Colossians 2:8
What does Colossians 2:8 mean?
A plain-English look at Colossians 2:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Colossians 2:8 means
Paul warns them to beware of anyone who would take them captive through a system of thought that is empty and deceptive—built on human tradition and worldly principles rather than Christ. Such philosophies sound profound but enslave, diverting attention from the Lord to man-made rules or speculative teachings. To be “spoiled” is to be plundered like war booty. The issue is not all thinking, but thinking detached from Christ. Believers must evaluate ideas by their relation to Him. If a doctrine cannot stand under His Lordship, it should not rule our minds. Christ is the standard; anything not aligned with Him is hollow at its core.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ:
KJV
King James Version · 1611Beware 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Take care that no one takes you away by force, through man's wisdom and deceit, going after the beliefs of men and the theories of the world, and not after Christ:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862See that no one shall be carrying you away as spoil through the philosophy and vain deceit, according to the deliverance of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Christ,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Beware lest any man cheat you by philosophy and vain deceit: according to the tradition of men according to the elements of the world and not according to Christ.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890See that there be no one who shall lead you away as a prey through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the teaching of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.
Context
This warning contrasts with the rooted, thankful life of verses 6–7. It sets up the theological reason for rejecting deceptive teachings: who Christ is and what believers have in Him. Verses 9–10 will declare His divine fullness and His headship over all powers, as well as the believer’s completeness in Him. That positive grounding makes the warning more than a prohibition—it becomes a call to cling to the surpassing sufficiency of Christ.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 17:18
And certain also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, What would this babbler say? others, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.
- 2 Corinthians 10:5
casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
- Colossians 2:18
Let no man rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he hath seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
- 1 Corinthians 3:18
Let no man deceive himself. If any man thinketh that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise.
- Song of Solomon 2:15
Take us the foxes, the little foxes, That spoil the vineyards; For our vineyards are in blossom.
- Ephesians 2:2
wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience;
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