Lexical Summary 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 Usage in the New Testament The noun appears a single time, in Colossians 2:8, where the apostle Paul cautions believers: “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ”. Its lone occurrence gives it special weight; Paul deliberately singles it out as a potential snare capable of enslaving the mind and diverting allegiance from the sufficiency of Christ. First-Century Philosophical Milieu Greco-Roman life was saturated with competing schools—Platonists, Stoics, Epicureans, Cynics, Pythagoreans—each offering comprehensive worldviews. Philosophy was not merely abstract speculation; it shaped ethics, civic duty, and religious practice. In Asia Minor, these currents mingled readily with Jewish traditions, mystery cults, and emerging Gnostic tendencies, creating a syncretistic atmosphere to which the young Colossian church was exposed. The Colossian Danger The letter reveals a hybrid threat: ritualistic Judaism (Colossians 2:16), ascetic regulations (Colossians 2:20–23), mystical angel-veneration (Colossians 2:18), and speculative wisdom wrapped in persuasive rhetoric (Colossians 2:4). By labeling it “philosophy,” Paul groups these strands under one banner of human wisdom that undermines the exclusive preeminence of Christ (Colossians 1:18–19; 2:9). Captivity Language and Spiritual Combat “Take you captive” evokes the image of prisoners of war carried off as spoils. Paul exposes any worldview that deserts Christ’s lordship as a spiritual kidnapping orchestrated through “elemental spiritual forces,” a phrase that often denotes demonic agencies behind worldly systems (compare Galatians 4:3, 9). Intellectual error is therefore treated not as harmless speculation but as spiritual bondage. Human Wisdom versus Divine Revelation Across his writings Paul consistently contrasts the two sources of wisdom: The apostolic stance is not anti-intellectual but decisively Christocentric: all treasures of wisdom are “hidden in Christ” (Colossians 2:3), making any rival source inherently deficient. Early Church Engagement with Philosophy Subsequent Christian apologists—Justin Martyr, Athenagoras, Clement of Alexandria—interacted with philosophy, extracting truths compatible with Scripture while rejecting errors. Their method illustrates Paul’s balance: engage, refute, and ultimately submit every thought to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). The church historically has valued rigorous thought yet maintained Scripture as the final arbiter. Practical Implications for Ministry 1. Discernment in Education: Christian students and scholars may study philosophy but must evaluate every system against the revealed Word. Summary Strong’s 5385 serves as a vivid warning that intellectual pursuits, when severed from the authority of Christ, can become spiritual traps. Scripture calls the church to bold engagement with ideas, yet unwavering submission to the One “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). 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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