03/25/2008
Colossians 2:8 (NASB)
8See 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.
Philosophy concerns itself with the question of reality. Philosophers from ages past have tried to answer the question of “what is *real*?” And interestingly, the answers have changed over time. Plato suggested that what was *real* was the “essence” of things rather than the “substance.” That is, the dog wasn’t real, but dog-ness was real. Aristotle, Plato’s pupil suggested that the substance was real in itself. Other philosophers have suggested that if something can be perceived (touch, smell, sight) then it is real, while others suggest that even the perception is a mirage. Rene Descartes is famous for the simple declaration “I think, therefore, I am.”
The word “philosophy” actually means the “love of wisdom” but probably would better be described as “love of words” as most philosophers seem to have an endless stream of words to say very little. I am not criticizing philosophers or philosophy as I myself enjoy postulating on these questions. Yet, it is easy to see how someone who has mastered the art of philosophy could lure others into their cauldron of questions.
Still others may concoct their own versions of religious truth based on little more than their own desires or what they would like religion to be. These people often gather others around them who aspire to the same ideas but lack the truth.
Others follow “traditions of men.” This means they simply do what their fathers and their fathers did with little regard for what is valid, right or true. Even attending church out of tradition fails to achieve any good. Your religious activity should come from your heart, not your tradition.
The next phrase in Paul’s warning is fascinating to me: “the elementary principles of the world.” This phrase is translated slightly differently in different versions of the Bible, but in the Greek, the word translated “elemental” or “elementary” is from the same root as the word “stoic” – again, a philosophical term. (Stoicism says that *virtue* is to be desired above anything else. One who obtains virtue can live in peace and harmony with nature.) But I believe this phrase, as Paul uses it, points more to an alchemical or sorcery type of idea. Witchcraft reveres the five elements: earth, air, fire, water, and ether (spirit). In early philosophy (and alchemy), earth, air, fire, and water, were considered to be the most basic substances. Reverence of these constitutes nature-worship, paganism, witchcraft, environmental-base religions, and so forth. In short, they revere the creation rather than the creator.
Paul gives us a list above of several things that can take our focus from what is *real* and that is Christ. If we were to summarize Paul, we would say, “See that nothing takes your focus from Christ.” This is what is truth and reality in its purest form.
Jeff Justus
Cleff Publishing
www.cleffpublishing.com
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