A prominent opponent of Paul, though not mentioned by name in the N.T., was

Cerinthus, who incited the believers against Peter for baptizing Cornelius, and against

Paul for not circumcising Titus. The Cerinthian heresy was an attempt to blend Judaism

with Gnosticism, and the student of Galatians and Colossians will realize that in these

two epistles the two parts of this deadly error are exposed and attacked.

The Cerinthians affirmed that the world was made by angels, which gives point to the

place to which angels are assigned in Heb. 1: & 2:, and Cerinthus himself professed to

have received revelation from angels. Closely allied with the Cerinthian heresy was the

teaching of Simon Magus and his school, which taught the necessity of learning the

names of invisible principalities and powers, and to offer sacrifices to the Father by their

mediation.  Tertullian says that "the magic of the Simonian doctrine was angelis

servieus". The worship of angels was prevalent in Asia in early times. At the Council of

Laodicea (A.D.320) it was decreed, that believers may not:--

Such were the snares that were set for the unwary at Colosse; no wonder, as a

corrective and glorious contrast, Paul preached "Christ", warning every man and teaching

every man in all wisdom, for there is no alternative. The apostle charges the false teacher

at Colosse with:--

mind."--Although the R.V. omits the word "not" here, the margin reads, "Many

authorities, some ancient, insert not". The traditional text is widespread, being supported

by the "Fathers", and many ancient versions.

The word "intruding" is from embateuon, which means, "putting our foot into another

man's land as if it were our own" (see Josh. 19: 49-51), stepping into the unseen world

with all the assurance of possession, prying into those things that have been veiled from

human sight. Josephus uses the word in Ant. 2: 12, 1, where he says of Mt. Sinai: "The

shepherd durst not intrude upon it." Anyone with effrontery enough will find some

credulous listeners, and such was unhappily the case at Colosse. They were like the

Gnostic teachers spoken of in  I Timothy,  who gave heed to "fables and endless

genealogies . . . . . desiring to be teachers of the law" yet "understanding neither what

they say, nor whereof they affirm" (I Tim. 1: 4-7).

The corrective to this terrible error is found in verses 19 and 20, which we must

consider in a separate article, the subject being too important to introduce here. It will,

however, be for our good if that blessed corrective be here stated, even though the

examination of its teaching be deferred:--