“Beware lest anyone lead you astray through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ" (Colossians 2:8).
Paul is not saying that all human philosophy is false. He himself quoted the poets and philosophers of his day when their statements were true. (Grammarians consider Paul's "and" separating “philosophy” and “empty deceit” in the text above to be “epexegetical”—a word that clarifies, i.e., "philosophy that is empty and deceitful.") All truth is God’s truth, but there are philosophies that are empty and deceitful, and thus are "not according to Christ" (2:3).
My son Brian pointed out to me this morning that the problem these days is not too much information, but a glut of misinformation. Social, print, educational and entertainment media inundate us with lies. Jesus said that Satan is the liar behind all other liars and a murderer (John 8:44). His purpose is to destroy men and women, boys and girls and he does so by deceit.
In which case "according to Christ” is the rule to live by, the way to discern good and evil, the means by which all philosophies, creeds, systems, policies and platforms can be tested. It’s the question for this hour: “Did Jesus say that?" It's a useful query in an age in which everything is up for grabs.
There's an old question inscribed on the braceletes that kids used to wear: WWJD? (What would Jesus do?) Here's another: WDJS? (What did Jesus say?)
Jesus said, "Blessed is the man who hears these words of mine and does them, for he's like a man who builds his house on a rock." When evil comes in like a flood he won't be swept away (Matthew 7:24,25).
David Roper
10.11.20
[It's worth restating that Jesus’ sayings were continued through his apostles who wrote the New Testament.
In the Upper Room Jesus said explicitly to his apostles, “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26). This was the apostolic warrant for writing the Gospels and an explanation for their uncanny recollection of all that Jesus said.
Again Jesus said to his apostles, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come” (John 16:13). This was the apostle’s authority for writing the rest of the New Testament, including the eschatological texts (the “things that are to come”).
Paul, a late-coming apostle, wrote, “When you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
Thus, the New Testament is essentially “what Jesus said,” our authoritative guide for faith and conduct, and God’s final word.]
