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Verse Takeaways
1
The Appearance of Wisdom
Commentators stress that man-made religious rules—like strict diets, self-punishment, or invented worship—can look wise and humble but are merely a 'show.' Paul warns that these practices are human inventions, not God's commands. True wisdom is found in Christ, not in external regulations that have no real spiritual value.
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Book Overview
Colossians
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Commentaries
10
Albert Barnes
On Colossians 2:23
18th Century
Theologian
Which things. Which scrupulous observance of the numerous precepts commanding rites and ceremonies, the observance of days, and the distin…
AT Robertson
On Colossians 2:23
Which things (ατινα). "Which very things," these ascetic regulations.
Have indeed a show of wisdom (εστιν …
Charles Ellicott
On Colossians 2:23
19th Century
Bishop
Will worship, and humility . . . — It seems difficult to connect these words with the merely ceremonial observan…
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Charles Spurgeon
On Colossians 2:23
19th Century
Preacher
To the satisfying of the flesh.
That is all such things would do – make you seem better than other people; so do not be led into th…
Expositor's Bible Commentary
On Colossians 2:23
Ascetic rules masquerade as wisdom. On the surface, they seem to be reasonable and wise. But this is only an appearance of wisdom. In reality these…
John Calvin
On Colossians 2:23
16th Century
Theologian
Which have indeed a show. Here we have the anticipation of an objection, in which, while he concedes to his adversaries what they allege, …
John Gill
On Colossians 2:23
17th Century
Pastor
Which things have indeed a show of wisdom
The authors of them set up for men of wisdom, and were esteemed such, and …
Matthew Henry
On Colossians 2:18–23
17th Century
Minister
It looked like humility to appeal to angels, as if people were conscious of their unworthiness to speak directly to God. But it is not justifiable;…