Colossians 2:8c – Spiritual Dangers

…and the elemental spiritual forces of this world…

Summary: With three simple words the NIV translation of Paul’s letter transports us into the realm of the unknown. As we ponder what Paul means, we find a warning against pagan beliefs. 

Whenever I read this passage, I stop and pause when I get to the phrase “elemental spiritual forces.” The wording is very unusual. The idea of “elemental spiritual forces” intrigues me, and I find myself wondering what Paul is talking about. 

Over four hundred years before Christ was born, the Greek philosopher Empedocles proposed the idea of four elements — Earth, Water, Air, and Fire. Amazingly, this simple approach to science survived for almost two millennia. In Paul’s day, the Four Elements would have been the basis for categorizing all known things. 

Practically speaking, people knew the difference between dirt and gold, water and wine, etc. Yet, somehow, all things “wet” were water, and all things “solid” were considered earth. 

Knowing this, I have wondered if Paul was applying this simple kind of logic to the spiritual realm as well. Did his “elemental spiritual forces” come in four basic types, too? 

The best answer I can give you is “maybe.” (There is a lot of uncertainty about what Paul means in this passage.)

The Greek word he used, “stoicheîon,” suggests a logical approach. The word implies an ordered system or organized system of thought. 

The idea of “spiritual forces” actually is not that mysterious. The Bible is full of stories about angels and demons. Some are terrifying (Mark 5:1-20), and some are humorous (Acts 19:13-16). In one case, the Bible records Paul casting out a spirit that could predict the future (Acts 16: 16-19). 

The concept of spiritual things is strange to the secular mind, but those of us who believe in God understand that God is Spirit (John 4:23). We also know that we, as people, have spirits, too. With God in control, the spiritual realm makes sense. 

But what happens when the secular mind discovers spiritual realities without God? This is the root of all belief systems that deal with spiritual concepts outside the Judeo-Christian faith. Just like mixing the Old Covenant requirement for circumcision with the New Covenant requirement for faith in Jesus, mixing any other belief system with faith in Jesus is bad. 

As Paul develops his warning against anything that dilutes our faith in Jesus, he includes a phrase that covers any and all competing belief systems. In this case, he is thinking of any system built on spiritual knowledge that isn’t centered on Jesus. 

Application: Be wary of people claiming spiritual knowledge if they don’t acknowledge Jesus as Lord. 

Food for Thought: What thoughts come to your mind when you read Paul’s words about “elemental spiritual forces?”