Translations
F.O.G.MPrimary
F.O.G MessageThese things carry the appearance of wisdom—with their self-made religion, false humility, and the severe treatment of the body—yet they offer no real power to restrain fleshly indulgence.
F.O.GSecondary
The F.O.GThese things have a reputation for wisdom—in self-chosen worship, false humility, and the harsh treatment of the body—but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh.
KJV
King James VersionWhich things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
BSB
Berean Standard BibleSuch restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Footnotes
ἐθελοθρησκίᾳ (ethelothrēskia) is a hapax legomenon—found nowhere else in extant Greek literature—apparently coined by Paul to describe worship that is self-willed rather than God-commanded: religion by personal choice rather than divine calling. The closing clause is among the most grammatically contested in the New Testament; the best reading is Paul's devastating punchline: all this impressive-looking asceticism achieves precisely nothing against the fleshly impulses it claims to subdue. FOG renders "no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh"; FOG Message renders "no real power to restrain fleshly indulgence."
