Colossians 2:4

I say this so that no one will deceive you by smooth rhetoric.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Paul addresses the Colossian believers while composing this letter, noting his physical absence but spiritual presence among them. He writes to ground their faith in Christ before warning them about external influences. The words — παραλογίζηται (paralogizētai) = may delude or deceive by trickery. τοῦτο (touto) = this, pointing back to the preceding declaration about Christ’s wisdom and knowledge. The thread — The warning against deception echoes Jesus’ instruction in Matthew 24:4, Paul’s exhortation in Ephesians 4:14 to avoid being tossed by every wind of teaching, and John’s command in 1 John 4:1 to test the spirits. Why it lands — The text states that the author writes to prevent anyone from misleading the readers through persuasive speech. It requires the reader to anchor their faith in Christ’s revealed knowledge rather than human rhetoric.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

τοῦτοtoutoThis δὲdenow λέγω,legōI say ἵναinaso that μηδεὶςmēdeisno one ὑμᾶςhumasyou παραλογίζηταιparalogizētaimay delude ἐνenby πιθανολογίᾳ·pithanologiapersuasive speech;

King James Version

And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

Cross-references

1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Ephesians 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.
Matthew 24:4 Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you.
Romans 16:18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
Mark 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
2 John 1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.
Acts 20:30 Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.
2 Corinthians 11:11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
Ephesians 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
2 Thessalonians 2:9 The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder,