Colossians 2:23

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

Even though they have the appearance of wisdom with their self-imposed worship and humility achieved by an unsparing treatment of the body– a wisdom with no true value– they in reality result in fleshly indulgence.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Col 2:18 : 18 Let no one who delights in false humility and the worship of angels pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths about what he has supposedly seen, but he is puffed up with empty notions by his fleshly mind.
  • 1 Tim 4:8 : 8 For“physical exercise has some value, but godliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.”
  • 1 Tim 4:3 : 3 They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
  • Col 2:22 : 22 These are all destined to perish with use, founded as they are on human commands and teachings.
  • Gen 3:5-6 : 5 for God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will open and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree produced fruit that was good for food, was attractive to the eye, and was desirable for making one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate it. She also gave some of it to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.
  • Matt 23:27-28 : 27 “Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of the bones of the dead and of everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you look righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
  • 2 Cor 11:13-15 : 13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will correspond to their actions.
  • Eph 5:29 : 29 For no one has ever hated his own body, but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church,
  • Col 2:8 : 8 Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Col 2:16-22
    7 verses
    81%

    16Therefore do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days–

    17these are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is Christ!

    18Let no one who delights in false humility and the worship of angels pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths about what he has supposedly seen, but he is puffed up with empty notions by his fleshly mind.

    19He has not held fast to the head from whom the whole body, supported and knit together through its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.

    20If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits of the world, why do you submit to them as though you lived in the world?

    21“Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”

    22These are all destined to perish with use, founded as they are on human commands and teachings.

  • 2 Tim 3:5
    73%

    5They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these.

  • Rom 8:5
    72%

    5For those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their outlook shaped by the things of the Spirit.

  • Rom 13:14
    71%

    14Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to arouse its desires.

  • 1 Tim 4:7-8
    2 verses
    71%

    7But reject those myths fit only for the godless and gullible, and train yourself for godliness.

    8For“physical exercise has some value, but godliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.”

  • 1 Pet 4:2
    71%

    2in that he spends the rest of his time on earth concerned about the will of God and not human desires.

  • Rom 1:23-24
    2 verses
    71%

    23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.

    24Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity, to dishonor their bodies among themselves.

  • Col 2:8
    71%

    8Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

  • Phil 3:19
    71%

    19Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, they exult in their shame, and they think about earthly things.

  • 1 Cor 12:23-24
    2 verses
    71%

    23and those members we consider less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our unpresentable members are clothed with dignity,

    24but our presentable members do not need this. Instead, God has blended together the body, giving greater honor to the lesser member,

  • Eph 4:17
    70%

    17Live in Holiness So I say this, and insist in the Lord, that you no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.

  • 2 Pet 2:18
    70%

    18For by speaking high-sounding but empty words they are able to entice, with fleshly desires and with debauchery, people who have just escaped from those who reside in error.

  • Mark 7:7
    70%

    7They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.’

  • Matt 15:9
    70%

    9and they worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

  • 1 Cor 6:13
    70%

    13“Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both.” The body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

  • Gal 5:16
    70%

    16But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.

  • 1 Cor 1:29
    70%

    29so that no one can boast in his presence.

  • Heb 13:9
    70%

    9Do not be carried away by all sorts of strange teachings. For it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not ritual meals, which have never benefited those who participated in them.

  • 1 Tim 4:3
    70%

    3They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

  • Phil 3:3
    70%

    3For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, exult in Christ Jesus, and do not rely on human credentials

  • Col 3:5
    69%

    5So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry.

  • Titus 1:14
    69%

    14and not pay attention to Jewish myths and commands of people who reject the truth.

  • 2 Tim 2:16
    69%

    16But avoid profane chatter, because those occupied with it will stray further and further into ungodliness,

  • 1 Pet 3:3
    69%

    3Let your beauty not be external– the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes–

  • 1 Cor 9:27
    69%

    27Instead I subdue my body and make it my slave, so that after preaching to others I myself will not be disqualified.

  • Gal 6:12-13
    2 verses
    69%

    12Those who want to make a good showing in external matters are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do so only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

    13For those who are circumcised do not obey the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised so that they can boast about your flesh.

  • Eph 4:19
    69%

    19Because they are callous, they have given themselves over to indecency for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

  • 1 Tim 6:4-5
    2 verses
    69%

    4he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in controversies and verbal disputes. This gives rise to envy, dissension, slanders, evil suspicions,

    5and constant bickering by people corrupted in their minds and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a way of making a profit.

  • Rom 16:18
    69%

    18For these are the kind who do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By their smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of the naive.

  • 1 John 2:16
    68%

    16because all that is in the world(the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the world.

  • Eph 1:23
    68%

    23Now the church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

  • Jude 1:19
    68%

    19These people are divisive, worldly, devoid of the Spirit.

  • Gal 5:24
    68%

    24Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

  • 2 Pet 2:10
    68%

    10especially those who indulge their fleshly desires and who despise authority. Brazen and insolent, they are not afraid to insult the glorious ones,

  • 1 Cor 8:8
    68%

    8Now food will not bring us close to God. We are no worse if we do not eat and no better if we do.

  • Rom 6:19
    68%

    19(I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.) For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

  • Heb 9:10
    68%

    10They served only for matters of food and drink and various ritual washings; they are external regulations imposed until the new order came.

  • Rom 6:12
    68%

    12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires,

  • Gal 5:19
    68%

    19Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity,