Dictionaries :: Elements

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Elements:

In its primary sense, as denoting the first principles or constituents of things, it is used in 2Pe 3:10: "The elements shall be dissolved." In a secondary sense it denotes the first principles of any art or science. In this sense it is used in Gal 4:3, 9; Col 2:8, 20, where the expressions, "elements of the world," "week and beggarly elements," denote that state of religious knowledge existing among the Jews before the coming of Christ, the rudiments of religious teaching. They are "of the world," because they are made up of types which appeal to the senses. They are "weak," because insufficient; and "beggarly," or "poor," because they are dry and barren, not being accompanied by an outpouring of spiritual gifts and graces, as the gospel is.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

Elements:

used in the plural, primarily signifies any first things from which others in a series, or a composite whole, take their rise; the word denotes "an element, first principle" (from stoichos, "a row, rank, series;" cp. the verb stoicheo, "to walk or march in rank;" see WALK); it was used of the letters of the alphabet, as elements of speech. In the NT it is used of

(a) the substance of the material world, 2Pe 3:10, 12;

(b) the delusive speculations of gentile cults and of Jewish theories, treated as elementary principles, "the rudiments of the world," Col 2:8, spoken of as "philosophy and vain deceit;" these were presented as superior to faith in Christ; at Colosse the worship of angels, mentioned in Col 2:18, is explicable by the supposition, held by both Jews and Gentiles in that district, that the constellations were either themselves animated heavenly beings, or were governed by them;

(c) the rudimentary principles of religion, Jewish or Gentile, also described as "the rudiments of the world," Col 2:20, and as "weak and beggarly rudiments," Gal 4:3, 9, RV, constituting a yoke of bondage;

(d) the "elementary" principles (the A.B.C.) of the OT, as a revelation from God, Hbr 5:12, RV, "rudiments," lit., "the rudiments of the beginning of the oracles of God," such as are taught to spiritual babes.
See PRINCIPLES, RUDIMENTS.