Should we be ever tempted to "neglect" the body", as in some way making our

acceptance more complete, let us never forget that the word so translated comes in that

magnificent passage:--

and that in that one great "neglect"--the abandonment of the Beloved to the darkness, the

shame, the desertion of the cross--all other "neglecting" of ourselves is for ever

swallowed up and lost. All such "neglecting" of our bodies insults such overwhelming

The words "not in any honour" have been variously interpreted. It would serve no

useful purpose to canvass them, but so far as we can see, the truth they convey seems to

be that rather than "neglect the body" the believer should reckon himself, body and spirit,

as belonging to the Lord. In I Cor. 12: 23, 24, the apostle uses the word timê, "honour",

of the body, and again in I Thess. 4: 4. The apostle knew what it was to go hungry, to

be left naked, to suffer the loss of all things, yet never does he make this a ground of

acceptance. He knew also what it was to abound; he knew that God had given us "all

things richly to enjoy". The apostle thankfully partook of a good meal when it was

provided, but was content to go without when it was withheld: his peace and acceptance

depended upon neither state. His spirituality did not depend upon whether he had much

or little, whether he was ill or well. A false idea, current among some believers, is that a

measure of weakness of body and attacks of the enemy are an indication of sanctity, but

this is not so. Weakness of body is often traceable to causes that are not flattering, and

we could at times, with advantage, seek the cause of such weakness, and not plume

ourselves on our spiritual importance. It is just this evil that the apostle combats in

Col. 2: "Christ is all" is true here as it is throughout the realm of grace.

"The satisfying of the flesh" contains a word that brings this section into true

structural balance with the opening section, as the structure shows. "Satisfying" is

plesmone, from the same root as pleroo, "complete", in verse 10, and pleroma of verse 9.

The word plesmone occurs in Exod. 16: 3 and 8, where it speaks of Israel's satisfaction

in Egypt: "did eat bread to the full." But what leanness it brought into their soul!

"Fullness", or "satisfaction", drawn from any source other than that indicated in

Col. 2: 9, 10 is not of God and can only lead to spiritual leanness.

The lesson of Col. 2: is of such importance to every member of the body of Christ,

that we feel sure no one will regret the space devoted to the following paraphrase of the

passage.  This is not intended as a translation, but is given in the hope that by

incorporating some of the more important adjustments and meaning already brought

forward in this series, readers may the better appreciate the "warning" and the "teaching"

of the apostle, whose ambition was to "present every man perfect in Christ Jesus".