Colossians 2:4

Colossians 2:4

And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

a. NLT: I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. NIV: I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]

c. YLT: And this I say, that no one may beguile you in enticing words, [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

d. Amplified Bible Classic:  I say this in order that no one may mislead and delude you by plausible and persuasive and attractive arguments and beguiling speech. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

1. “And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.”

a. And [Strong 1161: de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. this [Strong: 5124 touto too'-to neuter singular nominative or accusative case of 3778; that thing:--here (-unto), it, partly, self(-same), so, that (intent), the same, there(-fore, -unto), this, thus, where(-fore).]

c. I say [Strong: 3004 lego leg'-o a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas 2036 and 5346 generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while 4483 is properly to break silence merely, and 2980 means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:--ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.]

d. lest [Strong: 3363 hina me hin'-ah may i.e. 2443 and 3361; in order (or so) that not:--albeit not, lest, that, no(-t, (-thing)).]

e. any man [Strong: 5100 tis tis an enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object:--a (kind of), any (man, thing, thing at all), certain (thing), divers, he (every) man, one (X thing), ought, + partly, some (man, -body, - thing, -what), (+ that no-)thing, what(-soever), X wherewith, whom(-soever), whose(-soever).]

f. should beguile [Strong: 3884 paralogizomai par-al-og-id'-zom-ahee from 3844 and 3049; to misreckon, i.e. delude:--beguile, deceive.] [Zodhiates:  paralogizomai; para-from, amiss; logizomai-to reason. To reason falsely or incorrectly, to mislead or deceive.]

g. you [Strong: 5209 humas hoo-mas' accusative case of 5210; you (as the objective of a verb or preposition):--ye, you (+ -ward), your (+ own).]

h. with [Strong: 1722 en en a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

i. enticing words [Strong: 4086 pithanologia pith-an-ol-og-ee'-ah from a compound of a derivative of 3982 and 3056; persuasive language:--enticing words.] [Zodhiates: pithanologia; pithanos-persuasive; logos-speech. Persuasive speech, discourse, or enticing words.]

1). In this verse Paul is telling us why he said the verse right before it. Paul told the Colossian saints that he was praying that they would have the full assurance of understanding the mystery of God, of the Father and of Christ. Then he said, In whom [God, the Father and Christ] are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Then to paraphrase he says, I say that just in case any man would try to deceive you by false reasoning by using seemingly convincing arguments. I believe he was warning the body of Christ that someone would try to deceive the church by saying there was some so called Christian wisdom out there other than in Christ.

a). Mary, The Morning Star, Rev. P.A. Sheehan, D.D. [p.7.] “Hence does the Church apply to the Mother of God these words of Uncreated Wisdom: “I came out of the mouth of the Most High, the first-born before all creatures. From the beginning and before the world was I created. The Lord possessed me in the beginning of His ways, before He made anything, from the beginning. I was set up from eternity and of old before the world was made. The depths were not as yet and I was already conceived.”

b). Part of the above is a translation of Proverbs 8:22-24. In Catholic Church doctrine, the wisdom of Proverbs 8 & 9, that is referred to in the female gender, is Mary.

c). The so called “Reverend” Sheehan commits blasphemy by referring to Mary as “The Morning Star”. In Revelation 22:16, Jesus is clearly given that title: “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. Perhaps the “D.D.” after his name means Sheehan is a dentist. He is certainly not a man of God.

d). Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pope Paul VI: “In its wonderful presentation of God’s plan for man’s salvation, the Bible is replete with the mystery of the Saviour, and from Genesis to the Book of Revelation also contains clear references to her who was the Mother and Associate of the Saviour. We would not however wish this biblical imprint to be merely a diligent use of texts and symbols skillfully selected from the Sacred Scriptures. More than this is necessary, What is needed is that texts of prayers and chants should draw their inspiration and their wording from the Bible, and above all that devotion to the Virgin should be imbued with the great themes of the Christian message. This would ensure that, as they venerate the Seat of Wisdom, the faithful in their turn will be enlightened by the divine word, and be inspired to live their lives in accordance with the precepts of Incarnate Wisdom.”

2). The words of the Pope apply to this passage. The words of the Pope are vain deceit, and words that will beguile and take captive men and women away from the truth of the gospel. 

a). Colossians 2:1-8 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

2:8 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.