Introduction to Colossians: Authorship, Date, Audience - Crain Home

Interpretation 2
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some of the Colossians to be attracted by it. It cannot
be determined with any certainty in what sense Paul
uses the word "philosophy", but it is generally
supposed to point to Hellenistic elements. It is possible
that the use of the terms "fullness" in 1:19,
"knowledge" in 2:3, and "neglect of the body" in 2:23
may also be drawn from the same general background.
All these terms were in use in second-century
Gnosticism.
c. Its Jewish environment.
The epistle reflects the fact that this heresy invloved
Jewish elements. The most conclusive reference is that
of circumcision (2:11; 3:11), of which Paul finds it
necessary to put it into its true Christian perspective.
The warning against human "tradition" (2:8) would be
an apt reference to the familiar Jewish tendency to
superimpose the traditions of the elders upon the
ancient law, but could also be understood of Gentile
tradition in view of its close association with
philosophy. The ritual tendencies found in 2:16, where
the readers are urged not to allow anyone to judge
them in respect to meat or drink, or feasts or new
moons or sabbaths, are predominantly, if not
exclusively, Jewish.
d. The elements of the world.
These elements may be understood in two ways, either
as elementary spirits or as elementary teachings.
Although the case of the former, it would be a
reference to the powerful spirit world which was at
that time widely believed to control the affairs of the
natural world. If it means "elementary teachings" it
would presumably describe a purely materialistic
doctrine concerned only with this world.
e. Exclusivism.
It is possible that there was a tendency towards
exclusivism among the false teachers since Paul seems
to be at pains to express the all-inclusiveness of
Christianity (1:20, 28; 3:11). It issignificant that in
3:28 Paul states his aim to present every man perfect,
since "perfection " was regarded in most Gnostic
circles as a privilege of the few.
f. From this somewhat fragmentary evidence it may
safely be deduced that the heresy was of syncretistic
Jewish-Gnosticizing type. One suggestion is that there