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OET OET-RV OET-LV ULT UST BSB BLB AICNT OEB WEBBE WMBB NET LSV FBV TCNT T4T LEB BBE Moff JPS Wymth ASV DRA YLT Drby RV Wbstr KJB-1769 KJB-1611 Bshps Gnva Cvdl TNT Wyc SR-GNT UHB BrLXX BrTr Related Topics Parallel Interlinear Reference Dictionary Search
parallelVerse INT GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOS JDG RUTH 1SA 2SA PSA AMOS HOS 1KI 2KI 1CH 2CH PRO ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL JOB YHN MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC GAL 1TH 2TH 1COR 2COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1TIM TIT 1PET 2PET 2TIM HEB YUD 1YHN 2YHN 3YHN REV
Col 2 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22
Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.
Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance=normal (All still tentative.)
OET (OET-RV) They seem to be wise and make you more religious or humble as you strictly obey them, but don’t honour the realities of our worldly desires.
OET-LV Which things is an_account indeed having of_wisdom in personal_religion and humility, and severity of_the_body, not in any honour against the_indulgence of_the flesh.
SR-GNT Ἅτινά ἐστιν λόγον μὲν ἔχοντα σοφίας ἐν ἐθελοθρησκίᾳ καὶ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ, καὶ ἀφειδίᾳ σώματος, οὐκ ἐν τιμῇ τινι πρὸς πλησμονὴν τῆς σαρκός. ‡
(Hatina estin logon men eⱪonta sofias en ethelothraʸskia kai tapeinofrosunaʸ, kai afeidia sōmatos, ouk en timaʸ tini pros plaʸsmonaʸn taʸs sarkos.)
Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).
ULT which, having indeed a word of wisdom in self-made religion and false humility and severity of the body, are not of any value against indulgence of the flesh.
UST Following these rules may seem to be a wise thing to do for people who worship God the way they want to, who pretend to be humble, and who treat their bodies badly as part of their religion. However, following these rules will not help you stop sinning.
BSB Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
BLB which having indeed an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed worship and humility and harsh treatment of the body, are not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.
AICNT which indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and humility and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
OEB Such prohibitions appear reasonable where there is a desire for self-imposed service, and so-called “humility,” and harsh treatment of the body, but are of no real value against the indulgence of our earthly nature.
WEBBE These things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, humility, and severity to the body, but aren’t of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.
WMBB (Same as above)
NET Even though they have the appearance of wisdom with their self-imposed worship and false humility achieved by an unsparing treatment of the body – a wisdom with no true value – they in reality result in fleshly indulgence.
LSV which are, indeed, having a matter of wisdom in self-willed religion, and humble-mindedness, and neglecting of body—not of any value to satisfying the flesh.
FBV Such rules may make some kind of sense to those who practice self-centered piety, who are so proud of being humble, and who “mortify the body;” but in reality they don't help at all in dealing with sinful desires.
TCNT Although these regulations have a semblance of wisdom in self-imposed piety, false humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are of no value in restraining fleshly indulgence.
T4T Do not obey such regulations/rules; they only cause people to do what their self-directed nature wants to do. Those regulations seem to be wise because they urge people to worship as mere human teachers have decided. They urge that people should humiliate themselves, and that people should treat their bodies harshly. But those regulations/rules do not help people at all to not do the sinful things that their self-directed nature wants to do.
LEB which things although they have[fn],[fn] to be sure, an appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and humility and unsparing treatment of the body, do not have any value[fn] against the indulgence of the flesh.
2:23 Literally “having”
2:23 *Here the participle (“having”) is understood as concessive
2:23 Literally “are not with any value”
BBE These things seem to have a sort of wisdom in self-ordered worship and making little of oneself, and being cruel to the body, not honouring it by giving it its natural use.
Moff No Moff COL book available
Wymth These rules have indeed an appearance of wisdom where self-imposed worship exists, and an affectation of humility and an ascetic severity. But not one of them is of any value in combating the indulgence of our lower natures.
¶
ASV 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.
DRA Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in superstition and humility, and not sparing the body; not in any honour to the filling of the flesh.
YLT which are, indeed, having a matter of wisdom in will-worship, and humble-mindedness, and neglecting of body — not in any honour, unto a satisfying of the flesh.
Drby (which have indeed an appearance of wisdom in voluntary worship, and humility, and harsh treatment of the body, not in a certain honour,) to [the] satisfaction of the flesh.
RV 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.
Wbstr Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.
KJB-1769 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.
(Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. )
KJB-1611 Which things haue in deed a shew of wisedome in will-worship and humilitie, and [fn]neglecting of the body, not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
(Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship and humilitie, and neglecting of the body, not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.)
2:23 Or, punishing, or not sparing.
Bshps Which thynges haue a shewe of wisdome, in superstition & humblenesse of mynde, and in hurtyng of the body, not in any honour to the satisfiyng of ye flesh.
(Which things have a show of wisdom, in superstition and humblenesse of mind, and in hurtyng of the body, not in any honour to the satisfiyng of ye/you_all flesh.)
Gnva Which thinges haue in deede a shewe of wisdome, in voluntarie religion and humblenesse of minde, and in not sparing the body, which are thinges of no valewe, sith they perteine to the filling of the flesh.
(Which things have indeed a show of wisdom, in voluntarie religion and humblenesse of minde, and in not sparing the body, which are things of no valewe, sith they perteine to the filling of the flesh. )
Cvdl which thinges haue a shyne of wyssdome thorow chosen spiritualtie and humblenes, and in that they spare not the body, and do the flesh no worshipe vnto his nede.
(which things have a shyne of wisdom through chosen spiritualtie and humblenes, and in that they spare not the body, and do the flesh no worship unto his nede.)
TNT which thinges have the similitude of wisdome in chosen holynes and humblenes and in that they spare not the body and do the flesshe no worshype vnto his nede.
(which things have the similitude of wisdom in chosen holiness and humblenes and in that they spare not the body and do the flesh no worshype unto his nede. )
Wyc whiche han a resoun of wisdom in veyn religioun and mekenesse, and not to spare the bodi, not in ony onour to the fulfillyng of the fleisch.
(whiche have a resoun of wisdom in veyn religion and meekness, and not to spare the body, not in any honour to the fulfillyng of the flesh.)
Luth welche haben einen Schein der Weisheit durch selbsterwählte Geistlichkeit und Demut und dadurch, daß sie des Leibes nicht verschonen und dem Fleisch nicht seine Ehre tun zu seiner Notdurft.
(which have a Schein the/of_the Weisheit through selbsterwählte spiritlichkeit and Demut and dadurch, that they/she/them the Leibes not verschonen and to_him flesh not his Ehre do/put to his Notdurft.)
ClVg quæ sunt rationem quidem habentia sapientiæ in superstitione, et humilitate, et non ad parcendum corpori, non in honore aliquo ad saturitatem carnis.[fn]
(which are rationem indeed habentia sapientiæ in superstitione, and humilitate, and not/no to parcendum corpori, not/no in honore aliquo to saturitatem carnis. )
2.23 In humilitate, etc. Non intelligitur hic illa humilitas quæ est virtus, sed sicut ex Græco intelligitur, ea qua mens sentit humilia, id est utilia et terrena, id est dejectione animæ, et sunt: Non ad parcendum corpori. Quia in illis observantiis multus labor est, qui est inanis, et non sunt: In honore Dei, cujus consilium, irritum dicitur, nec sanctorum, quorum fides destruitur et non sunt: Ad saturitatem carnis, quia multa subtrahunt. In superstitione, etc. Simulata est religio ut videantur vera quæ falsa sunt, quæ mentes in terra humiliat, ne erigantur ad superna; et obest corpori, cujus caput Christus: non in honore quia truncati capite Christo explentes sensum carnis. Sagina enim carnalis est sensus traditio humana, quia hoc dicit sufficere quod carnis tradit prudentia.
2.23 In humilitate, etc. Non intelligitur this that humilitas which it_is virtus, but like from Græco intelligitur, ea which mens sentit humilia, id it_is utilia and terrena, id it_is deyectione animæ, and are: Non to parcendum corpori. Because in illis observantiis multus labor it_is, who it_is inanis, and not/no are: In honore of_God, cuyus consilium, irritum it_is_said, but_not sanctorum, quorum fides destruitur and not/no are: Ad saturitatem carnis, because multa subtrahunt. In superstitione, etc. Simulata it_is religio as videantur vera which falsa are, which mentes in earth/land humiliat, not erigantur to superna; and obest corpori, cuyus caput Christus: not/no in honore because truncati capite Christo explentes sensum carnis. Sagina because carnalis it_is sensus traditio humana, because this dicit sufficere that carnis tradit prudentia.
UGNT ἅτινά ἐστιν λόγον μὲν ἔχοντα σοφίας ἐν ἐθελοθρησκείᾳ καὶ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ, ἀφειδίᾳ σώματος, οὐκ ἐν τιμῇ τινι πρὸς πλησμονὴν τῆς σαρκός.
(hatina estin logon men eⱪonta sofias en ethelothraʸskeia kai tapeinofrosunaʸ, afeidia sōmatos, ouk en timaʸ tini pros plaʸsmonaʸn taʸs sarkos.)
SBL-GNT ἅτινά ἐστιν λόγον μὲν ἔχοντα σοφίας ἐν ἐθελοθρησκίᾳ καὶ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ καὶ ἀφειδίᾳ σώματος, οὐκ ἐν τιμῇ τινι πρὸς πλησμονὴν τῆς σαρκός.
(hatina estin logon men eⱪonta sofias en ethelothraʸskia kai tapeinofrosunaʸ kai afeidia sōmatos, ouk en timaʸ tini pros plaʸsmonaʸn taʸs sarkos.)
TC-GNT Ἅτινά ἐστι λόγον μὲν ἔχοντα σοφίας ἐν [fn]ἐθελοθρησκείᾳ καὶ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ καὶ ἀφειδίᾳ σώματος, οὐκ ἐν τιμῇ τινὶ πρὸς πλησμονὴν τῆς σαρκός.
(Hatina esti logon men eⱪonta sofias en ethelothraʸskeia kai tapeinofrosunaʸ kai afeidia sōmatos, ouk en timaʸ tini pros plaʸsmonaʸn taʸs sarkos. )
2:23 εθελοθρησκεια ¦ εθελοθρησκια ANT NA SBL WH
Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).
2:23 they provide no help: Not only are such rules rooted in the world rather than in Christ (2:19), they are also ineffective in conquering a person’s evil desires.
Legalism
The law was of critical importance for the Jewish people, and their understanding of religion was largely centered on the observance of rules and rituals. This was natural to them because God had given his law to the Jewish people as a mark of his favor upon them and as a way for them to ratify the covenant agreement he had made with them. However, many Jews added to the laws that God had given his people, trying to develop rules for virtually every situation in which they might find themselves. Their motivation was often a positive desire not to transgress any of God’s laws. As Jesus often pointed out, however, the rules developed by religious leaders sometimes became obstacles to obeying God’s instructions (Mark 7:1-15). Furthermore, many Jews thought that following the law would automatically endear them to God.
Paul frequently confronted this kind of problematic legalism in the early churches. For example, in Colosse, false teachers, influenced by Jewish beliefs, were insisting that Christians follow certain rules as a way of expressing their faith (Colossians 2:16-23). Paul criticized this in light of faith in Christ. As the culmination of all God’s plans and purposes, Christ is the center of all true piety.
This does not mean that rules for conduct are inherently bad. Some rules, such as the prohibition on lying (Col 3:9), clearly manifest an aspect of Christ’s character. Paul also had no problem with individual Christians imposing rules on themselves that they think are conducive to their own growth in Christ (cp. Rom 14:5; 1 Cor 8). But they must not require others to obey these self-imposed rules.
Passages for Further Study
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom
λόγον μὲν ἔχοντα σοφίας
/an/_account indeed having ˱of˲_wisdom
Commands that have a word of wisdom are commands that come from wise thinking or require wise behavior. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate this idiom with a comparable expression, or express it plainly. Alternate translation: “being indeed characterized by wisdom”
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy
λόγον
/an/_account
Here, a word represents a message that is made up of words. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: “a message” or “a lesson”
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / hypo
ἅτινά & λόγον μὲν ἔχοντα σοφίας ἐν ἐθελοθρησκείᾳ καὶ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ, ἀφειδίᾳ σώματος
which_‹things› & /an/_account indeed having ˱of˲_wisdom in (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἅτινά ἐστιν λόγον μὲν ἔχοντα σοφίας ἐν ἐθελοθρησκίᾳ καὶ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ καὶ ἀφειδίᾳ σώματος οὐκ ἐν τιμῇ τινι πρὸς πλησμονὴν τῆς σαρκός)
While there is no grammatical marker for a condition here, the word in functionally introduces a condition: these commands have a word of wisdom “if” one values self-made religion and false humility and severity of the body. It is only if one values these things that the commands have wisdom. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this idea by using a conditional expression, or use the word “seem.” Alternate translation: “which, having indeed a word of wisdom if one values self-made religion and false humility and severity of the body” or “which, seeming to have a word or wisdom for those who practice self-made religion and false humility and severity of the body”
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
λόγον μὲν ἔχοντα σοφίας ἐν ἐθελοθρησκείᾳ καὶ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ, ἀφειδίᾳ σώματος,
/an/_account indeed having ˱of˲_wisdom in (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἅτινά ἐστιν λόγον μὲν ἔχοντα σοφίας ἐν ἐθελοθρησκίᾳ καὶ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ καὶ ἀφειδίᾳ σώματος οὐκ ἐν τιμῇ τινι πρὸς πλησμονὴν τῆς σαρκός)
If your language does not use abstract nouns to express the ideas behind wisdom, religion, humility, and severity, you could rephrase this part of the verse so that you could express these ideas with verbal phrases. Alternate translation: “having indeed a word that seems wise according to people who serve God in their own way, who humble themselves for gain, and who act severely to their bodies”
Note 5 topic: translate-unknown
ἐθελοθρησκείᾳ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἅτινά ἐστιν λόγον μὲν ἔχοντα σοφίας ἐν ἐθελοθρησκίᾳ καὶ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ καὶ ἀφειδίᾳ σώματος οὐκ ἐν τιμῇ τινι πρὸς πλησμονὴν τῆς σαρκός)
The phrase self-made religion could describe: (1) people who worship God however they want to. Alternate translation: “invented religion” (2) people who pretend to worship God but do not. Alternate translation: “mock worship” or “false worship”
Note 6 topic: translate-unknown
ἀφειδίᾳ σώματος
severity ˱of˲_/the/_body
The phrase severity of the body refers to treating one’s body harshly as part of one’s religious practice. This could include beating oneself, not eating enough, or other ascetic practices. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an expression that refers to religious practice or translate the idea with a verbal phrase. Alternate translation: “and wounding one’s body” or “and torturing one’s body”
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
ἐστιν & οὐκ ἐν τιμῇ τινι
is & not in honor any
If your language does not use an abstract noun to express the idea behind value, you could combine it with the verbal phrase are not to create a new phrase. Alternate translation: “do nothing” or “are ineffective”
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / possession
πλησμονὴν τῆς σαρκός
/the/_indulgence ˱of˲_the flesh
Paul uses the possessive form to speak of indulgence one gives to the flesh. If your language would not use the possessive form to express this idea, you could translate indulgence with a verb such as “indulging.” Alternate translation: “indulging the flesh.”
Note 9 topic: translate-unknown
πλησμονὴν τῆς σαρκός
/the/_indulgence ˱of˲_the flesh
If one “indulges” the flesh, this means that one has behaved in ways that match what one’s weak and sinful parts wish. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea by using a word for “sin.” Alternate translation: “sin” or “giving in to sin”
Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
πλησμονὴν τῆς σαρκός
/the/_indulgence ˱of˲_the flesh
If your language does not use an abstract noun to express the idea behind indulgence, you could use a verb, such as “indulge.” Alternate translation: “indulging the flesh”