Empty Deceit

Colossians

The Purpose of this letter from Paul to engage the danerous teaching threatening the church and encouragement to pursue maturity in Christ .

Paul starts his letter with thanks and prayer. Then immediately reminding them who Jesus is.

Jesus is:

The image of the invisible God

Firstborn of all creation

Lord, who is over all

Eternal

The Sustainer

Savior

They recieved Christ but are being meet with challenges

Colossians 2:6–10 ESV

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 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. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

Philosophy and empty deceit

False teachers where a problem in the Ancient World, just like they are today.

Ephesians 5:6 ESV

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Matthew 15:2 ESV

“Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.”

Philosophy is their way of thinking, or the basic principles of the world or religion.

This could have been a group or an indivdual.

Persian Shaman or some other pagan nations rituals or rites for spirtual protection.

Gnostism - Greek orgin belief that the material world is evil and only spirtual or immaterial was good.

Unknown god who is different than the creator God

Judaism - Holding to traditions created by the Pharisees and Sadducees

Jesus is:

The image of the invisible God

Firstborn of all creation

Lord, who is over all

Eternal

The Sustainer

Savior

Fullness of deity dwells

He has all rule and authority

We have been filled in him

Rooted and Built Up

These are believers. They have done Romans 10:9

Romans 10:9 ESV

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

They planted their roots in Truth, they laid the correct foundation.

Echoing Paul in Col 1:23

Colossians 1:23 ESV

if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Critical Race Theory