, nominative, neuter, plural - having
• *sophias*: genitive, feminine, singular - wisdom
• *ethelothrēskeia*: dative, feminine, singular - self-imposed worship
• *tapeinophrosynē*: dative, feminine, singular - humility
• *apheidia*: dative, feminine, singular - severity/harsh treatment
• *sōmatos*: genitive, neuter, singular - body
• *timē*: dative, feminine, singular - honor/value
• *pros*: preposition - for/toward
• *plēsmonēn*: accusative, feminine, singular - satisfaction/indulgence
• *sarkos*: genitive, feminine, singular - flesh

Word Meanings

• *logon*: word/appearance/reputation
• *echonta*: having/possessing
• *sophias*: wisdom/skill/insight
• *ethelothrēskeia*: self-imposed worship/will-worship/voluntary religion
• *tapeinophrosynē*: humility/lowliness of mind
• *apheidia*: severity/harsh treatment/not sparing
• *sōmatos*: body/physical form
• *timē*: honor/value/respect
• *plēsmonēn*: satisfaction/indulgence/gratification
• *sarkos*: flesh/body/physical appetites

Referenced Verses

• Col 2:18 : 18 Let no man rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
• 1 Tim 4:8 : 8 for bodily exercise is profitable for a little; but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come.
• 1 Tim 4:3 : 3 forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth.
• Col 2:22 : 22 (all which things are to perish with the using), after the precepts and doctrines of men?
• Gen 3:5-6 : 5 for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat.
• Matt 23:27-28 : 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
• 2 Cor 11:13-15 : 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. 15 It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works.
• Eph 5:29 : 29 for no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church;
• Col 2:8 : 8 Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ: