SEE TO IT: blepete (2PPAM):  (Colossians 4:17, Deut 6:12, Gal 5:1,Mk 4:24, Mk 12:38,Mk 13:9, 13:33, Mt 7:15, Mt 16:6, Mt 24:4, Acts 20;29-31,Eph 5:15, Phil 3:2,Heb 3:12, 2Pet 3:1, 2Jn 8)

Be ever on your guard (Wuest)

See to it (blepo) watch, to see but in context of the spiritual dangers conveys the idea of more than just to see but to "Look out!" "Beware!" "Watch out!" "Take heed!" "Take note!" "Be aware of!".

The present tense (habitual, lifestyle), imperative mood (a command not a suggestion!) calls for this discerning attitude to be the habit of every saint in the Colossian church (verb is plural) and not just the elders. The active voice means that the subject must initiate this action as a choice of his or her will.

Being continually watchful for false teaching does not come naturally. Paul is not encouraging a "critical spirit" but a "discerning spirit" and there is a crucial difference between the two. The former can destroy, while the latter serves to defend the local body of Christ. Next time you make a comment under your breath during the congregational meeting (or out loud afterwards!) ask yourself whether the comment is critical or discerning. Remember Jesus' warning

that every careless (argos = pertaining to not working = idle, inactive, ineffective, producing no good effect) word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment." (Mt 12:36)

On the other hand

Let no unwholesome (sapros = rotten, putrefying, corrupt, disgusting) word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification (oikodome = literally building of a house, the process of building) according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear." (see note Ephesians 4:29)

Paul continues the military imagery with his warning that they

Beware lest any man carry you off as a captive” (literal translation)

The false teachers did not go out and win the lost, no more than the cultists do today. They “kidnapped” converts from churches! A sad commentary on American Christianity is the fact that most of the people who are now members of cults were at one time associated with a Christian church! If you don't stand for the Truth, you're vulnerable to fall for any lie!

So Paul gives a serious warning for continual vigilance, for you to keep your "spiritual radar" continually on high alert (a jet liner crashed in June, 2002 over Germany killing 100's because a radar tower was not properly monitoring the air traffic). Paul is saying we need to keep our "spiritual antennae" in the "receiving mode" with the filter of discernment turned "on" so that we can filter out the wisdom of man (recognizing it as such because we know the Truth). An unguarded mind, even of a believer, is subject to deceit, misunderstanding, and confusion, which inevitably results in false doctrine and false (sinful) living. The undiscerning saint is analogous to an "innocent", defenseless child, and the result is they are

tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming" (see note Ephesians 4:14)

Test every high-sounding religious system by constantly asking,

Does it give Christ the place of preeminence?” and if so 

"Is it the real Jesus and not "another Jesus" (2Cor 11:4)

Using the name of "Jesus" or "Christ" does not automatically stamp a ministry, man or practice as "sound doctrine". Jesus warned us that we must

be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves" (Mt 10:16)

Paul added that we must be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. (see note Romans 16:19), remembering that from the very beginning "the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field" (Gen 3:1). 

Examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil." (see notes 1Thessalonians 5:21; 22)

When we hear a "new teaching" or of an author everyone is "praising", we need to have the mindset of the church at Berea

examining (present tense = continually) the Scriptures daily to see whether these things (eg today "these things" might be "new teaching" "new authors" "new practices") were so." (see note Acts 17:11)

Almost every religious system today gives Christ an eminent place, but only Biblical Christianity gives Him the preeminent place. Everything you read, hear, see, think, believe needs to be sifted thru this grid

Is it according to Christ, Who He is, What He has done, What He will do?"

This is the preventative to keep one from being led astray. Dr. Wayne Barber has stated that 5 of the 10 men instrumental in his early walk of faith have strayed from the truth in their preaching and no longer are emphasizing the centrality amd completeness of Christ in their message! If any of us think that we stand we must "take heed" (same verb as Col2:8) lest we too fall prey to empty philosophies of the world (1Co 10:12).

Paul insists on the need of vigilance. History teaches us the poignant lesson that again and again a seemingly invincible military fortress was stormed because its defenders thought that it was impregnable & thus became complacent in guarding the gates and walls.

In Revelation 3:3 (note) the risen Christ warns the Church of Sardis to be on the watch.  The historical background for Christ's warning is fascinating. The Acropolis of Sardis was built on a 1500' jutting spur of rock that was smugly felt by its citizens to be impregnable. When Cyrus was besieging it, he offered a special reward to any who could find a way in. A certain enemy soldier named Hyeroeades was watching one day and saw a soldier in the Sardian garrison accidentally drop his helmet over the battlements. He saw him climb down after it and took note of his "secret" path. That night he led a band up the cliffs by that very path and when they reached the top they found it quite unguarded; so they entered in and captured the citadel, which had been considered impregnable. Cyrus, king of the Medo-Persians, captured Sardis by scaling the secret path. Once conquered, the city fell into a downward spiral from which they never recovered. The spiritual life is a chancy business if we do not watch over our hearts with all diligence (Pr 4:23 See Torrey's Topic "Diligence")

Believers must

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert (be clear headed, keep watch,  be well balanced, temperate, sober of mind, be vigilant and cautious at all times, stay awake, be vigilant). (see note 1 Peter 5:8)

Both of these verbs are in the aorist imperative, signifying an urgent command calling for immediate action in view of the looming danger.  What danger? Peter goes on to explain that

Your adversary (literally one against you in a lawsuit), the devil, prowls around like a roaring (howling of a fierce hungry) lion, seeking someone to (seize upon) devour (swallow down).  But resist (withstand, aorist imperative) him, firm (steadfast, solid like a foundation, firmly fixed, holding your position, a military metaphor) in your faith..." (see note 1 Peter 5:9)

THAT NO ONE TAKES YOU CAPTIVE: me tis humas estai (3SFMI) o sulagôgôn (PAPMSN): (Acts 20;28-32 Heb13:9 Topic "False Doctrine")

Paul's use here of the indicative mood in the verb (estai) points to a real, not hypothetical danger.

Lightfoot adds that

The form of the sentence is a measure of the imminence of the peril.

Takes captive (sulagogeo from sulao = strip, rob +  ago = carry away) literally means to carry away prey and then to lead away as booty, slaves or captives.

Sulagogeo could be used of a slave-dealer carrying away the people of a conquered nation into slavery. To Paul it was a tragic thought that the Colossians who had been liberated would contemplate submitting themselves to a new and disastrous slavery.

Sulagogeo is a figurative description of the destructive effects of false teachers who rob believers of the complete riches available in Christ as revealed in the Gospel---Don't let anyone (the pronoun is singular -- suggesting there may have been some particularly influential or charismatic individual Paul had in mind) KIDNAP you and CARRY you OFF!

KJV has interesting twist: Beware lest any man SPOIL you

Webster defines the noun form of "spoil" as "plunder taken from an enemy in war or a victim in robbery...the act of damaging...something taken from another by force or craft"

Now put this definition into the context of Colossians 2:3 (note) where Paul reminds the saints that in Christ

are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Is some seductive teaching or mystical practice beginning to plunder "the treasure" you possess in Christ? Paul says "keep your eyes open" to this ever present danger. The best defense is a good offense so

Let the word of Christ richly dwell (make itself at home in your heart and mind, present imperative ~ command to make this practice or the habit of your life and not an afterthought) within you with all wisdom teaching & admonishing one another" (see note Colossians 3:16)

When you kidnap someone, you take them from living free to a state of being enslaved, and thus the picture Paul is painting is that of taking over complete control of a person by taking control of their mind. Spiritual warfare is not a struggle against power but is a struggle to maintain Truth. The battle is always over Truth & the battlefield is the mind. Our focus is to be on the resurrected, ascended, glorified Lord Jesus Christ and on His resurrection power in each individual life.  False teachers seek to carry us away from the FREEDOM (Ja 1:25, Jn 8:31-36) we have in Christ and to ENSLAVE us in their false doctrine. Thus you can see why Paul was so burdened and struggling so intensely to proclaim Christ (see notes Colossians 1:28; 29). Promising freedom these false teachers are themselves enslaved according to (see note 2 Peter 2:19).

How many instances of this kind of kidnapping have we seen, or how many failures of faith on the part of young people going to college to study? Young people who have been raised in Christian homes, but who have been exposed to the wily, subtle teachings of human wisdom, have turned away from the things of Christ, often into wild, riotous living. Why? Because no one warned them, or else they did not heed the warning to avoid being made a prey of human knowledge.

THROUGH PHILOSOPHY: dia tês philosophias: (Acts 17:18,32; Ro 1:21,22; 1Cor 1:19-23; 3:18,19; 15:35,36; 2Cor 10:5; 1Ti 6:20; 2Ti 2:17,18; 3:13)

Spurgeon writes...

Philosophy (philosophia from phílos = friend/lover + sophía = wisdom) is literally a love of wisdom and came to mean tenets of heathen Gentile philosophers.

The Gnostics were fond of philosophia. The modern definition of the word must not be read into its use in the Bible. Philosophy, as the study of reality, knowledge, and values, is a profitable and biblically supported endeavor. However, this is not the meaning of the word in Scripture. There it carries a negative connotation and refers to quasi–religious doctrines and speculations (e.g., Gnosticism) all of which are irreconcilable with the Christian faith.

“Philosophers are people who talk about something they don’t understand and make you think it’s your fault!”

Or the more dignified definition,

Philosophy is man’s attempt to befuddle himself scientifically!

However if by philosophy we mean the search for clarity and understanding regarding the whole of reality, then the Christian must in a sense philosophize. He must think clearly, and he must strive for a self-consistent view of life. In his quest, however, he must always submit to the guidance, limitation, and criticism of the light of divine revelation. On the other hand, if by philosophy we mean human speculation regarding man’s basic questions without due respect for the revelation of God, then the Christian, no doubt, will accord this philosophy a greatly diminished relevance to his life and calling.

Thielicke has said,

Whenever God the Creator is deposed as the absolute and sovereign Lord of the world and our life, the 'gods' take over.

Despite the prominence of philosophy in Greco-Roman world, this is the only mention of philosophy in the Bible, and here God warns against it. Similarly, the only mention of philosophers (Acts 17:18) describes the two major philosophical schools of thought, both of which opposed Paul as he preached Christ. Paul may have been thinking mainly of the Epicureans and Stoics when he wrote this warning, but his divinely guided pen simply said to beware of all philosophy. The love of human wisdom characterizes every system of philosophy; they all follow the tradition of men and the elements of the world. Instead, men should love Christ, Who has made true wisdom unto us (1Cor 1:30) and in whom are stored all the treasures of true wisdom and true knowledge (see note Colossians 2:3). As Paul had already written, Christ had created and was sustaining everything (see notes Colossians 1:16; 17). Any philosophy centered on men or so-called gods, rather than in the true God of creation, is bound to be false and harmful.

A close parallel to this warning in Colossians is found in Paul's warning in

O Timothy, guard (aorist imperative = do this & do it now. Conveys sense of urgency) what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and