Deceived by aurguments that sound reasonable.

I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of complete understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery—Christ., 3 In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:2–3 (CSB)

CHRIST VERSUS THE COLOSSIAN HERESY I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable. Colossians 2:4 (CSB)

So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude. Colossians 2:6–7 (CSB)

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. For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, Colossians 2:8–9 (CSB)

JUDE’S PURPOSE IN WRITING ; Dear friends, although I was eager to write you about the salvation we share, I found it necessary to write, appealing to you to contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all. 4 For some people, who were designated for this judgment long ago,, have come in by stealth; they are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into sensuality and denying Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord. Jude 3–4 (CSB)

JOHN’S PURPOSE IN WRITING ; what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may also have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 1 John 1:3–4 (CSB)

And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. 14 He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13–14 (CSB)

you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. Colossians 2:10

Goes on to say circumcised in him not done with hands by putting off the body of flesh when you were buried with him in baptism, also raised with him through faith in the working of God,

Therefore, don’t let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is Christ. Colossians 2:16–17 (CSB)

Let 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. Colossians 2:18 (CSB)

Asceticism A voluntary abstention from the satisfaction of bodily and social needs, including food, drink, sexual activity, sleep, clothes, wealth, and social interaction.

Etymology The term “asceticism” stems from the Greek word for “training” or “exercising” In classical Greek, this term is often used to describe people such as athletes or soldiers who engage in certain exercises to attain a goal. With time, the term “ascetic” came to denote a person who practices the virtues

The term “asceticism” eventually came to connote the practice of abstaining voluntarily from bodily and social needs for a time. The Latin term mortificatio holds similar connotations, describing the exercise of bringing to death one’s passion. Many Hellenistic philosophers, including the Stoics, believed a person who had conquered bodily desire had nothing to fear from death

Let 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. He doesn’t hold on to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and tendons, grows with growth from God.

Man Made Doctrine = Religion

Such people are inflated by empty notions of their unspiritual mind.

Although these have a reputation for wisdom by promoting self-made religion, false humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value in curbing self-indulgence.,

Colossians 2:18 (CSB) Let 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.

Colossians 2:20–23 (CSB) If you died with Christ to the elements of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations: 21 “Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch”? 22 All these regulations refer to what is destined to perish by being used up; they are human commands and doctrines. 23 Although these have a reputation for wisdom by promoting self-made religion, false humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value in curbing self-indulgence.,

2:18–19. Fullness and freedom mean that believers need not be drawn into the quest for exciting experiences. Apparently, the false teachers were telling the believers at Colosse that mystical visions and deeper experiences were necessary to make them truly spiritual. Once again, Paul brings the issue back to Christ.

Scholars debate whether this referred to the angels being the objects of worship (the worship given to angels) or to the worship that the angels perform. Either are possible, but the former seems most likely. The mystical experience began with initiation into ascetic rituals (possibly referred to in Col. 2:21) which led to supernatural visions in which the individual was ushered into the heavenly realms to worship the angels who emanated from God or to join with the angels in the worship of God. The worshiper would then return with all kinds of stories about what he [had] seen in his vision. The Colossians were being told that if they really wanted to reach new levels of spirituality they needed to engage in these kinds of experiences. The mystical journey was intended to restore a lost dimension to spiritual experience.

Paul says this kind of spiritual quest is in fact a dangerous distraction. The person loses connection with the Head, from whom the whole body grows. The vision becomes the focus; Jesus becomes secondary. As a result growth is stunted, and believers are disqualif[ied] … for the prize. This phrase is actually one Greek term meaning “act as umpire against you.” It could mean “let no one pass critical judgment against you,” or it could mean “let no one deprive you of spiritual reward” because you have become distracted by a quest for experiences. Paul does not want Christians to be robbed of assurance and made to feel unspiritual, unfaithful, and in need of something extra—something more and higher than the cross.

This quest for super-spiritual experience, like the legalism of the previous verses, fosters pride. The experience seeker delights in false humility, but his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. Believers may have spiritual experiences of varying kinds. Experiences themselves are not evil. When we try to make our experience the standard for all believers or when we measure our own or someone else’s spirituality on the basis of that experience, we’re being arrogant and unspiritual. Christ is central. Not rules. Not experiences. Christ.[1]

[1] Max Anders, Galatians-Colossians, Holman New Testament Commentary, (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 8:309.

Colossians 2:4–5 CHRIST VERSUS THE COLOSSIAN HERESY

I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable. 5 For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ.

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. Colossians 2:8

False Teaching: a mature people resist seduction and deception. The word beguile (paralogizetai) means to mislead, delude, deceive, cheat, seduce, and lead someone astray. Note how the seduction takes place: by enticing words (pithanologiai), that is, by words that are persuasive, appealing, eloquent, flowery, and attractive.

a. Believers can be seduced by the persuasive and eloquent words of false teaching. People are easily influenced by … • eloquence • reasoning• persuasiveness• arguments• logic • thought processes

Therefore when some idea, position, philosophy, religion, doctrine, or belief is presented in a reasonable and eloquent fashion, people are persuaded. They are beguiled, deceived, and led astray from Christ. It may be an argument against … • the creation of the world by God • man being personally responsible to God • the virgin birth or the incarnation of God in human flesh • the perfect, sinless life of Christ • the substitutionary death of Christ • the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead • salvation by grace through faith • the coming again of the Lord Jesus Christ • the bodily resurrection of the dead • eternal judgment and eternal death • the destruction of the world by fire and the making of a new heavens and earth •the existence of believers face to face with God, worshipping and serving Him throughout all eternity

The argument can be against any of the major teachings of Scripture. If they are persuasive enough, some persons are led astray. They begin to question the truth and to wonder and doubt.

Note the words “this I say.” The very reason Paul has proclaimed that all wisdom and knowledge exist in Christ is to protect believers against false teaching. Believers are to know that all truth is in Christ, and they are to seek all truth in Christ.

b. Believers can be seduced by the enticing and appealing words of those who live after the lusts of the flesh. Human nature is easily influenced by … • appearance • attractiveness • charisma • thoughts • insinuations • suggestions • imaginations • desires

Therefore, when some idea is made in an appealing way, people are enticed and led astray from Christ. Again, the truth and the wise course of behavior for the believer is found in Christ. The course of wisdom is to turn away from the seduction of enticing words and suggestions. Christ Himself—the life of righteousness which He lived and the way of sinlessness which He walked—is the path of wisdom for the believer.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Ro. 16:17–18).

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (2 Co. 11:13–15).

“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ep. 4:14).

“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (2 Ti. 3:13).

“For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision [religionists]” (Tit. 1:10).

“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antiChrist shall come, even now are there many antiChrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us” (1 Jn. 2:18–19).

“Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antiChrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world” (1 Jn. 4:2–3).

“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antiChrist” (2 Jn. 7).

“And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived” (Re. 18:23).

4 (2:5) Stedfastness—Orderliness: a mature people maintain discipline—order and steadfastness.

⇒ The word order (taxin) means to maintain military discipline, array, and arrangement; to hold a solid front (The Amplified New Testament); to hold the military line unbroken and intact (A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, Vol. 4, p. 489).

⇒ The word stedfastness (stereoma) means to stand fast and persevere; to be immoveable, steady, and unyielding; to never crack, give in, or back up. This, too, is a military word. A.T. Robertson says that it is “the solid part of the line which can and does stand the attack” of the seduction.

Note that the believers of the Colossian church were being attacked by false teaching even as Paul was writing to them. But they were responding like a victorious army. They were maintaining their discipline and holding their order and standing fast. Note also the importance of the minister’s encouragement: Paul says that he was with them in spirit, joying and watching them gain the victory over the false teachers.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Co. 15:58).

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Ga. 5:1).

“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ep. 4:14).

“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Ph. 1:27).

“Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved” (Ph. 4:1).

“Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle” (2 Th. 2:15).

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in the world” (1 Pe. 5:8–9).

“Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness” (2 Pe. 3:17).