The Dangerous Deception of Christian Philosophy – Gnosticism

“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.” Colossians 2:8

While imprisoned in Rome, the Apostle Paul sent his good friend and fellow laborer in the Gospel, Tychicus, to deliver three letters of doctrinal instruction to the churches (body of believers) – the letters of Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon.

Driven along by God the Spirit (II Timothy 3:16), Paul addressed certain problems in the church at Colosse, in particular the false teaching of philosophy known as “Gnosticism.”

In general, Gnosticism was the belief that matter itself is evil and spirit is good, the body being a prison of the soul. Philosophers who tried to combine this belief system with Christianity insisted that Jesus could not have had a human body (since bodies are evil) and therefore could not have been crucified.

Paul confirmed the abhorrent philosophical teaching of Gnosticism by affirming that God in all His fullness, did indeed, dwell in the body of Jesus:

“For it pleased the Father that in Him (Jesus Christ) should all fullness dwell: and having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth or things in heaven.” Colossians1:19-20

Paul then goes on to assure all true followers of “The Way” (John 14:6, Hebrews 10:20) that it was the death of Jesus in the body that reconciles all true Christians to God!

“In the body of His (Jesus Christ) flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight: If you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister…” Colossians 1:22-23

What are true Christians required to do? Christians are to demonstrate their faith in Jesus Christ in their own bodies; that is, avoid asceticism and legalism (Colossians 2:16-20). Paul instructs all true followers of Jesus Christ to put to death the sinful deeds of the flesh (Colossians 3:5) and bring to life the spiritual virtues (Colossians 3:12-17) of faith.

related information: Gnosticism Defined