Smoodock's Blog

In our previous study, we’ve come to understand that becoming a Christian isn’t an event we point to in the past, that might be similar to becoming a citizen of a nation or a member of a society. Instead, it is a process; we are alive in Christ, and, just as a seed grows into a tree, so we grow individually into an image of God, through the seed of the Spirit of Christ that was planted in each believer, upon hearing and embracing the Gospel message. Moreover, the Gospel of Christ that is preached to us is the carving tool that molds the entire Church of God into the form that unbelievers see. In other words, the Christ we see in the Gospel gives the Church its shape, forming us corporately into the image of God.

Nevertheless, we need to beware of enemies of the Gospel, because the work of the Spirit in the life of the believer, and the work of the Gospel upon the corporate Body of Christ, the Church, as preached and interpreted by the Apostles and prophets, can be spoiled. Paul claims that individually and collectively we can be spoiled through philosophy:

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 (Colossians 2:8).

So, the question is, what does Paul mean by philosophy? Both the Jews and the Greeks (gentiles) esteemed philosophy very highly. The fact is that the Jews elevated philosophy to the degree that it took on an importance equal to, if not greater than, the revealed knowledge of God. For example, Josephus mentioned four Jewish groups or sects, which he labeled philosophies, namely: Zealots, Essenes, Sadducees and Pharisees. In the New Covenant text Jesus warned his disciples against following at least three of them. These four groups preached divergent systems of philosophy, and many Jews either respected those who followed their doctrines or were, indeed, among the followers of one or two of them.[1] Moreover, Josephus tells us that one or more (perhaps all) of these philosophies were responsible for the destruction of the nation.[2]

Although the philosophies mentioned above are Jewish in origin, a case can be made that Paul also pointed to the many Greek philosophies.[3] The Colossians were, after all, gentiles and were more apt to be influenced by one or more of the Greek philosophers than Jewish, but Paul’s warning included all, because of unbelieving Jews and Jewish Christians, who might be influenced by the Jewish philosophies. The point is that, periodically, Jewish missionaries visited the Christian churches preaching doctrines of one of the Jewish philosophies, especially Pharisaism (cp. Acts 19:13-14),[4] and to the degree a believer embraced their philosophy, the believer denied Christ by embracing the false doctrines, vis-à-vis false ways of that philosophy.

Paul’s warning in the above citation of scripture (beware = G991) was also a warning (same Greek word) used by Jesus to tell his disciples to avoid the doctrines and practices of the Pharisees and followers of Herod (Mark 8:15).[5] This same incident is recorded in Matthew, but a different Greek word is used for Christ’s warning (beware = G4337). There the Pharisees are named once again, but this time with the Sadducees, and Herod’s name is dropped (Matthew 16:6, 12).

The point is, whether we’re talking about the Greek philosophies or the Jewish ones, they are worldly and deceitful, vis-à-vis they follow the traditions of men and employ worldly disciplines to control behavior that doesn’t really free anyone. Instead, the disciplines tend to enslave one to its practices. Rather, let the Spirit of Christ dwell within and inspire the believer to desire those things that honor God.

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[1] There were, for example, Pharisees who were also Zealots. In an earlier study I mentioned that “Simon the Pharisee” (Luke 7:36, 40) was one of Jesus’ disciples, Simon the Zealot (see Who Is Simon the Pharisee).

[2] See JOSEPHUS; Antiquities of the Jews; Book 18; chapter 1; paragraphs 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6.

[3] Greek philosophies, such as: Stoicism, Epicureanism, Cynicism etc. were not readily agreeable to Christianity. Embracing any of the Greek philosophies, as one’s rule of life, would take away from one’s dedication to follow Christ.

[4] Christianity and Judaism were not as distinct in ancient times as they are today. Christianity began as a Jewish faith and included only Jews. Many folks in the first century AD considered Christianity a Jewish faith, vis-à-vis a different “philosophy” of Judaism.

[5] Telling his disciples to beware of Herod, pointed to his philosophy of rule, vis-à-vis exercising his authority over others (cp. Matthew 20:25). It should not be a Christian practice to use one’s authority in Christ to dominate the lives of others. This warning would also warn against the philosophy of the Zealots, whose end was to rule the Jews by replacing Rome or Herod; the philosophy is the same, except for who’s ruling.