The Body of  Christ Warned--Colossians 2:4-8

     As you all know, a living body is made up of a head, various organs, and various members.  The apostle considers the Church as a body; yea, as the Body of  Christ. In Colossians 1:15-2:3, he contemplated the Head of  Body, Jesus Christ:  as to His Person, and as to His work  Beginning with 2:4, he ponders the body proper, that is the Church.  For a few web pages, this writer wishes to consider that Body in connection with the Church's union with Christ.  On this web page in Colossians 2:4-8, consider "The Body of  Christ Warned."  The warning is concerning philosophy's opposition to the union with Christ. Observe that:

I. PHILOSOPHY OPPOSES UNION WITH CHRIST BY ITS METHOD--vv. 4, 5
     A. Its Method Is Enticing Words--v. 4
          1. "This I say" refers to his anxious concern for the Colossians as expressed in 2:1-3.
          2. Lest any man beguile you
               a. The words any man, of  course, is simply "anyone."
                    (I) Therefore, it could be a woman as well as a man.
                    (II) This is well illustrated by the numerous heresies that women have started or largely directed.
               b. The word beguile
                    (I) Literally to reason aside
                    (II) Thus, to delude by false reasoning
               c. Paul had to warn other groups of  believers.
                    (I) 2 Corinthians 11:3
                    (II) Galatians 3:1-3
                    (III) Ephesians 4:14
                    (IV) Philippians 3:18, 19
                    (V) Romans 16:17, 18
                    (VI) Several in Thessalonians
          3. With enticing words
               a. The phrase itself
                    (I) Only occurs here in the New Testament
                    (II) Used of  a lawyer's persuasive speech and in Classical Greek of  the use of  probable arguments
               b. "See the danger of  enticing words; how many are ruined by the flattery of  those who lie in wait to deceive,
                    and by the false disguises and fair appearances of  evil principles and wicked practices." (Henry, VI:757)
               c. Scripture
                    (I) Romans 16:18
                    (II) Proverbs 1:10
               d. "You ought to stand upon your guard against enticing words, and be aware and afraid of  those who would
                    entice you to any evil; for that which they aim at is to spoil you." (Ibid.)
     B. Its Method Is Disorder--v. 5
          1. Paul does not state this fact in this verse, but he implies it.
          2. Absent from them in the body, but present with them in his spirit
          3. Rejoices in their order and steadfastness
               a. The two terms
                    (I) Military ones
                    (II) Their order--refers to disciplined ranks
                    (III) Steadfastness--refers to solidness and compactness of  the ranks
               b. The steadfastness is one of  faith in Christ Jesus.
          4. Thus it is not of  God, for He is the God of  order.
          5. "It here points out that feature in the faith so carefully noted, and so joyously recorded." (Eadie, 123)a
          6. Oh, that we might be found to have that steadfastness of  faith in Jesus Christ that does not give way under crisis.

II. PHILOSOPHY IS TO BE OPPOSED BY OUR WALK--vv. 6, 7
     A. The Basis of  the Walk--v. 6
          1. As you received Christ Jesus the Lord
               a. Reception of the truth
                    (I) By the method of  preaching
                    (II) Not by the method of  philosophy
               b. Reception of  the truth is on the basis of  faith in Jesus Christ-- John 1:12
          2. Walk in Him
               a. Keep walking stresses the permanent character of  this walk in the Lord.
               b. It is a walk based on
                    (I) Preached truth
                    (II) Not philosophy
               c. A gospel message is important, but so are Christian living messages.
               d. NOTE:  we receive Christ by faith, so we are to walk by faith.
     B. The Manner of  the Walk--v. 7
          1. Rooted in Christ
               a. The verb rooted, a participle signifies an action antecedent to the main verb, walk.
               b. Speaks of  the initial placing of  their faith in Christ--Ephesians 3:17
          2. Built up in Christ
               a. The verb built is another participle, but this time signifies simultaneous action with the main verb, walk.
               b. Thus, as we walk, we are to be built up in Him--cf. 2 Peter 3:18.
         3. Stablished in the faith
               a. As you have been taught
                    (I) 'Tis better to stick to the teaching of  the Word of  God as correctly presented than listen to the fine
                         philosophies and reasonings of  men no matter how high sounding they may be." (Source Unknown)
                    (II) It does not mean a blind, unreasoned faith.
               b. Verb stablished is the same type of  verb as built; thus, showing that the establishing process continues as
                    they walk in Him.
               c. In the faith--undoubtedly refers to the body of  doctrine, that is, the essential truths of  the faith
          4. Abounding in thanksgiving
               a. Again the participle shows that the abounding is to continue as they walk in Christ.
               b. Of  all people on earth, the Christian should be most thankful; are you and I?
               c. Five other times in this short epistle, thanks or thanksgiving is mentioned.
                    (I) 1:3
                    (II) 1:12
                    (III) 3:15
                    (IV) 3:17
                    (V) 4:2

III. PHILOSOPHY OPPOSES UNION WITH CHRIST BY ITS TEACHING--v. 8
     A. The Warning Against Philosophy--"Beware lest anyone spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit"
          1. The phrase, Beware lest anyone spoil you
               a. The words beware lest are a very strong introduction to this warning.
               b. The word spoil
                    (I) A very rare word occurring only here in the New Testament
                    (II) Has the sense of  to carry away as a captive
               c. In the Galatian warning, note that word bewitched.
                    (I) Galatians 3:1
                    (II) Just because you are held spellbound by someone's message does not mean that such a person is
                         preaching truth.
                         (A) It must be according to God's Word.
                         (B) This is evident in much of  the charismatic circles (as well as new evangelical).
          2. The word philosophy
               a. Only occurs here in the New Testament; except in Acts 17:18 the word philosopher occurs
               b. Basic meaning is love of  wisdom.
               c. Much depends upon what the word means.
               d. What did Paul mean?
                     (I) He probably was not condemning all philosophy.
                     (II)  The Greek has the definite article the in front of the word.
                          (A) Thus rendered "The Philosophy"
                          (B) Limits it to that which prevailed in Colosse
                     (III) Paul calls it vain deceit or delusion.
               e. Its meaning for us today
                    (I) As one who majored in philosophy this writer is fully aware that Christianity and philosophy--in the general                          sense as used today--do not mix.
                    (II) Every attempt to approach Christianity philosophically has inevitably injured Christianity.
                    (III) Much of  the controversy in so-called Christian circles today is based in philosophy.
                         (A) Liberalism
                         (B) Neo-orthodoxy or Barthianism
                         (C) "God is dead" theology
                         (D) Neo-evangelicalism
                    (IV) "But there is a philosophy which is vain and deceitful, which is prejudicial to religion [Christianity], and
                         sets up the wisdom of  man in competition with the wisdom of  God, and while it pleases men's fancies
                         ruins their faith; as nice and curious speculations about things above us, or of  no use and concern to us;
                         or a care of  words and terms of  art, which have only an empty and often a cheating appearance of
                         knowledge." (Henry, VI:757)
     B. The Source of  Philosophy
          1. After the traditions of  men
               a. Not of  divine origin, and thus, not according to divine revelation
               b. Can be traced to the devil--Cf. 2 Corinthians 11:3
          2. "It was solely of  man, and partook largely of  his vanity and weakness.  As in the instance adduced by Christ, it
               explained away the obligation of  the fifth commandment by a mean quibble, which added impiety to filial neglect,                and permitted a son to starve his parent under a pretence of  superior liberality to God.  It taught the payment 'of
               mint, anise, and cummin,' but forgot' the weightier matters of  the law, judgment, mercy, and faith.'  It scrupled to
               eat with unwashed hands, but was forward to worship with an unregenerate heart.  It was eloquent and precise
               about cleaning of cups, but vague and dumb about the purifying of  conscience.  It converted religion into a
               complicated routine, with a superstitious and perplexing ritual, as if  man were to be saved by the observance of
               ceremonies as puerile as they were cumbrous--a series of  postures, ablutions, amulets, and vain repetitions.  It
               lost sight of  the spirituality of  worship, but enjoined a careful genuflexion.  It buried ethics under a system of
               miserable and tedious casuistry.  It attempted to place everything under formal regulation and was now busied in
               solemn trifling, and now lost in utter indecency." (Eadie, 136)
          3. A lot of  this sounds like the sect which claims to be the only true church.
     C. The Subject Matter of  Philosophy
          1. Elementary instruction
               a. Deals with the ABC's of  a subject
               b. Galatians 4:3, 9
               c. Often quibbles over meaning of  terms refusing to be satisfied with the ordinary sense of  words.
          2. Worldly
               a. Philosophy in general is man-centered and thus worldly.
               b. Philosophy in general is not God-centered and thus not spiritual.
               c. Mosaic system belong to the world in a very special sense--"It was of  the world, as being like it, evident to
                    the senses, visible, and material, in contrast with what is spiritual and invisible.  In this sense, the whole
                    economy was mundane, for it was sensuous; it pictured itself to the eye in the stones of  its edifice, the robes
                    of  its priests, the victims of  its altars, its restrictions on diet, its frequent washings, the blood of  its initiatory
                    rite [circumcision], and the periods of  its sacred festivals.  It was a worldly panorama, and it pourtrayed [sic]
                    but the elements of  spiritual truth." (op. cit., 139
               d. Although Eadie was speaking of  Judaism, much of  this quotation could apply many heresies of  today in that
                    there is an appeal to the flesh, in the name of  spirituality, whether it is through the eye-gate, ear-gate, or a
                    combination of  both.
          3. Not after Christ
               a. Not based on the Lord Jesus Christ
               b. Contrary to His Person and work
               c. Philosophy--even when set forth by so-called Christians--has deprecated, for the most part, the Person and
                    work of  Christ.
               d. This is the main problem of
                    (I) Liberalism
                    (II) Neo-orthodox
                    (III) "God is dead" theology
                    (IV) Situation-ethics teaching
                    (V) Neo-evangelicalism
               e. This phrase may suggest that there is a philosophy which is "after Christ."
               f. Matthew Henry concurs--"There is a philosophy which is a noble exercise of  our reasonable faculties, and
                    highly serviceable to religion, such a study of  the works of  God as leads us to the knowledge of  God and
                    confirms our faith in him." (Henry, VI:757)
               g. Cf. A Biblical Philosophy

     O church of  the living God:  Beware of  philosophy.  Philosophy opposes union with Christ by its method.  Believers in turn are to oppose philosophy by their walk in Christ.  Philosophy opposes union with Christ by its teaching.
     O believer in Jesus Christ, cling to Him Who is the Lord and Savior of  your soul.  O young person, be not beguiled by the philosophical teachings of  the day.  Be aware of  the philosophical basis of  evolution.  Be aware of  the philosophical basis of  relativistic ethics.

     Unbeliever, you may think your philosophy is adequate for life.  Is it adequate for death?  Philosophy (even a Biblically based one) can not, this writer repeats, can not give you eternal life.  Only Jesus Christ can give you life eternal and abundant life here on earth.
     Believe on Him now!