Beware Colossians 2:8

Paul the apostle was concerned with the heresies and false-teachings that were infiltrating the church located in Colosse. He desired that the church members be “rooted, built up, and established” in their faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ so no one could influence them toward false doctrine. In chapter two and verse eight of his letter to the Colossians, Paul warns the church members by telling them to “beware”. We read:

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men,

after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

The verse begins, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit,” Paul began with the word, “Beware” which means “discern mentally, observe, perceive, discover, understand, turn the thoughts or direct the mind to a thing, consider, contemplate, look at, weigh carefully and examine” “lest any man spoil you” or “carry one off as a captive (and slave), to lead away from the truth and subject to one's sway”. Paul knew there was the possibility they could be persuaded away from the truth “through philosophy” which is “love for wisdom” “and vain deceit” or “empty handed trickery, lies and deception”. Paul knew the “Gnostics” were those who loved this kind of activity and had the reputation for being “in the know”, and his warning was directed toward their deceptive doctrines.

The verse goes on to say, “ after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world,” In addition to being influenced and deceived by “philosophy and vain deceit”, Paul addresses the source of these false ways, “after the tradition of men” or “a giving over which is done by word of mouth or in writing” which influences present conditions. Paul knew there were some erroneous “traditions” passed down from age to age simply because of their importance to those who passed them. He added, “after the rudiments” which are “any first thing, from which the others belonging to some series or composite whole take their rise, an element, first principal” “of the world” to his description. These “first things” were not only invented by the ones who promote them, but were also kept in place by those who believed them from year to year.

Finally the verse says, “and not after Christ.” Paul's declaration was that these false ways were “not after Christ” which means not “down from, through out, according to, toward, or along” with Christ. These ideas did not initiate with Jesus, nor were they continued by Him. These were merely teachings, traditions, philosophies, and ways of men, and these were false.

As we consider these words of Paul, perhaps a story will help us to relate to them. There was once a little girl who watched her mother cut the end off a ham before she put it in the oven to cook it. The little girl asked, “Mommy, why did you cut the end off the ham before you put it in the oven?” The mother answered, “Well, I don't really know. I just always saw my mother cut the end off, so I did too. Let's call grandma and ask her why she cut the end off the ham.” The little girl agreed, and they called grandmother together. When they reached her they asked, “Grandma, why did you cut the end off the ham before you put it in the oven?” The grandmother answered, “Well, I don't know, I just always saw my mom do it, so I did it. Why don't we call her and ask?” The ladies all agreed, and they called the elder grandmother. When they got her on the phone they all asked, “Grandma, why did you cut the end off the ham before you put it in the oven?” The grandmother answered, “Oh, that's easy, the pan I was using just wasn't big enough to cook the whole ham, so I would cut the end off to make it fit”. This was the way it was in Paul's day as well. Traditions of men and rudiments of the world were penetrating the church in Colosse, and many of the doctrines of these people who were supposedly “in the know” were deceiving the people. As we ponder this idea, perhaps it will help us to examine our own beliefs compared to those which are presented in the Bible. The Bible keeps us from error, and when we know the Word of God, no tradition, philosophy, rudiment or false teaching will ever deceive us. May the Lord continue to bring us into the knowledge of His word.

Next time Paul tells the Colossians where all the fullness dwells, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.