from ἐν and a presumed derivative of the base of βάσις; equivalent to ἐμβαίνω; to intrude on (figuratively):--intrude into.
Transliteration:embateúō
Pronunciation:em-bat-yoo'-o
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb ἐμβατεύω (G1687), transliterated as *embateúō*, is derived from the preposition ἐν (in, into) and a presumed derivative of the noun βάσις (G939), meaning "a stepping" or "a foot." Literally, it signifies "to step into" or "to go into." Its base definition indicates an equivalence to ἐμβαίνω (G1684), which also means "to step into" or "to embark." However, in its figurative New Testament usage, ἐμβατεύω acquires a distinct nuance of unwarranted or presumptuous entry, implying "to intrude into," "to meddle with," or "to enter upon (a right or possession) without authorization." This carries a negative connotation, suggesting an illegitimate or arrogant penetration into matters beyond one's proper sphere or knowledge.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
ἐμβατεύω (G1687) is a *hapax legomenon* in the New Testament, appearing only once in [[Colossians 2:18]]. The verse reads: "Let no one defraud you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and the worship of angels, *intruding into* things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind."
In this critical passage, the Apostle Paul is warning the Colossian believers against a dangerous syncretistic philosophy that threatened to undermine the sufficiency of Christ. This philosophy combined elements of Jewish legalism (asceticism, dietary laws), angel worship, and Gnostic-like claims of special, esoteric knowledge or visions. The phrase "intruding into things which he has not seen" (ἃ ἑώρακεν ἐμβατεύων) points directly to the speculative and presumptuous nature of these false teachers' claims. They asserted a privileged access to unseen spiritual realities, possibly through visions or mystical experiences, which they then used to establish their authority and impose their teachings.
The use of ἐμβατεύω here powerfully conveys the idea of an unauthorized, arrogant, and ultimately futile attempt to penetrate divine mysteries or spiritual realms that are not genuinely revealed. It is not a legitimate "entering in" to truth, but rather an "unwarranted stepping into" a domain where human speculation is both out of place and dangerous. Paul condemns this as a product of a "fleshly mind" (νοὸς τῆς σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ), contrasting it sharply with true spiritual understanding and humility grounded in Christ.
### Related Words & Concepts
The immediate conceptual parallel for ἐμβατεύω (G1687) is its literal equivalent, ἐμβαίνω (G1684), though the latter lacks the negative connotation inherent in Paul's usage of *embateúō*. The core idea of "stepping" or "entering" (βαίνω, βάσις) is fundamental.
The context of [[Colossians 2:18]] brings ἐμβατεύω into relation with several key theological concepts:
* **False Knowledge/Gnosis:** The "things which he has not seen" contrast with genuine divine revelation (ἀποκάλυψις `{{G602}}`) and true knowledge (γνῶσις `{{G1108}}`, ἐπίγνωσις `{{G1922}}`) which comes through Christ. The false teachers claimed a superior γνῶσις that was, in reality, mere speculation.
* **Deception and Error:** The act of "intruding" is linked to "defrauding" (καταβραβεύω `{{G2603}}`) the believers of their reward, indicating that this spiritual intrusion leads to spiritual harm and deviation from truth.
* **Humility vs. Arrogance:** The "false humility" (ταπεινοφροσύνη `{{G5012}}`) mentioned alongside the intrusion highlights the deceptive nature of those who outwardly appear humble but inwardly are "vainly puffed up" (φυσιοῦμαι `{{G5448}}`) by their fleshly minds. True humility acknowledges the limits of human understanding and relies on God's revelation.
* **Spiritual Authority:** The passage implicitly contrasts human-derived, speculative authority with the supreme authority and headship of Christ (κεφαλή `{{G2776}}`).
### Theological Significance
The singular occurrence of ἐμβατεύω (G1687) in [[Colossians 2:18]] carries profound theological weight, serving as a potent warning against spiritual presumption and speculative theology. Its theological significance can be understood in several dimensions:
1. **The Limits of Human Knowledge and Revelation:** ἐμβατεύω underscores that there are divine mysteries and spiritual realities that are not accessible to human speculation or unauthorized "seeing." True spiritual knowledge comes through God's gracious revelation in Christ, not through human mystical experiences or philosophical intrusion. Attempts to "intrude" beyond what God has revealed are dangerous, leading to error and spiritual emptiness.
2. **The Sufficiency and Centrality of Christ:** The warning against *embateúō* reinforces the absolute sufficiency of Christ as the sole mediator of all spiritual truth and access to God. The false teachers bypassed Christ, seeking knowledge through angels or self-devised spiritual exercises. Paul's use of ἐμβατεύω champions Christ as the complete revelation of God, in whom "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden" ([[Colossians 2:3]]).
3. **Authentic Humility vs. Spiritual Arrogance:** The act of "intruding" is presented as a manifestation of a "fleshly mind" that is "vainly puffed up." This exposes the spiritual arrogance behind claims of special, unrevealed insights. Genuine humility, in contrast, acknowledges human limitations and reverently accepts God's revealed truth, rather than seeking to penetrate unseen realms through self-exaltation.
4. **Protection Against False Doctrine:** ἐμβατεύω serves as a theological safeguard against syncretism, Gnosticism, and any form of spirituality that elevates human experience or speculation above divine revelation. It calls believers to discernment, urging them to cling to the head, Christ, from whom the entire body derives nourishment and growth ([[Colossians 2:19]]).
### Summary
ἐμβατεύω (G1687) is a unique and powerful Greek verb, meaning "to intrude into" or "to step into unwarrantedly." Its sole New Testament occurrence in [[Colossians 2:18]] is a critical warning against the dangers of speculative mysticism and false claims of spiritual knowledge. Paul uses it to condemn those who presumptuously assert access to unseen spiritual realities, thereby undermining the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ. The term highlights the spiritual arrogance inherent in such claims, contrasting it with the humility required to receive truth through divine revelation. The theological significance of ἐμβατεύω lies in its emphatic call for believers to ground their faith firmly in Christ and the revealed Word, guarding against any spiritual path that seeks to "intrude" beyond God's gracious and complete self-disclosure.
TRV