To some, Paul's purpose for the Colossian letter was to confront the false teachers and refute the heresy. They see it as a diabolical plan to undermine the church starting with Gnosticism combined with Judaism. Paul lists a number of faults as though they are FAQs but there is no systematic description of the doctrinal errors. Paul seems to answer problems the church had which had been brought up by Epaphras, but their cause is not clear and an explanation must come from clues in the statements Paul made. This must come from studying the content and context of verses 2:8-3:4. Most religions attempt to address the heavenly or eternal. But they can't prove what their senses can't detect so they implement "the elementary principles of the world" (Col 2:8,20) in their schemes. However, Paul is saying the Colossian heretics are shortsighted in their approach by ignoring that it is "according to Christ" (:8). We have "died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world" (:20). If the heresies were circulating in the church they were either ignorant of the church's teaching, or didn't understand it, or felt they would supplement the basics by their own self-effort. Man has a propensity to do things his own way. But "when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death" (Jas 1:15). Zechariah prophesied, "'Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts'" (Zec 4:6).
Paul cites the pride, earthiness, and ineffectiveness of this asceticism. What value is "self-abasement and severe treatment of the body" (Col 2:23) or to "submit yourself to decrees, such as, 'Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!'" (:20-21). These have their roots in Jewish legalism. Paul warns "let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement" (:18). Were Judaizers active in the church? Paul advised "let on one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival" (:16). Jewish society developed their own traditions by interpreting the Old Testament in a certain way which let to an attitude of separatism and intellectual exclusiveness being "inflated without cause: (:18). However, Paul stated "there is no distinction between Greek and Jew . . . but Christ is all, and in all" (3:11) and "the substance belongs to Christ" (2:17). We "have died to the basic principles of the world" (:20) and are to "fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal 6:2), practice the law of love (Jas 2:8), and follow "the law of liberty" (:12). Anything less would be just "the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion" (:23).