Colossians 2:18 “Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of an…”

Colossians 2:18

Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

World English Bible

Let no one rob you of your prize by self-abasement and worshiping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

American Standard Version

Let no man rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he hath seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

Geneva Bible 1599

Let no man at his pleasure beare rule ouer you by humblenesse of minde, and worshipping of Angels, aduauncing himselfe in those thinges which hee neuer sawe, rashly puft vp with his fleshly minde,

Darby Translation

Let no one fraudulently deprive you of your prize, doing his own will in humility and worship of angels, entering into things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh,

Young's Literal Translation

let no one beguile you of your prize, delighting in humble-mindedness and [in] worship of the messengers, intruding into the things he hath not seen, being vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh,

Bible in Basic English

Let no man take your reward from you by consciously making little of himself and giving worship to angels; having his thoughts fixed on the things which he has seen, being foolishly lifted up in his natural mind,

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Cross references

“no”

Colossians 2:8 Matthew 24:24 2 Corinthians 11:3 Ephesians 5:6 2 John 1:7–11 Genesis 3:13

Colossians 2:8 · BSB

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.

Matthew 24:24 · BSB

For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

2 Corinthians 11:3 · BSB

I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.

Ephesians 5:6 · BSB

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.

2 John 1:7–11 · BSB

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.

Genesis 3:13 · BSB

Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied, “and I ate.”

“in a voluntary humility”

Colossians 2:23 Isaiah 57:9

Colossians 2:23 · 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.

Isaiah 57:9 · BSB

You went to Molech with oil and multiplied your perfumes. You have sent your envoys a great distance; you have descended even to Sheol itself.

“worshipping”

1 Timothy 4:1 Romans 1:25 Daniel 11:38 Revelation 19:10 1 Corinthians 8:5 1 Corinthians 8:6

1 Timothy 4:1 · BSB

Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,

Romans 1:25 · BSB

They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen.

Daniel 11:38 · BSB

And in their place, he will honor a god of fortresses—a god his fathers did not know—with gold, silver, precious stones, and riches.

Revelation 19:10 · BSB

So I fell at his feet to worship him. But he told me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who rely on the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophec…

1 Corinthians 8:5 · BSB

For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords),

1 Corinthians 8:6 · BSB

yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.

“intruding”

1 Timothy 1:7 Ezekiel 13:3 Deuteronomy 29:29 Job 38:2 Psalm 138:1 Psalm 138:2

1 Timothy 1:7 · BSB

They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or that which they so confidently assert.

Ezekiel 13:3 · BSB

This is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit yet have seen nothing.

Deuteronomy 29:29 · BSB

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.

Job 38:2 · BSB

“Who is this who obscures My counsel by words without knowledge?

Psalm 138:1 · BSB

I give You thanks with all my heart; before the gods I sing Your praises.

Psalm 138:2 · BSB

I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness; You have exalted Your name and Your word above all else.

“vainly”

1 Corinthians 8:1 1 Corinthians 4:18 1 Corinthians 13:4

1 Corinthians 8:1 · BSB

Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

1 Corinthians 4:18 · BSB

Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.

1 Corinthians 13:4 · BSB

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

“fleshly”

James 3:14–16 Romans 8:6–8 1 Corinthians 3:3 2 Corinthians 12:20 James 4:1–6 Galatians 5:19

James 3:14–16 · BSB

But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.

Romans 8:6–8 · BSB

The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace,

1 Corinthians 3:3 · BSB

for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and dissension among you, are you not worldly? Are you not walking in the way of man?

2 Corinthians 12:20 · BSB

For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

James 4:1–6 · BSB

What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you?

Galatians 5:19 · BSB

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery;

Also

Philippians 3:14 1 Corinthians 9:24

Philippians 3:14 · BSB

I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 9:24 · BSB

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

17These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.

19He has lost connection to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow.

Read Colossians 2