Devine Scripture

Colossians 2:18

What does Colossians 2:18 mean?

A plain-English look at Colossians 2:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Colossians 2:18 means

Paul warns against teachers who, under a façade of humility, promote the worship of angels and parade their visionary experiences. Such practices may look spiritual, but they spring from a fleshly, prideful mind. False humility bows to angels instead of God’s Son, pretending lowliness while actually refusing Christ’s exclusive place. Boasting in visions shifts authority from Christ’s word to subjective claims. This leads to disqualification, as though these teachers sit as umpires over others’ faith. True spirituality is not fascination with intermediaries but direct dependence on Christ. When hearts chase such novelties, they drift from the living Head who alone gives life to His body.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

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,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

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

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Let no man seduce you, willing in humility and religion of angels, walking in the things which he hath not seen, in vain puffed up by the sense of his flesh:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

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,

Context

Building on the shadow-substance contrast of verse 17, Paul now targets mystical deviations that seem pious but pull believers from Christ. Verse 19 will expose the root problem: not holding fast to the Head. By tracing the error to a broken connection with Christ, Paul prepares to restate where true growth comes from and why human regulations cannot produce it.

v.17which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.

v.18This passage

v.19and not holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increaseth with the increase of God.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:18

    Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:3

    for ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are ye not carnal, and do ye not walk after the manner of men?

  • Romans 1:25

    for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

  • 1 Corinthians 13:4

    Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

  • 1 John 2:26

    These things have I written unto you concerning them that would lead you astray.

  • Philippians 3:14

    I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

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