Beware so that no one will spoil you through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed.
Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? Others, He seems to be a presenter of strange gods: because he preached to them Jesus, and the resurrection.
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
But now, after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how can you turn back to the weak and impoverished principles, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
In which in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience:
Let no one beguile you of your reward in a pretended humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in excessive piety, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not of any value but serve to the satisfying of the flesh.
Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing for the heart to be established with grace, not with foods, which have not benefited those who have been occupied with them.
Seeing that you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, such as silver and gold, from your unprofitable way of life received by tradition from your fathers;
You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things beforehand, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.