ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Passage

Colossians 2.20

Book: Colossians · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

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ASV (ASV)

"18. Let no man rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19. and not holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increasing with the increase of God."

"20. If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances,"

"21. Handle not, nor taste, nor touch 22. (all which things are to perish with the using), after the precepts and doctrines of men?" (Colossians 2:18-22, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"18. Let no one rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshiping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19. and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God’s growth."

"20. If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,"

"21. “Don’t handle, nor taste, nor touch” 22. (all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men?" (Colossians 2:18-22, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"18. 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, beguile: or, judge against you in a: Gr. being a voluntary in humility 19. And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God."

"20. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, rudiments: or, elements"

"21. (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22. Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?" (Colossians 2:18-22, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"18. 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, 19. and not holding the head, from which all the body, through the joints and bands gathering supply, and being knit together, may increase with the increase of God."

"20. If, then, ye did die with the Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances?"

"21., thou mayest not touch, nor taste, nor handle, 22. which are all for destruction with the using, after the commands and teachings of men," (Colossians 2:18-22, YLT)

Setting

  • Speaker: Paul the Apostle (imprisonment) + Timothy
  • Audience: Christian believers in Colossae (Asia Minor)
  • Location: composed during Roman imprisonment
  • Time period: composed c. AD 60-62

Theological reading

Key words

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

  • ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
  • WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
  • KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
  • YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.