Colossians 2:4

NETBible

I say this so that no one will deceive you through arguments 1  that sound reasonable. 2 

NIV ©

I tell you this so that no-one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.

NASB ©

I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.

NLT ©

I am telling you this so that no one will be able to deceive you with persuasive arguments.

MSG ©

I'm telling you this because I don't want anyone leading you off on some wild-goose chase, after other so-called mysteries, or "the Secret."

BBE ©

I say this so that you may not be turned away by any deceit of words.

NRSV ©

I am saying this so that no one may deceive you with plausible arguments.

NKJV ©

Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.

KJV
And
<1161>
this
<5124>
I say
<3004> (5719)_,
lest
<3363>
any man
<5100>
should beguile
<3884> (5741)
you
<5209>
with
<1722>
enticing words
<4086>_.
NASB ©
I say
<3004>
this
<3778>
so
<2443>
that no
<3367>
one
<3367>
will delude
<3884>
you with persuasive
<4086>
argument
<4086>
.
NET [draft] ITL
I say
<3004>
this
<5124>
so that
<2443>
no one
<3367>
will deceive
<3884>
you
<5209>
through
<1722>
arguments that sound reasonable
<4086>
.
GREEK
touto
<5124>
D-ASN
legw
<3004> (5719)
V-PAI-1S
ina
<2443>
CONJ
mhdeiv
<3367>
A-NSM
umav
<5209>
P-2AP
paralogizhtai
<3884> (5741)
V-PNS-3S
en
<1722>
PREP
piyanologia
<4086>
N-DSF
NETBible

I say this so that no one will deceive you through arguments 1  that sound reasonable. 2 

NET Notes

1 tn BDAG 812 s.v. πιθανολογία states, “persuasive speech, art of persuasion (so Pla., Theaet. 162e) in an unfavorable sense in its only occurrence in our lit. ἐν πιθανολογίᾳ by specious arguments Col 2:4 (cp. PLips 40 III, 7 διὰ πιθανολογίας).”

2 sn Paul’s point is that even though the arguments seem to make sense (sound reasonable), they are in the end false. Paul is not here arguing against the study of philosophy or serious thinking per se, but is arguing against the uncritical adoption of a philosophy that is at odds with a proper view of Christ and the ethics of the Christian life.