New American Standard Bible 1995
Colossians 2:8
81See to it that no one takes you captive through 2philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the 3elementary principles of the world, 4rather than according to 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
6Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. 9For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule 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
- Seeβλέπωblepō · to seeG991
- to it that noμήmē · notG3361
- oneτιςtis · oneG5100
- takesσυλαγωγέωsulagōgeō · to captureG4812
- throughδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- philosophyφιλοσοφίαphilosophia · philosophyG5385
- and emptyκενόςkenos · emptyG2756
- deceptionἀπάτηapatē · deceitG539
- accordingκατάkata · according toG2596
- to the traditionπαράδοσιςparadosis · traditionG3862
- of menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- elementaryστοιχεῖονstoicheion · principleG4747
- of the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
- ratherοὐou · noG3756
- thanκαίkai · andG2532
- to ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
Cross-references for Colossians 2:8
- Deuteronomy 6:12then watch yourself, that you do not forget the Lord who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
- Matthew 7:15“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
- Matthew 10:17But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues;
- Matthew 16:6And Jesus said to them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
- Philippians 3:2Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision;
- 2 Peter 3:17You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,
- Colossians 2:18Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind,
- Jeremiah 29:8For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Do not let your prophets who are in your midst and your diviners deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams which they dream.
- Romans 16:17Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.
- Ephesians 5:6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
- Hebrews 13:9Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.
- 2 John 1:8Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.
- Acts 17:18And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. Some were saying, “What would this idle babbler wish to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”--because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.
- Romans 1:21For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
- 1 Corinthians 1:19For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.”
- 1 Corinthians 3:18Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may 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
Notes
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
New American Standard Bible 1995 — © 1960–1995 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
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