Beguiled and Enticed…Colossians 2:4

4 I am telling you this so no one will deceive (beguile KJV)you with well-crafted arguments.(or with enticing words.KJV)

Any man can beguile us with words that are designed to capture our reason. The unusual word chosen by the Holy Spirit to describe the process is paralogizomai. The basic meaning is “alongside of reason.” It is used only one other time, in James 1:22

22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

That self-deception is accomplished through “enticing words” (Greek pithanologia), used only here in Colossians.

It couples the term for “reason” with “persuasion” and contains the foundation for the English word “analogy,” a very similar process of using familiar words to transfer a known idea to something else.

It is deception accomplished by transferring truth onto an untruth.

 During His training of the disciples, Jesus often warned that it was possible for His followers to be deceived by those who would come and make attempts to claim some role with His authority.

Matthew 24:5

5 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.

Matthew 24:11

11 And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people.

Matthew 24:24

24 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.

The stated purpose for gifted leaders in churches was to prevent the immaturity of disciples who would be influenced with untruths

Ephesians 4:14

14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching (every wind of doctrine KJV). We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

Although God has made provision for our stability in “wisdom and knowledge” …Colossians 2:2-3

2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;…3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

We are warned that we can be beguiled by listening to the “enticing words” of those who deny Christ.