Hollow and Deceptive Philosophies

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

Colossians 2:8

The apostle sees the Colossian Christians as facing a great danger of being taken captive by false teaching. Actually the word is kidnapped. We might say they were in danger of being taken hostage! Paul sees a like danger facing Christians who are taken captive by wrong philosophy, wrong teaching, false doctrine. Such can deprive believers of their Christian liberty and hold them hostage for years.

The weapon that is used to do this is philosophy. That sounds rather harmless. After all, philosophy means simply the love of wisdom. What could be wrong with loving wisdom? We are all much indebted to philosophers of the past: Plato, Aristotle, Socrates and others, for their keen insights into the nature of life. The love of wisdom is a good thing in many cases. There are good and bad philosophies, but what the apostle has in mind is the danger of being seduced by bad philosophy.

Paul points out the three things that are always characteristic of wrong philosophy. First, these empty, deceptive philosophies depend on human tradition. They arise out of the thinking of men, find a foothold in society, and then are passed along from generation to generation so as to appear popular and widely supported.

The second thing that is wrong with this deceptive philosophy is that it depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world. The word for elemental literally means things in a row, a series of things. The word became associated with the alphabet because letters in an alphabet are always lined up in a row. Thus, some scholars feel that this word represents something rudimentary, simple and elementary. Other scholars point out that this word is also used with reference to an army of soldiers lined up in ranks, as in a hierarchy. Thus, this could be a reference to the fallen angels. My view is that both viewpoints are true. These philosophies fit the description of what Paul calls in 2 Timothy doctrines of demons. They are elementary, rudimentary truths, perpetuated by demonic powers among human beings, which have the effect of returning people to childish actions and childish views of life.

But there is yet a third problem with false doctrine. It is not focused on Christ. Evil teaching always demotes Jesus. Every cult attacks the person and the work of Jesus. They claim that he was nothing but a good man, although he lacked the insights into life and reality that are ours through modern knowledge. Or, going to the opposite extreme, they regard Jesus as a supernatural being, one among several Divine Masters who come periodically into human affairs to teach us wonderful truths that we would never know otherwise, and which, if followed, will release within us great divine powers. But these cults never view Jesus as God, willing to die in our place.

Any form of religious error will have these three manifestations: they are supported by human tradition; they establish themselves as the only respectable doctrine to believe; and yet they come from the minds of satanic beings who cleverly, but invisibly, reduce people to childish behavior and attitudes, all to the end of setting aside the glory and true character of Jesus Christ.

Lord, protect me from hollow and deceptive philosophies of this world. Amen.