SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:4
¶ Y esto digo, para que nadie os engae con palabras persuasivas.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Colossians 2:4
Verse 4. Lest any man should beguile you] The word paralogizhtai means to deceive by sophistry or subtle reasoning, in which all the conclusions appear to be fairly drawn from the premises, but the premises are either assumed without evidence, or false in themselves; but this not being easily discovered, the unthinking or unwary are carried away by the conclusions which are drawn from these premises. And this result is clearly intimated by the term piqanologia, enticing words, plausible conclusions or deductions from this mode of reasoning. The apostle seems to allude to the Gentile philosophers, who were notorious for this kind of argumentation. Plato and Socrates are not free from it.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 4. And this I say , etc.] That he had such a conflict for them, and had told them of his care and fear on their account, and had signified his great desire that they might arrive to a more large and certain knowledge of the mysteries of grace, and had asserted that all solid spiritual wisdom and knowledge were in Christ; all which he said, to show his affection for them; to observe unto them, that there was no need to seek for wisdom and knowledge elsewhere, since there was such a fulness of it in Christ, and the Gospel; and to put them upon their guard against false teachers: lest any man should beguile you with enticing words ; by which are meant, not apt and pertinent words, such as are suited to the minds of men, and proper to convey right ideas of divine truth, poignant expressions, sound speech, and strong reasonings; for such the apostle himself used, and yet not enticing words of men's wisdom; and which design mere words, great swelling words of vanity, which like bubbles look big, and make a great noise, but contain nothing but wind and emptiness; fair speeches, specious pretences, false colourings, fallacious reasonings, a show of probability, and appearance of science, falsely so called; whereby deceitful workers, such as the followers of Simon Magus and the Gnostics, used, whom the apostle had in view; beguiled unstable souls, and deceived the hearts of the simple: wherefore the apostle said the above things, showing that all true wisdom was in Christ, and all spiritual knowledge was in the pure and unmixed Gospel; which was not to be parted with for other things, which through art and management, and the cunning craftiness of men, might at first sight carry in them a show of probability, and appearance of truth. The gold, the silver, and precious stones of divine truths, which have been proved by the standard, are not to be given up for such as only look like them, being wrought up through the fallacy of men; who by a set of unmeaning words, paralogisms, and false reasonings, lie in wait to deceive.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - The soul prospers when we have clear knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. When we not only believe with the heart, but are ready, when called, to make confession with the mouth. Knowledge and faith make soul rich. The stronger our faith, and the warmer our love, the mor will our comfort be. The treasures of wisdom are hid, not from us, but for us, in Christ. These were hid from proud unbelievers, but displaye in the person and redemption of Christ. See the danger of enticin words; how many are ruined by the false disguises and fair appearance of evil principles and wicked practices! Be aware and afraid of thos who would entice to any evil; for they aim to spoil you. All Christian have, in profession at least, received Jesus Christ the Lord, consente to him, and taken him for theirs. We cannot be built up in Christ, or grow in him, unless we are first rooted in him, or founded upon him Being established in the faith, we must abound therein, and improve in it more and more. God justly withdraws this benefit from those who d not receive it with thanksgiving; and gratitude for his mercies is justly required by God.
Greek Textus Receptus
τουτο 5124 δε 1161 λεγω 3004 5719 ινα 2443 μη 3361 τις 5100 υμας 5209 παραλογιζηται 3884 5741 εν 1722 πιθανολογια 4086
Vincent's NT Word Studies
4. Beguile (paralogizhtai). Only here and Jas. i. 22. See note. Rev., delude. So Ignatius, speaking of the duty of obedience to the bishop, says: "He that fails in this, does not deceive the visible bishop, but attempts to cheat (paralogizetai) the Invisible" (Epistle to Magnesians, 3.). The word is found in the Septuagint, Josh. ix. 22; 1 Sam. xix. 17; 2 Samuel xxi. 5.
Enticing words (piqanologia). Rev., persuasiveness of speech. Only here in the New Testament. In classical Greek, of probable argument as opposed to demonstration. So Plato: "Reflect whether you are disposed to admit of probability (piqanologia) and figures of speech in matters of such importance" ("Theaetetus," 163). Compare 1 Cor. ii. 4.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
2:4 { this I say} (touto legw). Paul explains why he has made this great claim for Christ at this point in his discussion. {May delude} (paralogizetai). Present middle subjunctive of paralogizomai, old verb, only here in N.T., from para and logizomai, to count aside and so wrong, to cheat by false reckoning, to deceive by false reasoning (Epictetus). {With persuasiveness of speech} (en piqanologiai). Rare word (Plato) from piqanos and logos, speech, adapted to persuade, qen speciously leading astray. Only here in N.T. One papyrus example. The art of persuasion is the height of oratory, but it easily degenerates into trickery and momentary and flashy deceit such as Paul disclaimed in #1Co 2:4 (ouk en piqois sofias logois) where he uses the very adjective piqos (persuasive) of which piqanos (both from peiqw) is another form. It is curious how winning champions of error, like the Gnostics and modern faddists, can be with plausibility that catches the gullible.
