Paul said that they should not be led astray by philosophy or empty deceits. Humans and their traditions with the cosmic elemental spirits may lead them away from Christ. However, Christ is fully God. They have come to their full human nature because of Christ, who is in charge of everything and everyone.
Do not be led astray
Do not be led astray (Col. 2:8)
“See to it
That no one
Takes you captive
Through philosophy
And empty deceit,
According to human tradition,
According to the elemental spirits
Of the universe,
And not according to Christ.”
Βλέπετε μή τις ὑμᾶς ἔσται ὁ συλαγωγῶν διὰ τῆς φιλοσοφίας καὶ κενῆς ἀπάτης κατὰ τὴν παράδοσιν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, κατὰ τῆς στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου καὶ οὐ κατὰ Χριστόν·
Paul said, “See to it (Βλέπετε) that no one takes you captive (μή τις ὑμᾶς ἔσται ὁ συλαγωγῶν) through philosophy (διὰ τῆς φιλοσοφίας) and empty deceit (καὶ κενῆς ἀπάτης), according to human tradition (κατὰ τὴν παράδοσιν τῶν ἀνθρώπων), and according to the elemental spirits of the universe (κατὰ τῆς στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου), and not according to Christ (καὶ οὐ κατὰ Χριστόν).” Only this unique word συλαγωγῶν, is found here in Colossians, that means to carry off as spoils, plunder, lead captive, or a victim by fraud, and the word φιλοσοφίας, that means the love or pursuit of wisdom, or philosophy. This is the only place in the canonical biblical literature where the word philosophy (φιλοσοφίας) is used. Only the Pauline letters used this word στοιχεῖα, that means one in a row, a letter, the rudimentary elements or principles. Paul warned the Christian Colossians that they should not be captured by false philosophical thought or false deceits that come from human traditions and the cosmic elemental spirits. Instead, they should continue to live according to Jesus Christ. Paul condemned Greek philosophical traditions, Jewish legal teachings, and pagan worship. They all were not in agreement with Jesus Christ. Do you think that philosophy is against Jesus Christ?
Do not be led astray (Lk 21:8-21:8)
“Jesus said.
‘Beware!
Do not be led astray!
Many will come
In my name.
They will say.
‘I am he!’
And
‘The time is near!’
Do not go after them!’”
ὁ δὲ εἶπεν Βλέπετε μὴ πλανηθῆτε· πολλοὶ γὰρ ἐλεύσονται ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί μου λέγοντες Ἐγώ εἰμι, καί Ὁ καιρὸς ἤγγικεν· μὴ πορευθῆτε ὀπίσω αὐτῶν.
Luke indicated that Jesus said (ὁ δὲ εἶπεν) that they should be aware (Βλέπετε) and not be led astray (ὴ πλανηθῆτε) because many people would come in his name (πολλοὶ γὰρ ἐλεύσονται ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί μου). They would say (λέγοντες) that they were Jesus (Ἐγώ εἰμι) and that the end time was near (καί Ὁ καιρὸς ἤγγικεν). However, they were not to go after them (μὴ πορευθῆτε ὀπίσω αὐτῶν). There is something similar in Matthew, chapter 24:4-5, and in Mark, chapter 13:5-6, almost word for word. Mark said that Jesus began to tell them about people who might lead them astray (ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς ἤρξατο λέγειν αὐτοῖς). He told them that they should be aware, so that they would not be led astray or be misled (Βλέπετε μή τις ὑμᾶς πλανήσῃ). They had to be cautious, so as not to be deceived. Jesus said that many people would come in his name (πολλοὶ ἐλεύσονται ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί μου) saying that they were the One (λέγοντες ὅτι Ἐγώ εἰμι). They would try to deceive them by leading them astray (καὶ πολλοὺς πλανήσουσιν). In Matthew, Jesus warned them against people who might lead them astray (καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Βλέπετε μή τις ὑμᾶς πλανήσῃ). Many people would come in his name (πολλοὶ γὰρ ἐλεύσονται ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί μου) saying that they were the Messiah Christ (λέγοντες Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ Χριστός). Matthew explicitly mentioned the Christ, but this was not in the other accounts. They would say this in order to deceive them and lead them astray (καὶ πολλοὺς πλανήσουσιν). Apparently, there were many deceptive Jewish messianic leaders who were saying that they were the Christ Messiah. John the Baptist was an example of a messianic leader in the 1st century CE. Other political Jewish leaders had messianic ambitions also, especially those who led the revolt against the Romans in the 2nd half of the 1st century. Jesus was warning against all of them. Have people tried to deceive you?
Do not be led astray (Mk 13:5-13:5)
“Then Jesus began
To say to them.
‘Beware!
That no one
Leads you astray.’”
ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς ἤρξατο λέγειν αὐτοῖς Βλέπετε μή τις ὑμᾶς πλανήσῃ.
There is something similar in Matthew, chapter 24:4, and in Luke, chapter 21:8, almost word for word. Mark said that Jesus began to tell them about people who might lead them astray (ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς ἤρξατο λέγειν αὐτοῖς). He told them that they should be aware, so that they would not be led astray or be misled (Βλέπετε μή τις ὑμᾶς πλανήσῃ). They had to be cautious, so as not to be deceived.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 