How do some Christians use Colossians 2 8 to support their belief that faith does not need to be defended on philosophical grounds?

Answer 1

Let's take a look at this particular Scripture:

Colossians 2:8

New English Translation (NET)

8 Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Some Christians have used this verse from time to time to teach that Christians should not study or read 'philosophy.' But this is not what Paul was saying as Paul himself, was quite adept in philosophy - see Stoic and Epicurean philosophies interactions in Acts 17:1-34. What Paul was simply saying then was new believers should not be taken in by any philosopy that does not conform to a proper knowledge of Christ.

This was because there were tons of false teachers in Colosse at that time and these would combine worldly philosophies with the new Gospel. Paul called this kind of teaching the 'basic principles' of the world which some had interpreted as 'spirits' or 'angels' who supposedly would control a person's life (see Galatians 4:3, 9). These principles seem to be the elementary rules and regulations that certain teachers were seeking to impose on new believers according to the dictates of human philosophies. Paul called these people 'heretics' and his strongest indictment agaist them was their own teachings were 'not according to Christ' and these people were not walking with Christ:

Galatians 4:8-9

New English Translation (NET)

Heirs of Promise Are Not to Return to Law

8 Formerly when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods at all. 9 But now that you have come to know God (or rather to be known by God), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless basic forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?