Philosophy and religious tradition - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

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
Colossians 2:8

Philosophy and religious tradition
By means of philosophy, shrewd scholars endeavour to explain both the origin and the purpose of the world and mankind, but they overlook God. This makes man the centre of attention. The logic of philosophical argumentation attracts especially those who wish to grasp things with their understanding.
By "empty deceit according to the basic principles of the world" the Bible means religions and traditions devised by mankind. We could include Judaism and traditional Christianity under this heading.
Philosophy and religious tradition are elements of the world. The Bible warns us against them. Just what is so bad about them? They are a product of the human mind in which God and His thoughts have no place, but in which sin can work unhindered.
When the apostle writes "Beware!", he is warning us earnestly. As believers, we do not belong to the world, although we live in it and are affected by our environment daily. How easily we can be blinded by Philosophy or impressed by religious traditions. As a consequence we are drawn away from the Lord Jesus, and our simple faith in the Word of God suffers. Let us beware of this deceit!
Philosophy and religious tradition, moreover, prevent many people from putting their faith in the Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Intelligence and spurious religion often prove an insurmountable hurdle.
Today's reading: Proverbs 11:16-31