False Philosophy
Category: Failure of truth
Could endure: Remain rooted in Christ.
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him.” (Colossians 2:6)
Cross-Refs: John 15:4; 1 Corinthians 3:11.
Chose wrongly: Followed hollow and deceptive philosophy.
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)
Cross-Refs: 1 Timothy 6:20; 2 Timothy 4:3–4.
Endured (negatively): Spiritual captivity.
“…takes you captive.” (Colossians 2:8)
Cross-Refs: 2 Peter 2:19; Isaiah 44:20.
Why (wrong motive): Desire for wisdom apart from God.
“Where is the wise person?… Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Corinthians 1:20)
Cross-Refs: Jeremiah 8:9; Romans 1:22.
Result: Empty deceit, loss of fullness in Christ.
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” (Colossians 2:9 — contrast)
Cross-Refs: John 1:16; Ephesians 1:23.
Legalism
Category: Failure of freedom
Could endure: Rest in Christ’s finished work.
“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival.” (Colossians 2:16)
Cross-Refs: Galatians 5:1; Romans 14:17.
Chose wrongly: Submitted to man-made rules.
“Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!” (Colossians 2:21)
Cross-Refs: Mark 7:7–8; Hebrews 9:10.
Endured (negatively): Self-made religion, false humility.
“Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom… but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.” (Colossians 2:23)
Cross-Refs: Matthew 23:4; 1 Timothy 4:3.
Why (wrong motive): Desire for control, pride in works.
“Their minds are puffed up with idle notions.” (Colossians 2:18b)
Cross-Refs: Philippians 3:19; Titus 1:14.
Result: Alienated from Christ’s sufficiency.
“They have lost connection with the Head.” (Colossians 2:19)
Cross-Refs: John 15:6; Galatians 5:4.
Worship of Angels
Category: Failure of worship
Could endure: Worship Christ alone.
“He is the head of the body, the church… so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” (Colossians 1:18)
Cross-Refs: Revelation 19:10; Matthew 4:10.
Chose wrongly: Practiced false humility, worshiped angels.
“Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you.” (Colossians 2:18)
Cross-Refs: Romans 1:25; Galatians 1:8.
Endured (negatively): Disqualified.
“…such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions.” (Colossians 2:18)
Cross-Refs: 1 Timothy 6:4; 2 Peter 2:18.
Why (wrong motive): Spiritual pride, seeking hidden visions.
“…puffed up with idle notions.” (Colossians 2:18)
Cross-Refs: Ezekiel 13:6–7; Jude 8.
Result: Lost reward, excluded.
“Do not let anyone… disqualify you.” (Colossians 2:18)
Cross-Refs: 1 Corinthians 9:27; Revelation 3:11.
Sensual Indulgence
Category: Failure of holiness
Could endure: Put to death sinful desires.
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed.” (Colossians 3:5)
Cross-Refs: Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:24.
Chose wrongly: Continued in sinful passions.
“But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language.” (Colossians 3:8)
Cross-Refs: Ephesians 5:3–5; James 1:20.
Endured (negatively): God’s wrath.
“Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.” (Colossians 3:6)
Cross-Refs: Romans 1:18; Revelation 21:8.
Why (wrong motive): Desire for pleasure, greed (idolatry).
“…greed, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5)
Cross-Refs: 1 Timothy 6:9–10; Titus 3:3.
Result: Put off from the new life.
“You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.” (Colossians 3:7)
Cross-Refs: 1 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 5:8.