2:8Colossians 2:8

Beware is a call to stay always on guard and spiritually alert, never blindly accepting human words or trusting one's own judgment.Ms 26, 1902, par. 50–51+3 To be spoiled is to be plundered, robbed and carried off, and no believer is to let anyone do this through empty human reasoning.Lt 152, 1903, par. 19–20+2 That philosophy and vain deceit is confused human theory with no Christ in it, giving no light and opposed to Christ, which must never displace the faith in which believers are rooted, built up and established.STB 341.3–4+4 The tradition of men and rudiments of the world are teachings built on human custom and worldly principles without Christ's authority, whose danger is letting a worldly spirit take Christ's place in the life.7T 204.2–3+2 Safety is in Christ alone, for believers are complete in Him who is head over all rule and power, and human philosophy and tradition cannot make anyone complete because they are not after Christ.STB 341.3–4+4

This warning is practical truth that every believer in the church must take heed to, and it calls the soldier of the cross to stay always on guard so the enemy never catches him at a disadvantage.Ms 26, 1902, par. 50–51+1 That guard is especially necessary for those who claim their lives are hidden with Christ in God, who must guard carefully against principles of the world rather than following Christ.Ms 30, 1902, par. 13 Continuing to walk in Christ rooted and built up in Him and established in faith belongs to this heed, because all fullness dwells in Him and believers are complete in Him.Ms 26, 1902, par. 50–51

To beware means to exercise vigilance, since deceptive philosophy, human traditions, and worldly principles not centered on Christ can lead astray and influence in the wrong direction.Lt 32, 1899, par. 33–35+1 It means not accepting every person's words and not assuming one's own judgment is flawless.Lt 32, 1899, par. 33–35 It means remaining alert and spiritually minded rather than trusting human reasoning or yielding to enticement, for Christ is the only sure foundation and such theories endanger the soul.Ms 30, 1902, par. 9–10

To be spoiled means to be plundered, robbed, and carried off through human philosophy and empty deception, and believers must refuse to let anyone do this to them.Lt 152, 1903, par. 19–20+4 That deception follows human tradition and custom and worldly principles rather than Christ.Lt 152, 1903, par. 19–20+4 Turning from Christ to humanity for help is folly, and looking to man for guidance while closing the door against the divine Helper forfeits power.17MR 40.3–4 The danger comes through enticing words that mislead and reaches to the perils of the last days, where seeking originality and taking up new and strange ideas flatters with claims of new truth and a new message but is only a snare to captivate the mind and draw away from the truth which is the mystery of godliness.Ms 200, 1898, par. 3–4 Safety requires large faith that keeps growing in knowledge and wisdom drawn from no other source than the treasure of knowledge in God and Jesus Christ, refusing to be quick to accept productions of human minds presented as new light.Ms 200, 1898, par. 3–4 Against this danger believers are to be united in love with full assurance of understanding in God and Christ in whom all treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden, to walk as they received Christ Jesus the Lord, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith with thanksgiving, because all the fullness of deity dwells bodily in Him and believers are complete in Him who is head of all rule and authority.Lt 152, 1903, par. 19–20+2

Philosophy and vain deceit means empty, deceitful human reasoning and confused and tangled human theories with no Christ in them.ExVEGW 36.9–11+4 Such teachings give no light and are opposed to Christ.ExVEGW 36.9–11+1 What is not according to Christ cannot be the foundation of Christian faith, and faith and conduct are to be shaped by Christ rather than by self or old habits.EW 20.3+2 These teachings must not displace the faith in which believers are rooted, built up, and established, and in which they are to remain rooted and established and to walk in Christ and grow firmly in faith.ExVEGW 36.9–11+4

After the tradition of men and after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ means teachings built on human tradition, human custom, and worldly principles that lack Christ's authority.7T 204.2–3+4 The great danger lies in letting a worldly spirit and worldly practices take the place Christ should have in the life.6MR 27.1–2+1 Those who have received Christ Jesus the Lord in baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost are therefore called to keep walking in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in faith with thanksgiving.Ms 78, 1905, par. 8–10 Loving and searching Scripture belongs with this guard, as the way Jesus draws people to Himself, joined to the truth that all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily in Christ and that believers are complete in Him.7T 204.2–3+2

Paul wrote the warning to the Colossians and Laodiceans and to those who had not seen his face, and it reaches to believers today and to the perils of the last days.Ms 56, 1898, par. 21–22+2 It guards against being robbed of faith by empty, deceitful human thinking that follows human tradition and worldly principles instead of Christ, working through enticing words that mislead.Ms 56, 1898, par. 21–22+1 The danger includes becoming unsettled by seeking originality, taking up new and strange ideas and flattering oneself with having new truth and a new message, when they are only a snare to captivate the mind and draw away from the truth which is the mystery of godliness.Ms 200, 1898, par. 3–4 Safety lies in keeping close to the teachings of the Word to be safeguarded from the delusions of the last days and the power of satanic agencies, refusing to be turned from the faith by human sophistries and by those who start up with new theories in opposition to the belief that called Seventh-day Adventists out of the world.RH Aug 19, 1909 It commands not being too ready to accept productions of human minds presented as new light, but resting in the reasons for faith already convinced as truth and holding the truth in the Word of God and the light of the first, second, and third angels' messages.RH Aug 19, 1909

The warning belongs with hearts comforted and knit together in love unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledging of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ.GW 305.3–4+2 In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, so that no one misleads believers with persuasive or enticing words and beguiling speech.GW 305.3–4+4 Higher education is learning this from Bible study, with the Bible ever presented as the Book to study, and the claim that the Word holds dark mysterious incomprehensible things hard to be understood is false.Ms 58, 1898, par. 18–20 Against teaching that fills minds with maxims and suppositions, interprets the Word to mean what God never designed, and enforces human oddities on the common people, believers are to follow Christ and safely discard all ideas not included in His teaching, stand on the platform of eternal truth, beware of following impulse calling it the Holy Spirit, and be sound in the faith and able to give a reason of hope.RH Jan 21, 1904

The warning belongs with walking as believers received Christ Jesus the Lord, rooted and built up in Him and established in the taught faith with thanksgiving, with order and steadfastness of faith in Christ.STB 341.3–4+4 The danger is linking with the world, losing the knowledge of God, and departing from the faith.STB 341.3–4 The warning serves the present need of unity, aimed at those who have hindered God's cause and laid heavy burdens on fellow laborers because they lost their bearings through pride, who will either humble their proud hearts and be converted or be moved out of the way.Ms 125, 1903, par. 9–10 They are to receive the word of God sent to the Laodicean church not as something originating with men but as the word of God in truth, which works effectually in those who believe, without barring it by unbelief and without holding message and messenger in doubt.15MR 91.1–3

The reason given is that in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and believers are complete in Him who is head of all principality and power and over all rule and authority.STB 341.3–4+4 Such teaching that follows human philosophy, deceit, traditions, and worldly principles resembles the Jewish teachers' maxims and suppositions, which distorted God's Word and imposed human ideas on ordinary people.RH Jan 21, 1904+2 Against that danger believers are to remain rooted and established in Christ, in whom are all treasures of wisdom and knowledge and the fullness of deity, and in whom they are complete.Ms 145, 1903, par. 13–14+1

The surrounding passage is a treasure house of encouragement to the believer that should be read prayerfully and carefully for understanding, holding rich, full, abundant, assuring promises of God to be received.17MR 39.3–40.2 It is vital practical truth to dwell upon and to give as present truth to those in the darkness of error for the saving of souls ready to perish, and it is vital practical truth for those teaching and sharing the gospel, who must reject unsupported theories that distract from the enduring principles of God's Word.20MR 337.2–4+1 The surrounding verses present Christ, in whom the fullness of the Godhead dwells and in whom are hidden wisdom and knowledge, as the focus of study, and keeping Christ in the heart and looking to Him guards against Satan's delusive snares.Ms 39, 1907, par. 20–22 When Jesus is appreciated the salvation of God is seen and power is given, but when the Saviour is treated indifferently and the door is closed against the divine Helper no power can be expected, for the folly warned against is turning from Christ to humanity for help and looking to man for guidance instead of Christ.17MR 39.3–40.2 Believers are instead to walk as they received Christ, rooted and built up and settled in faith with abounding thanksgiving, knowing what Christ is to them and what they may be to Him as His helping hand, with hearts filled with gratitude flowing out in love to refresh others, overlooking little grievances, meeting larger difficulties in the spirit of Christ, and praying for patience, perseverance, and forbearance so the Spirit lifts up a standard when the enemy comes.17MR 39.3–40.2+1

Safety is in Christ alone, because all the fullness of the Godhead lives bodily in Him and those united to Him are complete in Him who is head over all rule and authority and every principality and power.STB 341.3–4+3 No one is to let himself be carried off as spoil through philosophy and empty deceit that follows human tradition and the principles of the world instead of Christ, for the danger is linking with the world, losing the knowledge of God, and departing from the faith.STB 341.3–4+2 The safeguard is to keep walking in Christ Jesus the Lord as received, rooted and built up in Him and settled and established in the taught faith, abounding with thanksgiving, holding the simplicity of the gospel and refusing persuasive and enticing words.STB 341.3–4+3 Human philosophy and the tradition of men cannot make a person complete because they are not after Christ and fall below the highest human thought, while completeness in Christ sets a standard embracing everything good and pure and noble and elevated.STB 341.3–4+2 That standard is perfection as the Father in heaven is perfect, which is Christlikeness, opening a path of continual advancement with constant striving and progress onward and upward toward perfection of character.STE 210.1

Christ rather than humanity is the source of help and power and of strength and wisdom, and to turn from Christ to people for help and guidance is folly.RH Feb 19, 1901+3 To look to man for guidance while treating the Saviour indifferently and closing the door against the divine Helper forfeits power, so that no power can be expected where He is shut out.17MR 39.3–40.2+1 When Jesus is appreciated the salvation of God is seen and power is given, for believers know what Christ is to them and what they may be to Him as His helping hand.17MR 39.3–40.2 Christ never taught self-trust that turns minds inward to supposed powers within themselves; He turns minds to God the Creator of the universe as the source of strength and wisdom, and those who trust supposed inner powers instead of Him no longer feel need for help from a higher power.ST Nov 13, 1884

Christ is the pattern and the measure of truth, the greatest teacher, and the source of truth and spiritual completeness in whom are all treasures of wisdom and knowledge.Ms 76a, 1901, par. 24–26+3 What is not according to Christ cannot be the foundation of Christian faith, and faith and teaching must be grounded in Him rather than in ideas that lack His authority.EW 20.3+2 Ideas not found in His teaching are to be safely discarded and rejected, and speculative teachings that draw away from Him are not needed because believers are already complete in Him.8T 295.3–296.1+1 Being rooted and established in Christ is the safeguard against deception by deceptive philosophy, human tradition, and worldly principles.EW 20.3+2

This completeness is possible because, though human guilt could have moved Christ far from men, He instead came and dwelt among them to be one with them, filled with all the fullness of the Godhead.Ms 91, 1902, par. 5–6 With divinity clothed with humanity He came down from the highest excellency step by step to the very depths of humiliation, and by a death of shame and suffering paid man's ransom so that through His grace men may attain perfection.Ms 91, 1902, par. 5–6 This self-sacrificing love is so deep no line can measure it.Ms 91, 1902, par. 5–6

The truth of God in His Word must be a living, abiding principle set over all other influences, exercising power over life and conduct until the whole being is assimilated to the image of the perfect Pattern and complete in Jesus Christ.Lt 70, 1894, par. 8–10 To walk as Christ was received means being rooted and built up not in self and not after man's ideas but in Him, established in the faith and abounding with thanksgiving.Lt 70, 1894, par. 8–10 The greatest danger is failing to see the need of contemplating the character of Christ with set purpose to imitate His life and conform character to His character, showing a marked difference from the world.Lt 70, 1894, par. 8–10

Beware of phrenology and animal magnetism as the forbidden philosophy, for they turn minds to supposed powers within the self instead of to God the Creator as the source of strength and wisdom.SG4 243.1+3 Such empty deception takes hold of the imagination and almost certainly unbalances the mind, leading people to imagine such power in themselves that they feel no need of help from a higher power, a self-trust Christ never taught.SG4 243.1+3 This path leads to infidelity and to demonic control and ruin of faith, because it follows human tradition and worldly principles and not Christ.SG4 243.1+2 Spiritualism is the same vain deceit, working by beguiling teachings and claims of communication with the dead to weaken faith in Christ and reliance on the merits of His blood.SG4 243.1+1 It teaches that men may progress by fixed laws while acting independently of Christ the Head, laying aside Christ and leaving men as members of a body without a head, cut off from the strength and nourishment of Christ the Living Vine and left in the condition Satan desires in order to control them as he pleases.SG4 243.1+3

Phrenology also mixes truth with falsehood, putting ideas into minds that lead to evil works and ungodliness.Ms 76, 1893, par. 48–53 Some of its claims may be near the truth, but others are false delusions of the last days which the uninformed may swallow as truth and righteousness.Ms 76, 1893, par. 48–53 The same warning exposes the teaching of the Jewish teachers, whose minds were filled with maxims and suppositions.RH Jan 21, 1904+2 They interpreted the Word to mean what God never designed it to mean and enforced their oddities on the common people.RH Jan 21, 1904+2 In every age the warning likewise exposes speculative teachings such as higher criticism, evolution, spiritualism, theosophy, and pantheism, which confuse minds and draw them from the Bible as God's revelation.AA 474.1 Higher criticism undermines the Bible's power to guide and transform life, while spiritualism makes desire the highest law and denies human accountability to God.AA 474.1

Trusting finite human reasoning while rejecting Christ's divinity and preexistence is the same snare, for such ideas may appeal to the carnal heart and appear convincing yet turn men from divine wisdom and the gospel's gracious appeals.RH Dec 28, 1916+1 They lead men to reject God's messengers and mercy, and they fail when affliction and death expose their emptiness, surrendering a life that could have reached its highest standard and gained immortal life.RH Dec 28, 1916+1 Exalting human theories, the sophistries of philosophers and theologians, and speculative philosophy and theology above the Word of God is worthless and becomes pernicious infidelity when it gains controlling influence.4SP 100.3+1 Believers are to turn from such human sophistry to the eternal truths set forth by prophets and apostles.4SP 100.3+1 Vain philosophy makes men wise in their own estimation while hiding from them the beauty, power, and mystery of the plan of redemption and obscuring the gospel treasure.COL 104.3 Seeking knowledge God has withheld while disregarding what He has revealed and commanded is not true progress but vain speculation that leaves men in darkness.COL 104.3+1

Apart from Christ science misleads and philosophy becomes foolishness, while Christ's life exposes false science, erroneous theories, and misleading methods as opposed to Him.7MR 385.2 Vain philosophy leads men to question and finally disbelieve divine revelation and God's existence, darkening the path, hiding Satan's true character and purposes, and leading into sin and ruin.7MR 385.2+1 False theories about God controlled by a wrong spirit must be met by faithful testimonies of warning with results left with God, for they are the same as the theories Satan presented to Adam and Eve in Eden and are false because God is consistent.Ms 162, 1904, par. 8–9 Human philosophy can serve Satan's effort to control the minds Christ died to redeem, so that unless they watch even sensible people become sinful, dishonest, and deceptive, and judges and lawyers make evil appear righteous, yet God will overcome these false claims by His power and Christ will open eyes to recognize sin.Ms 21, 1906, par. 16

Flattery is one such deception belonging to the world's policy and not to Christ.FE 304.2–3+1 It feeds pride and puffs up with high thoughts of self, intoxicating with the idea of ability not really possessed and with the false notion that powers can be developed without diligent self-training and taxing effort.FE 304.2–3+1 It unbalances religious experience and leads onto false paths, and praise, flattery, and indulgence have ruined precious souls more than any other art, so that unless such a one is soundly converted and learns his ABCs in the school of Christ he will lose his soul.FE 304.2–3+1 Teachings shaped by human tradition can likewise be mistaken for God's way, as when confidently praising one medical system and condemning another is human invention and tradition like the talk of the Pharisees, and education that molds men to repeat an instructor's views leads them to denounce other systems as evil.Lt 1, 1892, par. 14–15 Vain philosophy also stands opposed to the true philosophy of health, having prejudiced sincere Christians against health reform and placed them where it is difficult to reach them with truth about habits affecting life and health, though those who revere God and His holy word can still be reached by plain declarations of Scripture requiring change from common injurious practices.CTBH 163.3–164.1

The warning reaches to the present time as a guard against the delusions of the last days and the power of satanic agencies by keeping close to the teachings of the Word, forbidding being turned from the faith by human sophistries, by the desire for originality, and by those who start up with new theories and new and strange truth in opposition to the belief that called Seventh-day Adventists out of the world.RH Aug 19, 1909+2 It commands not being too ready to accept the productions of those who come presenting new light, but resting in the reasons for faith already convinced as truth and holding the truth in the Word of God and the light of the first, second, and third angels' messages.RH Aug 19, 1909+2 To be spoiled in this sense is to stake faith on suppositions and false theories, on little differences in the interpretation or application of Scripture, and on human suppositions and human philosophy advanced to make one's own ideas prominent.Ms 200, 1898, par. 7–8 It springs from heeding seducing spirits, yielding the mind to a spirit not of God after hurt has weakened and warped it, and from natural stubbornness resisting light and natural pride of opinion clinging to ideas once advanced.Ms 200, 1898, par. 7–8 It launches out in contradiction to the truth held by Seventh-day Adventists that brought them out from the world into separate churches, closes its followers in walls of separation, cuts them adrift from their brethren, and works directly contrary to Christ's prayer that His disciples be one as He was one with the Father.Ms 200, 1898, par. 7–8

The same danger comes through enticing claims of new truth that unsettle faith, draw people from the truth already received, foster separation from fellow believers, captivate the mind, and draw away from the truth which is the mystery of godliness.Ms 200, 1898, par. 5–6+1 Safety requires large faith that keeps growing in knowledge and wisdom drawn from no other source than the treasure of knowledge in God and Jesus Christ, with Christ remaining the foundation of faith and unity rather than human speculation.Ms 200, 1898, par. 5–6+1 It requires refusing to be quick to accept productions of human minds presented as new light and refusing to be misled by enticing words that flatter with having new truth and a new message when they are only a snare.Ms 200, 1898, par. 5–6+1 The warning is aimed at those who have hindered the cause of God and laid heavy burdens on fellow laborers because they have lost their bearings through pride, calling believers instead to walk in Christ Jesus as received, rooted and built up in Him and established in faith with thanksgiving.Ms 125, 1903, par. 9–10 They will either humble their proud hearts and be converted or be moved out of the way, for in Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily and believers are complete in Him who is the head of all principality and power.Ms 125, 1903, par. 9–10

Disregarding the commands of Scripture in regard to unity transgresses the law of God as verily as transgressing the fourth commandment of the decalogue.Ms 56, 1898, par. 21–22 Instead hearts are to be comforted and knit together in love unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledging of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, walking as they received Christ Jesus the Lord, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith with thanksgiving, with order and steadfastness of faith in Christ.Ms 56, 1898, par. 21–22 No honor is to be given to a finite man unless his works testify that God honors him and keeps him.Lt 279, 1904, par. 3–7+1 Yielding respect and following is forbidden to one who refuses God's counsel, despises God in the person of His saints, seeks to glorify himself, binds God's cause with human control, and allows himself to be influenced by seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, for Christ, not a finite human leader or his plans, is the ground of faith and the one to follow.Lt 279, 1904, par. 3–7+1

The warning also applies to treating God's message as merely human, including the word sent to the Laodicean church and the testimonies of the Holy Spirit.15MR 91.1–3+2 Receiving it not as something originating with men but as the word of God in truth, which works effectually in those who believe, without barring it by unbelief and without holding message and messenger in doubt, protects from darkness and from rejecting truth because of prejudice.15MR 91.1–3+1 It means refusing a philosophy that treats the faith of Paul, Peter, and John as old-fashioned and insufferable at the present day, that pronounces such faith absurd, mystical, and unworthy of an intelligent mind, and that holds the opinions of a few conceited philosophers, so-called, to be more trusted than the truth of the Bible.5T 79.2 In the time of the apostles the vain philosophy meant teachers who insinuated themselves among the teachers of truth to mingle chaff with wheat with theories called strange doctrine.ST Jun 4, 1894 These men sought to unsettle the unstable and made the word of truth of none effect, so the verse requires distinguishing truth from error and growing up into Christ in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God instead of being tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men.ST Jun 4, 1894

Refusing human traditions and the commandments of men and holding to Christ was shown when Luther completed his German New Testament on his return from the Wartburg and the gospel was given to the people of Germany in their own language.GC88 193.4 Those who chose human traditions and the commandments of men scornfully rejected it, while all who loved the truth received it with great joy.GC88 193.4

The warning guards the pledge made with God at baptism, calling those baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost to keep walking in Christ Jesus the Lord, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith with thanksgiving.Lt 151, 1903, par. 19–25+1 Keeping that baptismal vow with heaven's pledged efficiency means refusing to let a worldly spirit and worldly practices take the place Christ should have in the life, for there the great danger lies.Ms 78, 1905, par. 8–10 Trust in the Lord Jesus and union with Him bring clear and decided victories in every line, and determining to follow this teaching brings reformation, joy and thanksgiving, assimilation to the likeness of Christ, and close guarding so that Christ shall not have died in vain.Lt 151, 1903, par. 19–25

Christ is the source of the fullness of character and life, and believers are to grow toward the high standard of Christlikeness rather than be diverted by human philosophy grounded in human tradition and worldly principles.SPBC 159.4+3 Human philosophy and the tradition of men cannot make a person complete because they are not after Christ and fall below the highest human thought, while completeness is in Christ alone as the greatest teacher.STE 210.1 That completeness sets the standard and way for Christian character, which is perfection as the Father in heaven is perfect, including everything good and pure and noble and elevated.STE 210.1+1 It opens a path of continual advancement with constant striving and progress onward and upward toward perfection of character.STE 210.1+2

Perfection of character requires refusing to gather matter from those supposed to have great wisdom but who lack perception that God's commandments are of highest value to their own souls and to souls within their influence.Ms 95, 1898, par. 32–35 It requires refusing to grasp things from so-called great men of earth and place their wisdom before the wisdom of the greatest Teacher.Ms 95, 1898, par. 32–35 Those who submit intellect to the molding of the Holy Spirit receive wisdom from above with sanctified perception to discern that the commandments demand obedience in order to have Christ's righteousness and reconciliation through His blood and oneness with the Father through Jesus Christ in perfect obedience with genuine faith.Ms 95, 1898, par. 32–35 Knowledge gathered from such human sources is draughts from broken cisterns that can hold no heavenly pure unadulterated water, dishonors God, places man where God should be, and leaves those who drink deeply unable to distinguish the waters of the valley from the pure snow waters of Lebanon when plain decisive truth comes in warnings, reproofs, and counsels.Ms 95, 1898, par. 32–35 The caution is greatly needed now because Satan presents every temptation to lead feet from the solid rock onto sliding sand, while completeness is in Christ alone, in whom dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily and who is head of all principality and power.Ms 95, 1898, par. 32–35

Ministers are to preach the gospel, not teaching that rests on human philosophy and empty deception rather than Christ, for the gospel is God's power for salvation.Ms 70, 1901, par. 14–17+1 Those teaching and sharing the gospel must hold the vital practical truth of living rooted in Christ and established in the faith, since Christ, not human theories, is the source of truth and spiritual completeness.Ms 70, 1901, par. 14–17 They must reject unsupported theories that distract from the enduring principles of God's Word.Ms 70, 1901, par. 14–17

Students must not let human philosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of men and the rudiments of the world spoil their education.Ms 99, 1903, par. 7–8 Study must be done with an eye single to the glory of God, for time and for eternity, and with right purpose centered on Christ, and that right purpose brings success.Ms 99, 1903, par. 7–8 Lasting completeness is found only in Christ, in whom dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily and in whom believers are complete as He is Head of all principality and power, and not in philosophy not after Christ.Ms 99, 1903, par. 7–8 Youthful students obtaining an education for eternity must keep the way of the Lord rather than follow impulse and natural inclination, grow in knowledge and grow in grace and be ever advancing, and work with system and order according to God's plan.Lt 11, 1893, par. 29–31 They must examine amusements and self-pleasing for their bearing on study and on religious life and zeal in prayer and service, put persistent effort into the Christian life to perfect a right character, and not remain with a dwarfed, weakly, babyish religious experience, for they are complete in Christ.Lt 11, 1893, par. 29–31

Education for youth must be pure and unmixed with heathen philosophy, keeping erroneous, polluted literature with false ideas out of schools so seeds of sin are not received and cherished as truth.CT 389.3+1 Study of books that leads to the reception of false ideas is not valuable education.CT 389.3 Such ideas entering the mind separate youth from God as the Source of all wisdom, all efficiency, and all power and leave them open to Satan's temptations and deceiving power, binding them in bundles with the world and cutting them off from God.CT 389.3+1 Pure education undiluted with heathen philosophy is a positive necessity, especially in literary lines, rather than a sickly half-religious service that dwarfs and taints young minds.Lt 67, 1895, par. 20

Higher education is learning from Bible study, with the Bible ever presented as the Book to study, because all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ, believers are to walk in Him rooted and built up and established in the faith with thanksgiving, all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily in Him, and believers are complete in Him who is head of all principalities and powers.Ms 58, 1898, par. 18–20 The claim that the Word holds dark mysterious incomprehensible things hard to be understood is false.Ms 58, 1898, par. 18–20 Vain philosophies are confused, tangled human theories with no Christ in them that give no light, no more than the traditions and commandments of men in the days when the Lord was on earth, and they lead to discouragement and despair.Lt 8a, 1890, par. 14 They do not feed the flock but put the crib too high, so the lessons of Christ must instead be presented in a clear, distinct manner with practical application for the saving of the soul.Lt 8a, 1890, par. 14

Believers are to receive God's rich, full, abundant, assuring promises in Christ, appreciate Jesus, and seek God with all the heart with courtesy and reverence.17MR 39.3–40.2+1 Turning from Christ to humanity for help is folly, and looking to man for guidance while closing the door against the divine Helper forfeits power and leaves no power to be expected, whereas when Jesus is appreciated the salvation of God is seen and power is given.17MR 39.3–40.2+1 Hearts filled with gratitude are to flow out in love to refresh others, overlooking little grievances, meeting larger difficulties in the spirit of Christ, and praying for patience, perseverance, and forbearance so the Spirit lifts a standard when the enemy comes.17MR 39.3–40.2 They are to give bright evidence of the saving power of truth as servants with loins girded and lights burning, waiting to open immediately when their Lord comes and knocks, knowing what Christ is to them and what they may be to Him as His helping hand.17MR 39.3–40.2+1

The warning means beware of speculative weaving of fine threads into figures composing a pattern, which calls the mind away from the very subjects God designs to prepare souls for the work given for this time.Lt 366, 1905, par. 1 Believers must remain rooted and built up in Christ so they are not carried away from Him by deceptive human wisdom or false teaching, for Christ is sufficient.7MR 190.2 Claims of science that lead people away from faith resemble the deception that brought Satan into rebellion.7MR 190.2