Colossians 2:4
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I say this so that no one will deceive you by smooth rhetoric.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
And--"Now." Compare with "lest any man," &c. Col 2:8, Col 2:16, Col 2:18. He refers to the blending of Judaism with Oriental philosophy, and the combination of this mixture with Christianity. enticing words--plausible as wearing the guise of wisdom and humility (Col 2:18, Col 2:23).
Open source ↗The apostle cautions the Colossians against deceivers (Col 2:4): And this I say lest any man beguile you with enticing words; and Col 2:8, Lest any man spoil you. He insists so much upon the perfection of Christ and the gospel revelation, to preserve them from the ensnaring insinuations of those who would corrupt their principles. Note, 1. The way in which Satan spoils souls is by beguiling them. He deceives them, and by this means slays them. He is the old serpent who beguiled Eve through his subtlety, Co2 11:3. He could not ruin us if he did not cheat us; and he could not cheat us but by our own fault and folly. 2. Satan's agents, who aim to spoil them, beguile them with enticing words. See the danger of enticing words; how many are ruined by the flattery of those who lie in wait to deceive, and by the false disguises and fair appearances of evil principles and wicked practices. By good words, and fair speeches, they deceive the hearts of the simple, Rom 16:18. "You ought to stand upon your guard against enticing words, and be aware and afraid of those who would entice you to any evil; for that which they aim at is to spoil you." If sinners entice thee, consent thou not, Pro 1:10. Observe, I. A sovereign antidote against seducers (Col 2:6, Col 2:7): As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in him, rooted and built up, etc. Here note, 1. All Christians have, in profession at least, received Jesus Christ the Lord, received him as Christ, the great prophet of the church, anointed by God to reveal his will; as Jesus the great high priest, and Saviour from sin and wrath, by the expiatory sacrifice of himself; and as Lord, or sovereign and king, whom we are to obey and be subject to. - Received him, consented to him, taken him for ours in every rela…
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.
Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you.
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
while evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
But avoid irreverent, empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness,
Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.
and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to assemble them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the seashore.