What is the meaning of “false humility” in Colossians 2:23?

Response

In Colossians 2:23, Paul concludes his criticism of human-made commands, restrictions, and teachings by stating, “Such regulations indeed have the appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, false humility, and harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.” The path to spiritual development lies in relying on the Spirit rather than engaging in ascetic practices and legalistic restrictions. Paul emphasizes that human regulations come with false humility, a point he also addresses in verse 18.

False humility typically accompanies a hypocritical and insincere display of virtue done for the approval of others. It gives the impression of humility outwardly, but conceals a heart filled with pride. This stands in contrast to genuine humility, which involves depending on God and adopting a servant-focused attitude towards others. False humility is self-centered, serving personal interests, while true humility is directed towards glorifying God and benefiting others. Christians are urged to reject hypocrisy and embody true humility (Philippians 2:3-4;Colossians 3:12;1 Peter 5:5-6).

In the context of Colossians 2, false humility is linked to the adherence to human-made traditions that involve restrictions on food and drink, as well as the observance of “a religious festival, a New Moon celebration, or a Sabbath day” «Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: », (Colossians 2:16). Various regulations were being promoted: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!” (verse 21). However, Paul asserts that such regulations “are concerned with things that are all destined to perish with use, [and] are based on merely human commands and teachings.”

“Ings” (verse 22). Believers in Christ have been set free from such regulations.

Ascetic practices and restrictions may seem humble and modest; however, it is prideful to assume that we can be right with God through our efforts. It is also impossible to sanctify ourselves by our efforts alone, even after our justification “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”, (Galatians 3:3). Many Christians in the first century likely struggled with the sufficiency of Christ for salvation, and false teachers added to the uncertainty with dangerous claims. The gospel alone wasn’t sufficient for these false teachers, like the Judaizers in Acts 15:1, who insisted on adding deeds like circumcision to the gospel.

While modern Christians may be tempted to follow different rules than those the first-century Christians struggled with, we still tend to create man-made ideas that foster false humility. It’s still tempting to follow a human code of conduct with the aim of appearing externally righteous. Some common rules today prohibit watching movies, dancing, using drums, or eating meat. Personal convictions in these areas are valid, but to transform personal convictions into requirements for salvation or spiritual growth is legalistic and opposed to grace. Genuine, well-meaning Christians can easily fall into the trap of legalism, and we must always beware of false humility.

The path to true spiritual growth involves walking in the Spirit “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”, (Galatians 5:16) and focusing on what the Spirit desires (Romans 8:5-6). What the Spirit desires is what the Father and Son also desire, which we can know from the written Word. Practical steps

Toward spiritual advancement involves nourishing ourselves with Scripture, interpreting it accurately, and putting it into practice. It is essential to have biblically sound preachers and a vibrant local church to support this journey. Additionally, we must engage in communion with God through prayer, acknowledge our reliance on the Spirit, and remain in Christ. As we submit to the Spirit and prioritize God’s kingdom and righteousness, we experience gradual sanctification by His Spirit. The transformation is initiated by Him; our role is to align our will with His.