Christian Standard Bible
Colossians 2:8
8Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.
Colossians 2:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
Context of Colossians 2:8
6So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, 7being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude. Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ. 9For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, 10and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
Read all of Colossians 2Colossians 2:8 word by word
Βλέπετε μή τις ὑμᾶς ἔσται ὁ συλαγωγῶν διὰ τῆς φιλοσοφίας καὶ κενῆς ἀπάτης κατὰ τὴν παράδοσιν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, κατὰ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου καὶ οὐ κατὰ Χριστόν·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- ·εἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- Bewareβλέπωblepō · to seeG991
- lestμήmē · notG3361
- any manτιςtis · oneG5100
- spoilσυλαγωγέωsulagōgeō · to captureG4812
- youσύsu · youG4771
- throughδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- philosophyφιλοσοφίαphilosophia · philosophyG5385
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- vainκενόςkenos · emptyG2756
- deceitἀπάτηapatē · deceitG539
- afterκατάkata · according toG2596
- the traditionπαράδοσιςparadosis · traditionG3862
- of menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- the rudimentsστοιχεῖονstoicheion · principleG4747
- of the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
- notοὐou · noG3756
- ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
Cross-references for Colossians 2:8
- Deuteronomy 6:12be careful not to forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.
- Matthew 7:15“Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.
- Matthew 10:17Beware of them, because they will hand you over to local courts and flog you in their synagogues.
- Matthew 16:6Then Jesus told them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
- Philippians 3:2Watch out for the dogs, watch out for the evil workers, watch out for those who mutilate the flesh.
- 2 Peter 3:17Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stable position.
- Colossians 2:18Let no one condemn you by delighting in ascetic practices and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm. Such people are inflated by empty notions of their unspiritual mind.
- Jeremiah 29:8For this is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Don’t let your prophets who are among you and your diviners deceive you, and don’t listen to the dreams you elicit from them,
- Romans 16:17Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned. Avoid them,
- Ephesians 5:6Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things.
- Hebrews 13:9Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by food regulations, since those who observe them have not benefited.
- 2 John 1:8Watch yourselves so that you don’t lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward.
- Acts 17:18Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also debated with him. Some said, “What is this ignorant show-off trying to say?” Others replied, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign deities” — because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
- Romans 1:21For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened.
- 1 Corinthians 1:19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the intelligence of the intelligent.
- 1 Corinthians 3:18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become a fool so that he can become wise.
Commentaries on Colossians 2:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Beware lest any man spoil you - The word , from , prey, and , to lead or carry away, signifies to rob, or spoil of their goods, as if by violence or rapine. Their goods were the salvation they had received from Christ; and both the Gentile and Jewish teachers endeavored to deprive them of these, by perverting their minds, and leading them off from the truths of Christianity. Philosophy and vain deceit - Or, the vain or empty deceit of philosophy; such…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Beware lest any man spoil you - The word “spoil” now commonly means, to corrupt, to cause to decay and perish, as fruit is spoiled by keeping too long, or paper by wetting, or hay by a long rain, or crops by mildew. But the Greek word used here means to spoil in the sense of plunder, rob, as when plunder is taken in war. The meaning is, “Take heed lest anyone plunder or rob you of your faith and hope by philosophy.” These false teachers would strip them…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-17Verses 8-17 There is a philosophy which rightly exercises our reasonable faculties; a study of the works of God, which leads us to the knowledge of God, and confirms our faith in him. But there is a philosophy which is vain and deceitful; and while it pleases men's fancies, hinders their faith: such are curious speculations about things above us, or no concern to us. Those who walk in the way of the world, are turned from following Christ. We have in Him…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8philosophy: The Greek word philosophia included everything from Plato's ideas about existence to religious teachings of false religions. Paul does not criticize philosophy itself, but only empty philosophical ideas that oppose the good news. the spiritual forces of the world (also in 2:20): This phrase might refer to basic teachings common in this world (see Hebrews 5:12), or to spiritual beings believed to have powerful influence over historical events…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. Translate, "Beware (literally, 'Look' well) lest there shall be (as I fear there is: the Greek indicative expresses this) any man (pointing to some known emissary of evil, Ga 1:7) leading you away as his spoil (not merely gaining spoil out of you, but making yourselves his spoil) through (by means of) his philosophy," &c. The apostle does not condemn all philosophy, but "the philosophy" (so Greek) of the Judaic-oriental heretics at Colosse, which…Read the comment
Topics related to Colossians 2:8
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Colossians 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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