WARNINGS TO BELIEVERS. Colossians 2:8-15 Beginning in verse eight, Paul openly refutes the false teaching he had previously warned about. Philosophy, the love of knowledge, is like bait on a fishhook. There is nothing wrong with proper reasoning and intellectual pursuits because that kind of thinking considers all that we can’t see with all that we can see around us. Such reasoning leads us to recognize the infinite God who is the Creator and Sustainer of all things.
The philosophy rooted in human tradition is constrained by the limits of human ideas, opinions, and notions, which are bound by human senses and experiences. It begins with statements like, “I’ve changed my mind,” or “I don’t believe that anymore,” as if these words alter anything except the speaker’s own perspective. However, false reasoning is often a source of pride for many, and they want to pass on their opinions so others will believe them rather than think critically for themselves.
The apostle Paul's concern for those Colossian Christians should resonate with us today because we know history does repeat itself. The issues believers were facing then are similar to those we face. A certain part of our humanity is attracted to the intellectual ideas and various philosophies of men. It makes us feel like we are searching for wisdom and are important enough to be heard and known for our opinions.
The warning against the religious philosophy promoted at Colossae was truly necessary because it targeted new believers who lacked a deep understanding of all they have in Christ. There is a real risk of being spiritually kidnapped and led astray by those who compare their own philosophical ideas, which lack a foundation, to the clear teaching of God's Word. Biblical teaching has been tested and proven accurate over centuries by those who live by faith in God.