Lexicon philosophia: Philosophy Original Word: φιλοσοφία Strong's Exhaustive Concordance philosophy. From philosophos; "philosophy", i.e. (specially), Jewish sophistry -- philosophy. see GREEK philosophos HELPS Word-studies 5385 philosophía (from 5384 /phílos, "a friend" and 4678 /sophía, "wisdom") – properly, a friend (lover) of wisdom (used only in Col 2:8). 5835/philosophía ("philosophy") in Col 2:8 refers to secular philosophy – elevating human wisdom over the wisdom of God. Such 5385 (philosophía) is loving one's own thoughts (secular wisdom) at the expense of God's Word (true wisdom). [5385 (philosophía) is the root of the English term "philosophy" and used only of the vain pursuit of wisdom in the NT. That is, the pursuit of truth apart from the revelation of God's Word.] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom philosophos Definition the love or pursuit of wisdom NASB Translation philosophy (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5385: φιλοσοφίαφιλοσοφία, φιλοσοφίας, ἡ (from φιλόσοφος), properly, love (and pursuit) of wisdom; used in the Greek writings of either zeal for or skill in any art or science, any branch of knowledge, see Passow, under the word (cf. Liddell and Scott, under the word). Once in the N. T. of the theology, or rather theosophy, of certain Jewish-Christian ascetics, which busied itself with refined and speculative inquiries into the nature and classes of angels, into the ritual of the Mosaic law and the regulations of Jewish tradition respecting practical life: Colossians 2:8; see Grimm on 4 Macc. 1:1, p. 298f; (Lightfoot on Colossians, the passage cited, and Prof. Westcott in B. D., under the word Philosophy). Topical Lexicon Word Origin: Derived from φίλος (philos, meaning "loving" or "fond of") and σοφία (sophia, meaning "wisdom"). The term literally translates to "love of wisdom."Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for φιλοσοφία, the concept of wisdom is prevalent in the Old Testament, often represented by the Hebrew word חָכְמָה (chokmah, Strong's Hebrew 2451), which denotes wisdom, skill, or insight. This term is frequently used in the wisdom literature of the Old Testament, such as Proverbs, to describe the pursuit of godly wisdom. Usage: The word φιλοσοφία appears once in the New Testament, specifically in Colossians 2:8. It is used to caution believers against being misled by human traditions and philosophies that are not rooted in Christ. Context: In the New Testament, φιλοσοφία is mentioned in Colossians 2:8: "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ" (BSB). Here, the Apostle Paul warns the Colossian church against being swayed by teachings that rely on human wisdom and traditions rather than the truth of the Gospel. This reflects a broader biblical theme where human wisdom is often contrasted with divine wisdom, emphasizing the sufficiency of Christ and the revelation found in Him. The use of φιλοσοφία in this context suggests a caution against adopting worldviews or systems of thought that are not aligned with Christian doctrine. Historically, this passage has been interpreted as a critique of any philosophical system that detracts from the centrality of Christ in the believer's life. Forms and Transliterations φιλοσοφιας φιλοσοφίας philosophias philosophíasLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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