What danger does Colossians 2:8 warn against?
The danger is being spoiled through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men and the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. It warns against being inundated by tradition and falling through man-made philosophy rather than lining everything up with the Word.
Les teaches that Colossians 2:8 warns against being spoiled through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. He points out that most of us have been inundated with tradition; tradition is alright as far as it goes, but it must always be lined up again with the Word. The danger is falling through the philosophy of vain deceit and the traditions of men. This flows into verse 9, which declares that in Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, contrasting human tradition with the fullness found in Christ.
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.