Colossians 2:21-23 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Colossians 2:16-23

The apostle concludes the chapter with exhortations to proper duty, which he infers from the foregoing discourse. I. Here is a caution to take heed of judaizing teachers, or those who would impose upon Christians the yoke of the ceremonial law: Let no man therefore judge you in meat nor drink, etc., Col. 2:16. Much of the ceremonies of the law of Moses consisted in the distinction of meats and days. It appears by Rom. 14:1-23 that there were those who were for keeping up those distinctions:... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Colossians 2:8-23

2:8-23 Beware lest there will be anyone who will carry you off as his spoil, by insisting on the necessity of a so-called philosophy, which is, in fact, an empty delusion, a philosophy which has been handed down by human tradition, and which is concerned with the elements of this world, and not with Christ; for in him there dwells the fullness of the divine nature; and you have found this fullness in him who is the head of every power and authority. In him you have been circumcised with a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 2:21

Touch not, taste not, handle not. This the apostle says, not of himself, but in the person of the Jewish doctors; who urging the use of the ceremonial law, to which they added decrees and constitutions of their own, said, "touch not" the dead body of any man, the bone of a man, or a grave, any man or woman in their uncleanness; not only their flesh, but the bed they lay on, or the seat they sat on; or any creature that was by the law unclean; of a Gentile, or any notorious sinner, or common... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 2:22

Which all are to perish with the using ,.... Meaning either the ordinances concerning touching, tasting, and handling, which bring destruction and death on them that use them, and comply with them, in order to obtain righteousness and life; for instead of enjoying salvation through them, they were the cause of damnation to them. Or rather the meats not to be touched, tasted, or handled; these are in their own nature perishing things, and perish by being used; they are only of service to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 2:23

Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom ,.... The authors of them set up for men of wisdom, and were esteemed such, and are often styled חכמים , "wise men"; and their scholars that received their traditions, and explained and enforced them on others, תלמידי החכמים , "the disciples of the wise men": and they pretended, that these constitutions of theirs were "a hedge for the law", and for the honour of it, and to preserve it, and keep men from transgressing it; and this carried in it... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 2:21

Touch not; taste not; handle not - These are forms of expression very frequent among the Jews. In Maccoth, fol. xxi. 1: "If they say to a Nazarite, Don't drink, don't drink; and he, notwithstanding, drinks; he is guilty. If they say, Don't shave, don't shave; and he shaves, notwithstanding; he is guilty. If they say, Don't put on these clothes, don't put on these clothes; and he, notwithstanding, puts on heterogeneous garments; he is guilty." See more in Schoettgen. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 2:22

Which all are to perish with the using - These are not matters of eternal moment; the different kinds of meats were made for the body, and go with it into corruption: in like manner, all the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish religion now perish, having accomplished the end of their institution; namely, to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. After the commandments and doctrines of men? - These words should follow the 20th verse, of which they form a part; and it... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 2:23

Which things have indeed a show of wisdom - All these prescriptions and rites have indeed the appearance of wisdom, and are recommended by plausible reasons; but they form a worship which God has not commanded, and enjoin macerations of the body, accompanied with a humiliation of spirit, that are neither profitable to the soul, nor of any advantage to the body; so that the whole of their religion is nothing worth. What is here termed will-worship, εθελοθρησκεια , signifies simply a mode... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 2:21

Verse 21 21.Eat not, taste not. Hitherto this has been rendered — Handle not, but as another word immediately follows, which signifies the same thing, every one sees how cold and absurd were such a repetition. Farther, the verb ἅπτεσθαι is employed by the Greeks, among its other significations, in the sense of eating, (417) in accordance with the rendering that I have given. Plutarch makes use of it in the life of Caesar, when he relates that his soldiers, in destitution of all things, ate... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 2:22

Verse 22 22.All which things tend to corruption. He sets aside, by a twofold argument, the enactments of which he has made mention — because they make religion consist in things outward and frail, which have no connection with the spiritual kingdom of God; and secondly, because they are from men, not from God. He combats the first argument, also, in Romans 14:17, when he says, The kingdom of God is not in meat and drink; likewise in 1 Corinthians 6:13, Meat for the belly, and the belly for... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Colossians 2:16-23

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Colossians 2:8-23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 2:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 2:22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 2:23

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 2:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 2:22

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 2:23

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 2:21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 2:22

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