Our Emotional Center; Examining our Reins; Hearts and Kidneys

Where is the seat of our emotions? Some would say the heart, some would say the head, but God says something different. We all have our own perspectives on life, and emotions ebb and flow depending on events and activities. The great quest of adulthood is to be able to control our own emotions. I say “our own” because many people want to control other peoples’ emotions and not their own. Our endeavor is to flow in the good emotions, and learn how to stir up positive emotions within ourselves while controlling negative emotions and not allowing bad emotions to overrule our behaviors. When we learn to handle our emotions we become better at logical thought. Emotions don’t spring up by themselves, they are fed by thoughts. Sometimes those thoughts originate in our hearts, sometimes those thoughts originate in our heads. Either way, if we experience an event that scares or traumatizes us our emotional response will cause a series of physical reactions. If we experience negative physical reactions we have to learn to not let them repeat themselves every time we are scared. That conditioning process is what we want to achieve so that we are not shaken or afraid all the time. The Bible tells us our emotions are rooted in the kidneys, which seems odd. Let’s explore.

David wrote that Yahweh examines the hearts and kidneys. We know that the heart has a mind with thoughts and intents. We also know that the brain has thoughts, but the heart is the thought center of the soul. Located just above the kidneys are the adrenal glands. The adrenals produce hormones that help control heart rate and blood pressure, as well as stress reactions. In a time of great fear one may lose the contents of one’s bladder or bowels. Anxiety as well as fatigue are adrenal reactions, both of which produce hormones that affect our emotions. If we understand that, we can see what Yahweh was telling us. The process of an event creates emotions which can either fester, be discarded, or escalate. Yahweh examines the kidneys, which is a very close look inside. Why? To determine what is going on, what emotions are there, are they correct emotions or incorrect emotions.    

Psalm 7:9G4931Finish off entirely G1211indeed G4189the wickedness G268of sinners!G2532 AndG2720you shall straighten G1342the just, G2082.1examining G2588hearts G2532and G3510kidneys, G3588O G2316God, G1346justly

2588LSJ Gloss: καρδία the heart

Dodson: καρδία the heart, inner life, intention lit: the heart; mind, character, inner self, will, intention, center.

Strong's: καρδία the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle
Derivation: prolonged from a primary κάρ (Latin cor, "heart"); KJV Usage: (+ broken-)heart(-ed).

Thayer:

1) the heart
1a) that organ in the animal body which is the centre of the circulation of the blood, and hence was regarded as the seat of physical life
1b) denotes the centre of all physical and spiritual life
2a) the vigour and sense of physical life
2b) the centre and seat of spiritual life
2b1) the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavours
2b2) of the understanding, the faculty and seat of the intelligence
2b3) of the will and character
2b4) of the soul so far as it is affected and stirred in a bad way or good, or of the soul as the seat of the sensibilities, affections, emotions, desires, appetites, passions
1c) of the middle or central or inmost part of anything, even though inanimate

καρδία kardia kar-dee'-ah Prolonged from a primary κάρ kar (Latin cor , “heart”); the heart, that is, (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle KJV Usage: (+ broken-) heart (-ed).

3510  LSJ Gloss: νεφρόςthe kidneys

Dodson: νεφρός a kidney as a general emotional center a kidney (as a general emotional center), the reins.

Strong's: νεφρός a kidney (plural), i.e. (figuratively) the inmost mind Derivation: of uncertain affinity; KJV Usage: reins.

Thayer:

1) a kidney
2) kidneys, loins
2a) used of the inmost thoughts, feelings, purposes, of the soul

νεφρός nephros nef-ros' Of uncertain affinity; a kidney (plural), that is, (figuratively) the inmost mind KJV Usage: reins.

We have a mind of the heart and a mind of the brain, but kidneys are the emotional center. We have thoughts and intents in our heart and thoughts in our brain, but we have sentiments in our kidneys, including our adrenals. Moses wrote about the kidneys as part of ritual sacrifice of animals. In fact the Torah uses the word kidneys for animal sacrifice only. Translators wanted to differentiate between kidneys in animal sacrifice and kidneys as the center of human emotion. They decided to use the word reins. Reins means “kidneys”; the seat of the feelings or passions (Merriam Webster). The ancient writers knew the center of emotions as the kidneys, but years later the brain became a more popular organ so translators used kidneys as mind. We have probably never thought of the kidneys as anything more than two little filters, but the ancients’ believed that sickness and disease of the kidneys, and kidney stones were due to bad emotions.

David writes about his reins/kidneys correcting or humbling him.

Psalm 16:7G2127I will bless G3588the G2962lord, G3588the G4907.3one bringing understanding to G1473me; G2089but still G1161 G2532also G2193until G3571night G3811[²corrected G1473³me G3588 G3510¹my kidneys].G1473

Psalm 16:7 I will bless the Lord who has instructed me; my reins too have chastened me even till night. 8 I foresaw the Lord always before my face; for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart rejoiced an my tongue exulted; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 10 because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 11 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou wilt fill me with joy with thy countenance: at thy right hand there are delights for ever.

David gained understanding and his emotional center corrected him as he saw Yahweh. David’s deep feelings connected with Yahweh and that brought David the realization that Yahweh was always with him.  David asks for Yahweh to set his kidneys on fire.  

Psalm 26:2G1381TryG1473me,G2962O lord,G2532andG3985testG1473me!G4448Set on fireG3588 G3510my kidneysG1473 G2532andG3588 G2588my heart!G1473

These are strong emotions. These are good emotions. Having an emotional fire for Yahweh has no down side. This is the place of gut-wrenching or gut-longing emotions.  We want a fire for Yahweh in our inner most being. Not just a head knowledge, and not just a heart knowledge. This is not a fire of the heart but of the very center of our hormonal being. The place where fear can knot us up or peace can calm us down. Asaph says that when his heart was inflamed that his kidneys were changed. What he is saying is that when his thoughts in his soul got excited his emotional state changed.

Psalm 73: 21G3754ForG1572[²was kindledG3588 G2588¹my heart],G1473 G2532andG3588 G3510my kidneysG1473 G241.2were changed

This tells us that the way to positive emotions, or emotions that are good, are by stirring up the heart’s thoughts. That would include praising, worshipping, and other forms of speaking out, such as prayer, rhema, logos, laleo, or grapho. The place we feed our heart and mind is the place that changes our emotions.

Ezra has a great example of travailing in his kidneys for the people of Israel.

2 Esd 5:32-34 And said unto me, Hear me, and I will instruct thee; hearken to the thing that I say, and I shall tell thee more.33 And I said, Speak on, my Lord. Then said he unto me, Thou art sore troubled in mind for Israel's sake: lovest thou that people better than he that made them? 34 And I said, No, Lord: but of very grief have I spoken: for my reins pain me every hour, while I labour to comprehend the way of the most High, and to seek out part of his judgment.KJV

When we grieve and lament in our prayer time for someone or something we are pained in our reins/kidneys. Ezra is pained for Israel’s people, but struggles to understand the Most High. While these emotions are not desirable, they are part of a deep longing for heavenly matters on the earth. An understanding of times and seasons and ages helps us recognize our time on the earth is actually short in comparison to eternity. But the heavy burden of suffering on the earth drains our emotions.

Solomon compares the unrighteous to the righteous and gives us another clue to our emotions residing in our kidneys. Because God sees the reins of all people the unrighteous do not skip judgment. On the other hand, the Holy Spirit only resides among and in the righteous. This is an emotion changer as well.

Wisdom 1:4-7For into a malicious soul wisdom shall not enter; nor dwell in the body that is subject unto sin.5 For the holy spirit of discipline will flee deceit, and remove from thoughts that are without understanding, and will not abide when unrighteousness cometh in.6 For wisdom is a loving spirit; and will not acquit a blasphemer of his words: for God is witness of his reins, and a true beholder of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue.7 For the Spirit of the Lord filleth the world: and that which containeth all things hath knowledge of the voice. KJV

People who are malicious, sinful, deceitful, stupid, unrighteous, or blasphemers do not have the Holy Spirit, and therefore their inner being is in emotional turmoil. They do not have the knowledge of the Holy Spirit’s voice. Remember, the knowledge of the heart and brain feed the kidneys. If the head thinks fear, or inspires evil behaviors the emotions will be unrestrained and dark. With the Holy Spirit residing in one’s heart, the emotions of the individual change for the better because the knowledge of the Most High fills the individual.

Jeremiah notes that Yahweh tries the kidneys and the hearts. It is not enough that we think correctly, we have to feel correctly. This is the basis of becoming mature. Adulthood takes work.

Jeremiah 11: 20G2962O lord G3588of the G1411forces, G2919judging G1342just things, G1381trying G3510the kidneys G2532and G2588the hearts,G1492may I behold G3588 G3844[² exacted by G1473³you G1557¹ the punishment] G1722on G1473them. G3754For G4314to G1473you G601I revealed G3588 G1345my right action. G1473

It isn’t enough to ask Yahweh to test or examine our heart, mind, or soul. We also need to examine or test our kidneys. We humans may have become very lax regarding the restraint of our emotions. We may never have been told that we are to control our emotions. We may never have been told not to act on emotions. These are all life skills that we will be judged on when Jesus gives out rewards. If we master this we may very well be rewarded as compared to losing rewards for unrestrained emotions. Jeremiah makes a very good point here. He says Yahweh is close to their (Israel’s) mouth, but far from their kidneys.

Jeremiah 12: 2G5452You planted G1473them, G2532and G4492they were rooted. G5043.1They produced children, G2532and G4160they produced G2590fruit. G1451[³near G1510.2.2²are G1473¹You] G3588 G4750their mouth,G1473 G2532andG4206at a distanceG575fromG3588 G3510their kidneys.G1473

Jeremiah 12:1 Righteous art thou, O Lord, that I may make my defence to thee, yea, I will speak to thee of judgments. Why is it that the way of ungodly men prospers? that all that deal very treacherously are flourishing? 2 Thou hast planted them, and they have taken root; they have begotten children, and become fruitful; thou art near to their mouth, and far from their reins. 3 But thou, Lord, knowest me; thou hast proved my heart before thee; purify them for the day of their slaughter. 4 How long shall the land mourn, and the grass of the field wither, for the wickedness of them, that dwell in it? the beasts and birds are utterly destroyed; because the people said, God shall not see our ways.

In context, Jeremiah is frustrated that the ungodly prosper. We have many people within the Body of Christ that fit this description. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing, the false pastors and the false prophets. They speak words that sound Godly, they inspire the masses with false ideas and prophecies and people are fooled. Their kidneys are far from Yahweh. Their emotions are far from true, right, and honest. We have all heard stories of the “high and mighty” Christian Leaders who in private circles lose their mind to anger, rage, hostility, and the like. Uncontrolled and unbridled emotions spewed like hot lava upon the innocent servants. During our elections in the USA we saw Christian Leaders lining up for one candidate or another. We witnessed some who truly lost their minds due to their emotions. They attempted to guide the Body of Christ based upon their own emotional experiences and emotional traumas. Are their emotions far from Yahweh? Isn’t this what Jeremiah is lamenting? The wicked religious leaders who seem to prosper, leading the masses astray to the end that they do not believe. Yahweh sees them. Yahweh examines our kidneys.  

Jeremiah 17: 10G1473I G2962the lord G2082.1am examining G2588hearts, G1381trying G3510kidneys, G3588 G1325to give G1538to each G2596according to G3588 G3598his ways, G1473 G2532and G2596according to G3588the G2590fruits G3588 G2006.1of their practices. G1473

Jeremiah 17: 9 The heart is deep beyond all things, and it is the man, and who can know him? 10 I the Lord try the hearts, and prove the reins, to give to every one according to his ways, and according to the fruits of his devices.

Here Jeremiah points out our rewards or judgments are based on the trying of our emotions. Yahweh examines the heart, the kidneys, and the fruit that is produced. Yikes, that means we really are required to control our emotional state.

Jeremiah 20: 12G2962O lord, G1381trying G1342just things, G4920perceiving G3510the kidneys G2532and G2588heart; G1492may I behold G3588the G3844[²by G1473³you G1557¹punishment] G1722on G1473them. G3754For G4314to G1473you G601I uncovered G3588 G626.1my pleas in defense. G1473

Jeremiah 20:11 But the Lord was with me as a mighty man of war: therefore they persecuted me, but could not perceive anything against me; they were greatly confounded, for they perceived not their disgrace, which shall never be forgotten.

12 O Lord, that provest just deeds, understanding the reins and hearts, let me see thy vengeance upon them: for to thee I have revealed my cause. 13 Sing ye to the Lord, sing praise to him: for he has rescued the soul of the poor from the hand of evil-doers.

It is evident that Jeremiah, who they called the “weeping Prophet”, suffered a lot of injustice from others. He wanted to see Yahweh’s vengeance upon the people who were selling out Israel. Isn’t that what happens today, political and religious leaders selling out the people and the one lonely Prophet who speaks the opposite is the one who is attacked. But Jeremiah reminds the people to sing praises because Yahweh rescues the souls of the poor.

Lamentations 3:13G1521He brought G1722[³into G3588 G3510⁴my kidneys G1473 G2447¹ the poison G5329.1²from his quivers]. G1473

Lamentations 3:12 HE. He has bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow. 13 He has caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins. 14 I became a laughing-stock to all my people; and their song all the day.

Jeremiah again is filled with sorrow over the way evil people treat him. He feels as if he has been hit with poison arrows into the center of his emotions. Job is much like Jeremiah in his misery. We can see the root of depression here as Job responds to his miserable comforters. 

Job 16:13G2944They encircled G1473me G3057with lances, G906casting G1519into G3510my kidney, G1473 G3756not G5339sparing; G1632they poured out G1519[²onto G3588³the G1093⁴earth G3588 G5521¹my bile]. G1473

Job 16:12 For the Lord has delivered me into the hands of unrighteous men, and thrown me upon the ungodly. 13 When I was at peace he distracted me: he took me by the hair of the head, and plucked it out: he set me up as a mark. 14 They surrounded me with spears, aiming at my reins: without sparing me they poured out my gall upon the ground. 15 They overthrew me with fall upon fall: they ran upon me in their might. 16  They sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and my strength has been spent on the ground. 17 My belly has been parched with wailing, and darkness is on my eyelids. 18 Yet there was no injustice in my hands, and my prayer is pure.

What Job and Jeremiah both show us is that emotions are a part of life; sorrow and sadness happen to everyone. Injustice causes emotions that can fester and become negative or bad emotional responses. Our job is to reign in our emotions, put knowledge of the Most High into our hearts, and as we speak and recite that knowledge, our emotions will change for the better. We all know people who live in a state of anger. They seem to always be mad about something or some perceived wrong. Sometimes those people conspire to get back at, or harm, others. This is not the way we are to live. Yahweh is the one who will avenge us, even if it is not in this lifetime but in the next age. We have to learn to let go of negative emotions and fears. If we are afraid that we won’t get justice because Yahweh doesn’t see us, we are sorely mistaken. Yahweh examines our kidneys, he examines everyone’s kidneys. Jesus has not forgotten any of us. In fact, he is keeping score and will reward us accordingly. The negative emotions in our kidneys is a symptom of not trusting Him.

Think about Jeremiah and Job. Both were treated unjustly or unfairly. Jeremiah was a Prophet who kept warning the people, the religious leaders, and the political leaders. They mocked him, scorned him, and threw him into a pit/cistern of dung or mud (Jeremiah 38:6). All Jeremiah did was to speak for Yahweh. The people however, were not convinced that he spoke for Yahweh. Job never sinned. But on the day the sons of God met on the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north, to give account of the things on the earth, the satan accused Job before the throne of God. God showed off Job to the satan and the satan stated that Job would curse God if he didn’t have a hedge around him. Job was attacked but never cursed God. Job lamented over his situation as he felt he was innocent of wrong doing. He was innocent of wrong doing. We can see that there is no such thing as “fair” or “fairness” in this world. Just as Jesus (who was sinless) paid the price and died for all of our sin, there is no such thing as “fair”. Some people live seemingly easy lives and some live hard lives. Either way, our emotional state, our kidneys, are examined. Being sad for things that happen is not wrong unless one wallows in it longer than they should. What is worse is to act out because of, or by way of, our emotions.  If we keep them in check and stir up our hearts in the knowledge of Yahweh, we can change our emotions and feelings. 

Jesus says to the church at Thyatira that he is searching the kidneys and the hearts. Jesus is searching, examining the emotions and our thoughts and intents. Jesus is watching. He sees, he knows, you cannot hide, you cannot make excuses. Have you been treated as badly without cause as Jeremiah or Job? We will have no excuse for acting poorly, our emotional state has to be balanced with our heart knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Rev 2: 23G2532And G3588 G5043[²her children G1473 G615¹I will kill] G1722by G2288plague; G2532and G1097they shall know G3956in all G3588the G1577assemblies G3754that G1473I G1510.2.1am G3588the one G2045searching G3510the kidneys G2532and G2588hearts; G2532and G1325I will give G1473to you G1538each G2596according to G3588 G2041your works. G1473

I’m pretty sure that this is not a popular sermon, telling people that Jesus is watching us and he knows our emotional state as well as our heart knowledge. But in life, Jesus gave us many warnings that we will be disliked, hated, and treated poorly. Be blessed and rejoice because our reward is rich and abundant in heaven. 

Luke 6:22-23 Blessed (happy — with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, apart from your outward condition — and to be envied) are you when people despise (hate) you, and when they exclude and excommunicate you [as disreputable] and revile and denounce you and defame and cast out and spurn your name as evil (wicked) on account of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice and be glad at such a time and exult and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is rich and great and strong and intense and abundant in heaven; for even so their forefathers treated the prophets. AMP

Here is one remedy to those who hate us, we should love them. That takes our heart and mind to force our kidneys into producing what are good and right feelings.

Luke 6:27-28 But I say to you who are listening now to Me: [in order to heed, make it a practice to] love your enemies, treat well (do good to, act nobly toward) those who detest you and pursue you with hatred, 28 Invoke blessings upon and pray for the happiness of those who curse you, implore God's blessing (favor) upon those who abuse you [who revile, reproach, disparage, and high-handedly misuse you]. AMP

Love is one of those deep rooted emotions in our kidneys. It doesn’t spring up in these type situations naturally. Love springs up naturally from our inner most being when we are happy with people we love, in situations that are good. But when things go wrong and people hate us and we have been mistreated, we have to take authority over our emotions to walk in love.

1 John 3:13-16 Do not be surprised and wonder, brethren, that the world detests and pursues you with hatred. 14 We know that we have passed over out of death into Life by the fact that we love the brethren (our fellow Christians). He who does not love abides (remains, is held and kept continually) in [spiritual] death. 15 Anyone who hates (abominates, detests) his brother [in Christ] is [at heart] a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding (persevering) within him. 16 By this we come to know (progressively to recognize, to perceive, to understand) the [essential] love: that He laid down His [own] life for us; and we ought to lay [our] lives down for [those who are our] brothers [in Him]. AMP

Think about this, bad feelings and emotions are poison to our bodies. We die a spiritual death. We have to love ourselves enough to stir up our own emotions in a positive way, praising, worshipping, and speaking out (laleo, logos, rhema, or grapho). We have the power to control our emotions. This does not mean we will never be sad or grieve, or travail over someone or something. It does mean that we have the choice to control or not control our emotional responses and our emotional condition. Our kidneys are far more important than we have ever realized. 

Brainwashing; War on Knowledge; Sophistry; Mars Hill

Rhetoric, sophistry, and unrestrained emotionalism create an environment of anxiety to the coercion of the population. If the voices outside our head seem to be creating chaos in the world it is by design to the brainwashing of the population. This bombardment of voices spewing partial information and intentional misinformation creates a war on knowledge. The louder the shouting the more we are conditioned to believe that what is being said is true. Whether politics, or religion, or healthcare, the more times we hear the same bombastic fallacious arguments, the less we recognize the truth. The same goes for religion verses non-religion. The evangelist uses emotion to convey a message of salvation while the atheist or non-religious use emotion to convey a message against the need for a Savior. In like manner, the devil uses many types of coercive techniques to keep knowledge of the Savior and knowledge of the end times from human understanding. Sometimes the voices are louder, as in shouting down holidays or feasts, and sometimes the twisting of information simply is repeated over and over and over to the end that people believe what they have heard is true and disregard searching out the truth. But there is a physiological condition that affects victims of brainwashing which has a parallel syndrome in the spiritual realm. We will explore this. 

Maybe you remember the year 1973 and the United Federated Forces of the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA). They were an American left wing group of revolutionaries who robbed banks, committed murders, kidnappings, and considered themselves a vanguard army and urban guerillas. To gain attention to their group and for their cause they kidnapped a 19 year old girl, Patty Hearst who had just become engaged and whose address was printed in the San Francisco Chronicle. Her captors abused her, tortured her, drugged her, and brainwashed her. She eventually broke, psychologists calling it the “Stockholm syndrome”, and participated with them in bank robberies. In this case, extreme abuse caused this young girl to change her thinking and her beliefs. Patty Hearst went to prison and was later pardoned by Bill Clinton. The process of un-brainwashing Patty Hearst then began. This became known as de-programming.

Deprogrammers became popular during the late 1970’s/early 1980’s as a way of changing someone’s beliefs. The tactics used were coercion, kidnapping, false imprisonment, beatings, and sexual abuses, denial of food and sleep, and threats with guns. These are the exact tactics that the SLA used against Patty Hearst. It became an abused practice in traditional churches by people who believed their adult children were brainwashed by religious cults. The fine line between free will decisions in one’s own life and the competing beliefs in someone else’s life caused ethical conflict as to who should be deprogrammed. When deprograming was abused, one person would claim that the other person’s thoughts on religion, politics, or life in general were incorrect and invalid, therefore must have been intentionally planted by someone else resulting in brainwashing; and then the need to correct that wrong thinking. But really who gets to be the thought police? Do we trust people in the Catholic Church to police the thoughts of the Evangelicals, or do we allow the Protestants to police the thoughts of the Episcopalians?  How about the Jews? Should they police the beliefs of the non-Jews? Do we want Islamic people forcing their beliefs on others? No, we desire religious freedom, to think for ourselves. Deprograming became a big business until people recognized that the civil rights of those being deprogrammed were being violated and their religious liberties were being dishonored.

When emotionalism and violence accompanies one group’s loud protesting, it is an attempt at deprogramming those who think differently. The intolerance and objection to someone else’s ideas and opinions makes that one a bigot. The definition of a bigot is “one who is intolerantly devoted to his/her own opinions especially one who regards or treats the members of a different group with hatred and intolerance”. The same tactics are used as a brainwasher or deprogrammer.  

On a lighter note, many people watched the television series I Love Lucy. The show always had underlying themes of publicity stunts to promote something, such as Ricky Ricardo’s show or a movie about women from Mars. The concepts on the I Love Lucy show were poking fun at the ideas of free publicity, or getting one’s name in the papers, to create interest. On the show, people hired publicity agents that sometimes created crazy schemes to promote their show. While we laugh at those television shows, the underlying truth is that sometimes people create a situation to promote their own ideas, and the more they create false dichotomies, the more others believe they are real. The contentions publicized by the media creates a reality that may actually not be completely true or may not be all the truth. These are not new behaviors, but in our time we are bombarded with news and the more sensational a headline the more reads/hits the source will get. The Apostle Paul warned us of this in Colossians. Colossae was located in Asia Minor, inland, east of Ephesus, and just south of Laodicea.  

Col 2:4 I say this in order that no one may mislead and delude you by plausible and persuasive and attractive arguments and beguiling speech. AMP

Col 2:4G3778And this G1161 G3004I say, G2443that G3361not G5100anyone G1473should mislead you G3884 G1722in G4086plausible arguments.

3884 LSJ Gloss: παραλογίζομαι to misreckon, miscalculate

Dodson: παραλογίζομαι I deceive, beguile I deceive, beguile, reason falsely, mislead.

Thayer:

1) to reckon wrong, miscount
2) to cheat by false reckoning
2a) to deceive by false reasoning
3) to deceive, delude, circumvent

παραλογίζομαι paralogizomai par-al-og-id'-zom-ahee From G3844 and G3049; to misreckon, that is, delude KJV Usage: beguile, deceive.

4086 LSJ Gloss: πιθανολογία the use of probable arguments

Dodson: πιθανολογία persuasive speech.

Thayer:

1) speech adapted to persuade, discourse in which probable arguments are adduced
2) in a bad sense, persuasiveness of speech, specious discourse leading others into error

πιθανολογία pithanologia pith-an-ol-og-ee'-ah From a compound of a derivative of G3982 and G3056; persuasive language KJV Usage: enticing words.

3982 πείθω peithō pi'-tho A primary verb; to convince (by argument, true or false); by analogy to pacify or conciliate (by other fair means); reflexively or passively to assent (to evidence or authority), to rely (by inward certainty)KJV Usage: agree, assure, believe, have confidence, be (wax) content, make friend, obey, persuade, trust, yield.

3056 λόγος logos log'-os From G3004; something said (including the thought); by implication a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension a computation; specifically (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (that is, Christ) KJV Usage: account, cause, communication, X concerning, doctrine, fame, X have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say (-ing), shew, X speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.

Paul warns not to let others deceive us with convincing or pacifying words, logos. Accusatory statements of character, such as bigot, or intolerant, or racist, can be pacifying words because no matter what the individual being accused may say, it can be intentionally misconstrued and intentionally shouted down. If the accuser has a set of opinions, the accused will never be allowed to differ, otherwise the name calling begins. He goes on. 

Col 2:6-9 As you have therefore received Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him. 7 Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men's ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah). 9 For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature]. AMP

Paul says make sure no one makes you captive by false philosophy. The word philosophia, technically translated friendly wisdom, has a negative connotation here. It is the only place this word is used.

Col 2:8G991Take heed G3361lest G5100[²anyone G1473⁴you G1510.8.3¹there shall be G3588 G4812³robbing] G1223through G3588the G5385fondness of intellectual pursuits G2532and G2756empty G539deception, G2596according to G3588the G3862tradition G3588 G444of men, G2596according to G3588the G4747elements G3588of the G2889world, G2532and G3756not G2596according to G5547Christ!

4812 LSJ Gloss: συλαγωγέω to carry off as booty, lead captive

Dodson: συλαγωγέω I plunder I plunder, lead captive; met: I make victim by fraud.

συλαγωγέω sulagōgeō soo-lag-ogue-eh'-o From the base of G4813 and (the reduplicated form of) G71; to lead away as booty, that is, (figuratively) seduce KJV Usage: spoil.

5385 LSJ Gloss: φιλοσοφία love of knowledge and wisdom, pursuit thereof, speculation, study

Dodson: φιλοσοφία love of wisdom, philosophy love of wisdom, philosophy, in the NT of traditional Jewish theology.

Thayer:

1) love of wisdom
1a) used either of zeal for or skill in any art or science, any branch of knowledge. Used once in the NT of the theology, or rather theosophy, of certain Jewish Christian ascetics, which busied itself with refined and speculative enquiries into the nature and classes of angels, into the ritual of the Mosaic law and the regulations of Jewish tradition respecting practical life

φιλοσοφία philosophia fil-os-of-ee'-ah From G5386; “philosophy” , that is, (specifically) Jewish sophistry KJV Usage: philosophy.

2756 LSJ Gloss: κενός empty

Dodson: κενός empty, vain, hollow (a) empty, (b) met: empty (in moral content), vain, ineffective, foolish, worthless, (c) false, unreal, pretentious, hollow.

κενός  kenos ken-os'  Apparently a primary word; empty (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: empty, (in) vain.

539 LSJ Gloss: ἀπάτη a trick, fraud, deceit

Dodson: ἀπάτη deceit, deception deceit, deception, deceitfulness, delusion.

ἀπάτη apatē ap-at'-ay  From G538; delusion KJV Usage: deceit (-ful, -fulness), deceivableness (-ving).

3862 LSJ Gloss: παράδοσις a handing down, transmission

Dodson: παράδοσις an instruction, tradition.

παράδοσις paradosis par-ad'-os-is From G3860; transmission, that is, (concretely) a precept; specifically the Jewish traditionary law KJV Usage: ordinance, tradition.

In this context we have the idea of Sophistry. Reasoning, discussions, and arguments can be good ways of communicating important ideas as long as the underlying intent is honest and upright. If however one party intends to persuade others for evil or dishonest gain, then all the discussion in the world will not make those ideas right. Imagine someone lecturing others on the virtue of women’s rights in abortion. The virtue of women’s rights could encompass equal pay or equal promotions in business, but attempting to combine a woman’s rights where it infringes on another human being is not a virtuous argument, it is a distorted argument. This would be Sophistry.

Sophistry: the use of reasoning or arguments that sound correct but are actually false 1: a reason or argument that sounds correct but is actually false. Noun, plural Sophistries. 1:a subtle, tricky, superficially plausible, but generally fallacious method of reasoning.  2:a false argument; sophism.

Sophism is a style of teaching using philosophy and rhetoric. Greeks used this method of teaching virtue to young men in the art of government and politics. Sophists came under suspicion because they charged money, similar to private schooling, to those who could afford it. The idea of charging for wisdom led many to believe their teachings were deceptive. Eventually this paid education really did become a tool to groom future politicians who would steer the population with persuasive public speaking. Sophists in Athens argued their points in the ekklesia, assembly, made up of free persons in a democratic governing process. In a democracy, the mob rules so to speak, so the better speakers could persuade the population with their arguments. Citizens were expected to participate in the ekklesia and their attendance was monitored. Paul ran into this on Mars Hill. Just prior to Paul’s dissertation he went into the synagogue and into the markets to preach Jesus. As the people heard him they became angry as to what he said. But Paul was pulling a publicity stunt.  

Acts 17:16-32 Now while Paul was awaiting them at Athens, his spirit was grieved and roused to anger as he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned and argued in the synagogue with the Jews and those who worshiped there, and in the marketplace [where assemblies are held] day after day with any who chanced to be there. 18 And some also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him and began to engage in discussion. And some said, What is this babbler with his scrap-heap learning trying to say? Others said, He seems to be an announcer of foreign deities — because he preached Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took hold of him and brought him to the Areopagus [Mars Hill meeting place], saying, May we know what this novel (unheard of and unprecedented) teaching is which you are openly declaring? 20 For you set forth some startling things, foreign and strange to our ears; we wish to know therefore just what these things mean —  21 For the Athenians, all of them, and the foreign residents and visitors among them spent all their leisure time in nothing except telling or hearing something newer than the last —  22 So Paul, standing in the center of the Areopagus [Mars Hill meeting place], said: Men of Athens, I perceive in every way [on every hand and with every turn I make] that you are most religious or very reverent to demons. 23 For as I passed along and carefully observed your objects of worship, I came also upon an altar with this inscription, To the unknown god. Now what you are already worshiping as unknown, this I set forth to you. 24 The God Who produced and formed the world and all things in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in handmade shrines. 25 Neither is He served by human hands, as though He lacked anything, for it is He Himself Who gives life and breath and all things to all [people]. [Isa 42:5.] 26 And He made from one [common origin, one source, one blood] all nations of men to settle on the face of the earth, having definitely determined [their] allotted periods of time and the fixed boundaries of their habitation (their settlements, lands, and abodes), 27 So that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after Him and find Him, although He is not far from each one of us. 28 For in Him we live and move and have our being; as even some of your [own] poets have said, For we are also His offspring. 29 Since then we are God's offspring, we ought not to suppose that Deity (the Godhead) is like gold or silver or stone, [of the nature of] a representation by human art and imagination, or anything constructed or invented. 30 Such [former] ages of ignorance God, it is true, ignored and allowed to pass unnoticed; but now He charges all people everywhere to repent (to change their minds for the better and heartily to amend their ways, with abhorrence of their past sins), 31 Because He has fixed a day when He will judge the world righteously (justly) by a Man Whom He has destined and appointed for that task, and He has made this credible and given conviction and assurance and evidence to everyone by raising Him from the dead. [Ps 9:8; 96:13; 98:9.] 32 Now when they had heard [that there had been] a resurrection from the dead, some scoffed; but others said, We will hear you again about this matter. AMP

They took Paul to Mars Hill to argue his philosophy. Paul used Greek words eloquently as we see from his writings. Certainly Paul knew the procedure was to persuade the assembly on Mars Hill, but by starting in the synagogue and in the markets he drew a bigger crowd because everybody had been talking about him. It was a publicity stunt. Paul caused a stir intentionally so that many people would come to hear him on Mars Hill. He didn’t desire to make a speech for a few heady Athenian officials, he wanted everyone to be there. Paul didn’t want just the Jews from the synagogue to hear him on Mars Hill, he wanted the Athenians to learn about Yahweh. He cleverly called the one statue of the unknown god the Creator of all.

Acts 17:18G5100And some G1161 G3588of the G*Epicureans G2532and G3588 G*Stoics, G5386philosophers, G4820engaged with G1473him. G2532AndG5100some G3004said, G5100What G302ever G2309does [³want G3588 G4691²seed picker G3778¹this] G3004to say? G3588And some said, G1161 G3581[⁴of strange G1140⁵demons G1380¹He seems G2604³an announcer G1510.1²to be]; G3754because G3588 G*[²of Jesus G2532³and G3588⁴the G386⁵resurrectionG1473⁶to them G2097¹he announced good news]

5386 LSJ Gloss: φιλόσοφος a lover of wisdom

Dodson: φιλόσοφοςna philosopher.

Thayer:

1) a philosopher, one given to the pursuit of wisdom or learning
2) in a narrower sense, one who investigates and discusses the cause of things and the highest good

φιλόσοφος philosophos fil-os'-of-os From G5384 and G4680; fond of wise things, that is, a “philosopher” KJV Usage: philosopher.

4691 LSJ Gloss: σπερμολόγος picking up seeds

Dodson: σπερμολόγος a babbler a babbler, gossiper, one who picks up seeds and trifles as does a bird.

Thayer:

1) picking up seed
1a) of birds, esp. of the crow or daw that picks up grain in fields
2) metaph.
2a) lounging about the market place and picking up a substance by whatever may chance to fall from the loads of merchandise
2b) hence, beggarly, abject, vile, (a parasite)
2c) getting a living by flattery and bufferoonery
2d) an empty talker, babbler

σπερμολόγος spermologos sper-mol-og'-os From G4690 and G3004; a seed picker (as the crow), that is, (figuratively) a sponger, loafer(specifically a gossip or trifler in talk)KJV Usage: babbler.

The slang term seed picker, as we can see, is derogatory in nature, meaning Paul was a “buffoon or a lazy gossip”. They didn’t like his style of speaking in the markets, but when he got to Mars Hill he preached God the Creator who will judge, and they all decided they would allow him to speak again. They only heard Paul once, he didn’t get to repeat himself over and over on Mars Hill. He didn’t get to record commercials and television appearances, and produce fear based advertisements with regards to burning in hell, but he did a lot of talking in the market. He subverted their system so that they could hear him. Paul’s publicity stunt in the markets and synagogue forced discussion of his philosophy. The people became intrigued by what he was saying. They were heady and learned people and enjoyed learning new things, but Paul’s appearance was not like that of a classic Greek Philosopher, he looked more like a homeless person, eating the scraps in the fields. Back to Colossians.

Col 2:16 Therefore let no one sit in judgment on you in matters of food and drink, or with regard to a feast day or a New Moon or a Sabbath. 17 Such [things] are only the shadow of things that are to come, and they have only a symbolic value. But the reality (the substance, the solid fact of what is foreshadowed, the body of it) belongs to Christ.

Notice that here Paul confronts the traditions of food and drink on feast days and New Moon celebrations or Sabbath days. The Jews and non-Jews alike were not forced to adhere to the Mosaic Laws, and Paul, who spent many years un-learning and re-learning after his blinding visit from Jesus on the road to Damascus, understood that symbolic traditions are not the substance of one’s heart toward Christ. Today we have so many voices claiming we should eat this diet or that meal plan, or take this pill or don’t take any pills, or eat clean, or organic, or don’t eat sugar or fried foods. At some point one can become anxious over all of it. There are campaigns for all kinds of health related ideas, including pharmaceutical commercials for many different drugs, and all the negative aspects of those drugs. Do not let anyone sit in judgment over you on these matters. One eating plan or medication plan is not right for everyone, we are all different with different needs. Paul goes on.    

Col 2:18 Let no one defraud you by acting as an umpire and declaring you unworthy and disqualifying you for the prize, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions [he claims] he has seen, vainly puffed up by his sensuous notions and inflated by his unspiritual thoughts and fleshly conceit,

Col 2:18G3367[²no one G1473⁴you G2603¹Let ³deprive] of due reward, G2309wanting G1722by G5012deprivation G2532and G2356following a religion G3588 G32of angels, G3739[²things which G3361³he has not G3708⁴seen G1687¹entering into], G1500vainly G5448being inflated G5259by G3588the G3563mind G3588 G4561of his flesh,G1473

Notice again that Paul is warning us to guard our mind from coercions and brainwashing towards fleshy religious rituals, so that we do not lose our rewards. Remember the people who repeatedly claim to know some type of “special secret knowledge” of God’s punishment on America. Oy Vey. Well, these are fleshy philosophies vainly inflated by the mind of the flesh. People have gotten so wrapped up in fear of the end of the world, or the tribulation, or God punishing people, that they don’t even realize how erroneous their knowledge base truly is. They spent so much time speculating “the end” they forgot to read the Bible which tells them everything they need to know. This war on knowledge is evident within the Body of Christ. Everyone wants the short version, the cliff notes; but the Holy Spirit does not take people on the expressway to knowledge, he takes us on the long winding road, over hills and through valleys. We learn better that way. Paul gives us a clue to avoiding false philosophies and intentional deceptions through useless arguments. 

Col 3:1-2 IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [Ps 110:1.] 2 And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. AMP

You set your own mind on what is above. This means we must actively think, actively consider, and actively focus on Christ. First and foremost Christ is the head we look to in all philosophies as well as fruitless religious rituals and laws that hold no power. We have to stop being superstitious and ritualistic. If we tap our heads and spin around five times we are not invoking a special pat on the head from God any more than if we eat a certain way or keep a certain feast. We are plagued with superstitious thinking because we have replaced true knowledge of God with mental games such as not stepping on cracks in the sidewalk. You will not be cursed if you walk under a ladder, nor will you be cursed if you sleep through the New Moon or the declaration of the New Year. If our impression of our Heavenly Father, the Creator, is that small, we have a knowledge problem. Unintelligence is no excuse for us, especially if we attempt to use friendly wisdom, philosophy, to persuade others into our distorted belief systems. 

In our history there are many people who have attempted to hide knowledge. The Jews, the Masorete’s, have attempted to hide Jesus. Their rabbi’s over the course of one thousand years altered the Old Covenant over and over again. Even to the end that the Masorete’s changed the calendar years, shorting 240 years from the actual years so that Jesus would not be the Messiah. This has caused secular historians to discredit the Old Covenant as inaccurate. Really we could say that the devil has no hands but our hands on this earth, and people do things such as this to further their own cause. Likewise Jesus has no hands on this earth but our hands, and the Body of Christ can be the unspoiled light in this world. We are the un-brainwashed individuals who know our Savior Lives, and the enemy is busy attempting to convince humans otherwise with mind numbing arguments and false philosophies. People become so disoriented, they start to live for the god of this world, a spiritual Stockholm syndrome. But in the end days, the knowledge will increase.

Daniel 12: 4 And thou, Daniel, close the words, and seal the book to the time of the end; until many are taught, and knowledge is increased.

Daniel 12:4G2532And G1473you G*Daniel G1719.2obstruct G3588the G3056words, G2532and G4972set a seal upon G3588the G975scroll G2193until G2540the time G4930of completion! G2193untilG1321[²should be taught G4183¹many], G2532andG4129[³be multiplied G3588¹the G1108²knowledge]

4930 συντέλεια sunteleia soon-tel'-i-ah From G4931; entire completion, that is, consummation (of a dispensation) KJV Usage: end.

1108 γνῶσις gnōsis gno'-sis From G1097; knowing (the act), that is, (by implication) knowledge KJV Usage: knowledge, science.

The words of the living and active logos (3056) were to be sealed until the consummation of the dispensation, until many should be taught and the knowledge be multiplied. The more that the knowledge of the Living God is multiplied, the more the anti-knowledge or sophism is increased. Sophism becomes louder and louder in order to brainwash humans against the knowledge of Yahweh, repeating over and over and over the same old lies. Coercive arguments, and multiple publicity stunts keep flooding over the earth, but that means that the true knowledge of the Creator is multiplying too. It is not enough to abuse people when the knowledge of Yahweh as savior enters our hearts. We can withstand the shouting, the bullying, the brainwashing, and the heady arguments, and declare that the war on knowledge is over for us. We can bind the strong man.  

Matt 12:28-29 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you [before you expected it]. 29 Or how can a person go into a strong man's house and carry off his goods (the entire equipment of his house) without first binding the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. AMP

Matt 12:29G2228Or G4459how G1410is anyone able G5100 G1525to enter G1519into G3588the G3614house G3588 G2478of a strong man G2532and G3588 G4632[²his equipment G1473 G1283¹plunder], G1437if G3361not G4412first G1210he ties up G3588the G2478strong man? G2532And G5119then G3588 G3614[²his house G1473 G1283¹he shall plunder]?

4632 σκεῦος skeuos skyoo'-os Of uncertain affinity; a vessel, implement, equipment or apparatus (literally or figuratively [specifically a wife as contributing to the usefulness of the husband]) KJV Usage: goods, sail, stuff, vessel.

1283 LSJ Gloss: διαρπάζω to tear in pieces

Dodson: διαρπάζω I plunder, rob thoroughly.

διαρπάζω diarpazō dee-ar-pad'-zo From G1223 and G726; to seize asunder, that is, plunder KJV Usage: spoil.

1223 διά dia dee-ah' A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal or occasional). In composition it retains the same general import KJV Usage: after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) . . . fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through (-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general import.

726 ἁρπάζω harpazō har-pad'-zo From a derivative of G138; to seize (in various applications) KJV Usage: catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).

1210 LSJ Gloss:δέω to bind, tie, fetter to lack, miss, stand in need of

Dodson: δέω I bind I bind, tie, fasten; I impel, compel; I declare to be prohibited and unlawful.

Thayer:

1) to bind tie, fasten
1a) to bind, fasten with chains, to throw into chains
1b) metaph.
1b1) Satan is said to bind a woman bent together by means of a demon, as his messenger, taking possession of the woman and preventing her from standing upright
1b2) to bind, put under obligation, of the law, duty etc.
1b2a) to be bound to one, a wife, a husband
1b3) to forbid, prohibit, declare to be illicit

δέω deō deh'-o A primary verb; to bind (in various applications, literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: bind, be in bonds, knit, tie, wind. See also G1163, G1189.

2478 LSJ Gloss: ἰσχυρός strong, mighty

Dodson: ἰσχυρός strong, mighty, powerful strong (originally and generally of physical strength); mighty, powerful, vehement, sure.

Thayer:

1) strong, mighty
1a) of living beings
1a1) strong either in body or in mind
1a2) of one who has strength of soul to sustain the attacks of Satan, strong and therefore exhibiting many excellences
1b) on inanimate things
1b1) strong, violent, forcibly uttered, firm, sure

ἰσχυρός ischuros is-khoo-ros' From G2479; forcible (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: boisterous, mighty (-ier), powerful, strong (-er, man), valiant.

The reason we use our words in declaration by inspiration of the Holy Spirit (remember rhema, logos, laleo, grapho) is to bind the strong man. This is not asking in prayer, this is being the hammer. We cannot enter the abode of a strong man and rob him if he is inside walking around. We have to tie him up and throw him in a closet, then we can plunder, seize by force, his vessels. The key to this understanding is in casting out demons by the Spirit of God. Our words bring the kingdom of God here on earth. We are simply announcing, brainwashing, binding the demons, or the strong man. Our speech can render the evil spirits useless; then we can plunder and seize by force those that he has held captive. This is the anti-type of the way evil influences humans; we, the speakers of the Holy Spirit, are using virtue and righteous philosophies, friendly wisdom, to bring the Spirit of the Living God to a lost and dying world. Publicity stunts work here, just like with Paul. Instead of making a grand speech to all our friends and families, we take one at a time and share something or minister to them. When our actions cause a stir, we keep going until we get to a family get-together and make a bold declaration. We do not have to beat, abuse, or drug people into getting to know the savior of the world, those are the devil’s tactics. We do not have to weave and twist clever arguments, the Holy Spirit will work through us.

Likewise we cannot allow the noisy bloviated screeching of the enemy to repeatedly wear us out. The enemy’s intolerance of the children of light is personal because we rejected the devil. We rejected demons and their gifts, and money, and the devil’s promises of what we could gain on the earth, for Jesus, the one who laid his life down for us. We rejected the ungodly, unrighteous, behaviors of the world, so this is personal to the devil and his demons. The devil is a bigot. He is vehemently intolerant of anyone who does not believe and follow him. If we know his tactics, if we understand his tricks, if we can tune out his annoying ranting, we can use our words, speaking by the Spirit (rhema, logos, laleo, grapho), to deprogram those who are living with a spiritual Stockholm syndrome, and are used by the devil at his will. Many people in the world live numb, like zombies, wandering about and agreeing with the devil by their behaviors and actions. We, however, although born into this world, have been deprogrammed from the beliefs and religious rituals of the world. By our simple stance for Jesus, the ranting bigots spouting hatred and evil become obvious to the saved, and hopefully to the unsaved as well.