Colossians 2:23

Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in self-imposed worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any value to the indulgence of the flesh.
Read Chapter 2

George Leo Haydock

AD 1849
Which things have indeed, (as such masters teach you) a show of wisdom, in their nice superstitious ways, joined by some of them with extraordinary abstinences, and severities practised on the body in fasting, which they observe, without any honour or regard, even not to the satiating of the flesh; i.e. according to the common expression, with such an excess, as not to allow the body Ver. 18. Volens, thelon; religione, threskeia. Walking, ambulans, embateuon, superbè se ingerens. Ver. 23. Et non ad parcendum corpori, kai apheidia somatos, et in non parcentia corporis, vel in crudelitate erga corpus. Non in honore ad saturitatem, ouk en time pros plesmonen.

John Chrysostom

AD 407
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. Show, he says; not power, not truth. So that even though they have a show of wisdom, let us turn away from them. For he may seem to be a religious person, and modest, and to have a contempt for the body. Not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh. For God has given it honor, but they use it not with honor. Thus, when it is a doctrine, he knows how to call it honor. They dishonor the flesh, he says, depriving it, and stripping it of its liberty, not giving leave to rule it with its will. God has honored the flesh.

Tertullian of Carthage

AD 220
, finally, by the patience of the flesh, does battle under persecution. If flight press hard, the flesh wars with

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation - 2 Peter 1:20

App Store LogoPlay Store Logo