The Orthodox Study Bible: Colossians 2: 8 is not against all philosophy

The Orthodox Study Bible: Colossians 2: 8 & Philosophy

The Orthodox Study Bible, New Testament and Psalms, (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.

Non-exhaustive review

Colossians 2: 8

As noted in previous reviews, this study bible uses the New King James Version (NKJV).

8 Beware 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.

On this verse this Orthodoxy bible explains that what is being described in 'The basic principles of the world.' (465). Things within the word system that oppose Jesus Christ (465). These are things resulting from the fall, I reason, such as 'pagan cults and systems of knowledge.' (465). Within the word system is 'human traditions opposed to God's tradition.' (465).

In contrast in verse 9, from the same version, in regards to Jesus Christ:

9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead [a] bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all [b] principality and power. Footnotes (a) Colossians 2:9 in bodily form (b) Colossians 2:10 rule and authority 

The Orthodoxy text states of Jesus Christ, as God the Son, my add: 'He is the sovereign power to head over angelica beings'. (465). 

Agreed.

God the Son, the Word of God (John 1, I John as the Word of life, as examples) is within the trinity, is eternal, having existed before creation, and is the head of the sovereign divine, system that actually rules all creation. The fact that Satan is 'the god of this age' '(2 Corinthians 4: 4) means God as the primary cause of all things, allows Satan to be a secondary cause of some things within the world system.

Further on Colossians 2: 8 

N. T. Wright states that Colossians is warning against Christians being deceived 'through deceptive philosophy.' (101). Wright explains that it is fact that 'Paul is opposed to (what we would call) 'philosophy'. (101).  He explains that 'literally the word (philosophy, my add) means 'love and wisdom'". (101). The philosophy being rejected here in Colossians 2 is 'human tradition and the basic principles of this world'.(101). 

This general interpretation of Wright is in basic agreement with the views with the Orthodoxy text, in at least world systems or the world system is being compared to God's divine system. In a particular philosophical context, Wright reason that "Paul has in mind is undoubtedly the traditions of the Rabbinic schools in which had grown up'. (101). 

Ernest G. Ashby writes that Paul warns his readers against 'false philosophy'. (1456). This could be the Hellenistic syncretism (1456), as in the rudiments of this world (my add from the Orthodoxy text). It could also the Mosaic Law (1456). The 'tradition of men' in agreement with Wright could be connected to Rabbinic teachings which reject Jesus Christ as the Messiah and his atoning and resurrection work applied to regenerated (John 3, Titus 3) humanity. (101).

Bible Hub

φιλοσοφίας (philosophy)

φιλοσοφία, ας, ἡ Root word

Strong's definition: 'the love or pursuit of wisdom'

Noun-Genitive, Feminine, Singular

Genitive meaning 'of' 'possession'. Wenham writes that in New Testament Greek in regards to nouns 'nearly all those denoting women or female animals are feminine'. (37). Love as a 'feminine' concept linguistically in this context. 

For Bauer φιλοσοφία, ας, ἡ is 'philosophy' (861), is found in 'only in one pass, and in an unfavorable sense'. (861). False teaching in Colossians 2: 8. (861).

Theological comments

The writer of Colossians is negatively critiquing false teaching and false philosophy within the world systems or the world system. The writer is not implied to be opposed to all philosophy.

In my modern context, theistic, philosophy of religion, arises from reasoning outside of the bible and  is definitely and definitively not providing revelatory, salvation. However, it can provide, philosophical, theistic truths that parallel biblical truths and Christian theology (Biblical theology, systematic theology, philosophical theology).

Theistic philosophy of religion, is not the philosophy condemned in Colossians 2: 8.

ASHBY, E G. (1986) 'Colossians' in The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

BAUER, WALTER (1979) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Translated by Eric H. Wahlstrom, Chicago, The University of Chicago Press.

COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville. 

GRENZ, STANLEY J., DAVID GURETZKI AND CHERITH FEE NORDLING (1999) Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, Downers Grove, Ill., InterVarsity Press.

MURRAY, JOHN (1937-1966)(1977) Collected Writings of John Murray, Vol. 2: Select Lectures in Systematic Theology, Edinburgh, The Banner of Truth Trust.

SHEDD, WILLIAM G.T. (1874-1890)(1980) Dogmatic Theology, Volume 1, Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers. 

SHEDD, WILLIAM G.T. (1874-1890)(1980) Dogmatic Theology, Volume 2, Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers. 

STRONG, J. (1890)(1986) Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Burlington, Welch Publishing Company.

WEBER, OTTO (1955)(1981) Foundations of Dogmatics, Volumes 1 and 2, Translated and annotated by Darrell L. Guder, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

WENHAM, J.W. (1991) The Elements of New Testament Greek, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

WRIGHT, N.T., Colossians and Philemon, (1986)(1989), IVP, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids.