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Philosophy (5385) (philosophia from philos = friend/lover + sophia = wisdom) is literally a love of wisdom and came to mean tenets of heathen Gentile philosophers. "Human understanding or wisdom and, by implication, in contrast with divinely revealed knowledge." (Louw-Nida). The only other uses are in the Apocryphal book of 4 Maccabees - 4 Macc 1:1; 5:11, 22; 7:9, 21.
On the Areopagus at Athens Paul encountered members of the two leading philosophies of his day, Epicureanism and Stoicism (Acts 17:18ff.).
See more detailed Bible Dictionary definitions - Philosophy
BDAG says philosophia is used here "in a pejorative sense (negative connotation), with kenos apate, of erroneous teaching."
Thayer may be a bit speculative in his definition of philosophia...
Once in the N. T. of the theology, or rather theosophy, of certain Jewish-Christian ascetics, which busied itself with refined and speculative inquiries into the nature and classes of angels, into the ritual of the Mosaic law and the regulations of Jewish tradition respecting practical life
Daniel Hill (with Daniel J. Treier) writes that...
Philosophy, which etymology suggests to be “the love of wisdom,” is perhaps best thought of as the study of abstract and ultimate questions and their answers. What is meant by “abstract and ultimate”? To be philosophical, questions and their answers must be abstract, rather than particular questions of empirical matters of fact: philosophy does not ask what causes the rain to fall, but what causation is. (Dictionary for theological interpretation of the Bible)
The Gnostics were fond of philosophia. The modern definition of the word must not be read into its use in the Bible. Philosophy, as the study of reality, knowledge, and values, is a profitable and biblically supported endeavor. However, this is not the meaning of the word in Scripture. There it carries a negative connotation and refers to quasi–religious doctrines and speculations (e.g., Gnosticism) all of which are irreconcilable with the Christian faith.
As John Blanchard so correctly phrased it "Philosophy is the search for truth. In Jesus, the search ends."
G Campbell Morgan - Philosophy has been a quest, and never a conquest.
Billy Graham adds that "Any philosophy which deals only with the here and now is not adequate for man."
Hugh Silvester - Philosophy has shown itself over and over again to be full of arguments but lacking in conclusions”
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones may have said it best "If a philosophy of life cannot help me to die, then in a sense it cannot help me to live." And in context the "Colossian philosophy" wrought spiritual slavery, not life and freedom.
A W Tozer wrote that...
Philosophy and science have not always been friendly towards the idea of God, the reason being that they are dedicated to the task of accounting for things and are impatient with anything that refuses to give an account of itself.
J. I. Packer - No philosophy that will not teach us how to master death is worth twopence to us.
“Philosophers are people who talk about something they don’t understand and make you think it’s your fault!” Another person quipped that a philosopher was like "A blind man in a dark room looking for a black hat which is not there." Someone else said that "Philosophy is saying what everybody knows in language that no one can understand." A more dignified definition of philosophy is man’s attempt to befuddle himself scientifically!
John Calvin wrote that...
The exhortations of the philosophers are cold and lifeless, if compared with the convictions, affections and boundless energy of the real believers....(and added that) The sublimest virtue according to philosophy is to live the life of nature, but Scripture points us to the perfect Christ as our example.
George Barlow...
Any philosophy, though championed by the most brilliant intellects, that tends to lure the soul from Christ, that puts anything in the place of him, or depreciates in any way our estimate of his glorious character, is false and full of peril.
Philosophia is found in the ancient writings from Epistle of Aristeas, II B.C....
The king said that this man had answered well, and asked another What is philosophy? And he explained, ‘To deliberate well in reference to any question that emerges and never to be carried away by impulses, but to ponder over the injuries that result from the passions, and to act rightly as the circumstances demand, practising moderation. But we must pray to God to instil into our mind a regard for these things.’ (Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament)
Plato uses philosophia...
Theodorus - Well, Socrates, we have plenty of leisure, have we not?
Socrates - Apparently we have. And that makes me think, my friend, as I have often done before, how natural it is that those who have spent a long time in the study of philosophy appear ridiculous when they enter the courts of law as speakers. (Plato in Twelve Volumes, Vol. 12 translated by Harold N. Fowler)
Josephus uses philosophia in his writings...
Now, both these methods of knowledge I may very properly pretend to in the composition of both my works; for, as I said, I have translated the Antiquities out of our sacred books; which I easily could do, since I was a priest by my birth, and have studied that philosophy which is contained in those writings (Against Apion 1.54)
However if by philosophy we mean the search for clarity and understanding regarding the whole of reality, then the Christian must in a sense philosophize. He must think clearly, and he must strive for a self-consistent view of life. In his quest, however, he must always submit to the guidance, limitation, and criticism of the light of divine revelation. On the other hand, if by philosophy we mean human speculation regarding man’s basic questions without due respect for the revelation of God, then the Christian, no doubt, will accord this philosophy a greatly diminished relevance to his life and calling.
S Lewis Johnson has an interesting discussion of philosophy writing that
To Shakespeare’s question, “Hast any philosophy in thee, Shepherd?” many a Christian would reply firmly, even indignantly, in the negative. Would not Paul’s statement in the second chapter of Colossians lend support, too? His words are, “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”. And who has not heard the definition, “Philosophers are people who talk about something they don’t understand and make you think it’s your fault!” Or, the more dignified one, “Philosophy is man’s attempt to befuddle himself scientifically!” Much depends upon our semantics at this point. If by philosophy we mean the search for clarity and understanding regarding the whole of reality, then the Christian must in a sense philosophize. He must think clearly, and he must strive for a self-consistent view of life. In his quest, however, he must always submit to the guidance, limitation, and criticism of the light of divine revelation. On the other hand, if by philosophy we mean human speculation regarding man’s basic questions without due respect for the revelation of God, then the Christian, no doubt, will accord this philosophy a greatly diminished relevance to his life and calling. The philosophy to which Paul refers in Colossians 2:8 was, we have seen in preceding studies, most likely a form of gnostic Judaism, inadequately influenced by the revelation of God in Christ. To its “enticing words” (Colossians 2:4) of intellectual exclusivism the Colossians were in danger of falling prey. It is for this reason that Paul utters his disapproval of philosophy. I seriously question the view that Paul, as Tertullian after him, is to be understood as condemning all study of philosophy. Great sections of Paul’s own writings would be difficult to comprehend if we possessed no knowledge of contemporary philosophies (cf. 1Cor 15:1–58). No, the apostle does not condemn philosophy in toto, nor should any Christian, but he does say to that which is not in harmony with divine revelation, “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” (Shakespeare, Hamlet, I, 5)." (Bibliotheca Sacra: Dallas Theological Seminary. page 309, 1962)
Thielicke has said,
Whenever God the Creator is deposed as the absolute and sovereign Lord of the world and our life, the 'gods' take over.
Despite the prominence of philosophy in Greco-Roman world, this is the only mention of philosophy in the Bible, and here God warns against it. Similarly, the only mention of philosophers (Acts 17:18) describes the two major philosophical schools of thought, both of which opposed Paul as he preached Christ. Paul may have been thinking mainly of the Epicureans and Stoics when he wrote this warning, but his divinely guided pen simply said to beware of all philosophy. The love of human wisdom characterizes every system of philosophy; they all follow the tradition of men and the elements of the world. Instead, men should love Christ, Who has made true wisdom unto us (1Cor 1:30) and in whom are stored all the treasures of true wisdom and true knowledge (Col 2:3-note). As Paul had already written, Christ had created and was sustaining everything (Col 1:16, 17-see notes Col 1:16; 17). Any philosophy centered on men or so-called gods, rather than in the true God of creation, is bound to be false and harmful.
A close parallel to this warning in Colossians is found in Paul's warning in
O Timothy, guard (aorist imperative = do this & do it now. Conveys sense of urgency) what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge" which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you." (1Ti 6:20, 21)
J Vernon McGee comments that
If you were to follow the history of philosophy beginning with Plato, including many of the church fathers, and coming down to more recent times (including Kant, Locke, and Bultmann, who seems to be the craze with some theologians right now), you would find that none of them have a high view of the inspiration of the Word of God. They are looking for answers to the problems of life, but they will not be found in philosophy. A true philosopher is a seeker after truth, but truth is not found in human wisdom. Christ is the answer, the answer to philosophy. Paul wrote, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom …” (1Cor 1:30). But false philosophy is like a blind man looking in a dark room for a black cat that isn’t there—there is no hope for its search for truth. Paul warns the Colossians to beware of this. (McGee, J V: Thru the Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson or Logos)
Harry Ironside, the respected pastor of Moody Memorial Church in Chicago writes that...
Scripture nowhere condemns the acquisition of knowledge. It is the wisdom of this world, not its knowledge, that is foolishness with God. Philosophy is but worldly wisdom. It is the effort of the human mind to solve the mystery of the universe. It is not an exact science, for the philosophers have never been able to come to any satisfactory conclusion as to either the "why" or the "wherefore" of things....From Plato to Kant, and from Kant to the last of the moderns, one system has overturned another, so that the history of philosophy is a story of contradictory, discarded hypotheses. This is not to say that the philosophers were or are dishonest men, but it is to say that many of them have failed to avail themselves of that which would unravel every knot and solve every problem, namely, the revelation of God in Christ as given in the Holy Scriptures. Plato yearned for a divine Word--"logos"--which would come with authority and make everything plain. That Word is Christ of Whom John writes, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (Jn 1:1) And again, "The Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us, and we beheld His glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (Jn 1:14) The Word is no longer hidden. We do not need to search for it. "The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Ro 10:8, 9-notes)
It is said that there is a tombstone from ancient Rome that has inscribed on it the following:
I was not and I became;
I was and am no more.
This much is true;
Whoever says other, lies;
For I shall not be,
And thou who livest, drink, play, come.
Although we are separated from the one buried under that inscription by many centuries, that is the philosophy of our generation. But the Christian message is that there is more than this life. Life does not end at death, and so it has a purpose greater than enjoyment and pleasure. (From Michael Green - Illustrations for Biblical Preaching: Over 1500 sermon illustrations arranged by topic and indexed exhaustively)
OR EMPTY DECEPTION: kai kenês apatês: (Ro 16:17 Ep 5:6)
hollow and deceptive philosophy (NIV )
high-sounding nonsense. (Phillips)
a theosophy which is specious make-believe (Moffatt)
The fact that the two nouns, "philosophy" and "deceit" are the objects of the one preposition dia ("through") and the lack of the article with "empty deception" indicate that the "empty" and "deception" both describe the character of the philosophy. This verse could then be read "Beware lest any man lead you away captive through the philosophy which is empty and deceptive.
Noted Christian apologist Ron Rhodes explains why Christians should not discount "all philosophy"
any Christians today seem to misunderstand the apostle Paul’s warning in Colossians 2:8: “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition.” The truth is, the Bible—interpreted rightly—is no more against philosophy than it is against religion. The Bible is against vain philosophy. Likewise, the Bible is not opposed to religion per se, but only against vain religion (James 1:26-27). In Colossians 2:8, Paul is not speaking about philosophy in general, but about a particular philosophy that was apparently influencing the church at Colossae, which is usually understood as an early form of Gnosticism. This is indicated by Paul’s use of a definite article (in the original Greek), which should be translated “the philosophy” or “this philosophy.” So Paul was referring to this particular Gnostic-like philosophy that had invaded the church in Colossae—a philosophy that involved legalism, mysticism, and asceticism (all of which are antithetical to Christianity)—and not to all philosophy. God places no premium on ignorance or shallow thinking (see Matthew 22:37 (Ed: Mark 12:30 adds "all your strength"); Acts 17:17,28,34; Philippians 1:16; Titus 1:12; 1 Peter 3:15). An awareness of the various philosophical disciplines can equip Christians to argue against anti-Christian philosophies (Acts 17:22-31) and use philosophical tools in proving the truth of Christianity....We shouldn’t be reluctant to study philosophy, for it can help us refute error and defend the truth of Christianity. (5-minute apologetics for today: 365 quick answers to key questions, Harvest House)
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