στοιχεῖον, 'rudiments, first steps.'
1. Applied to children at the 'commencement' of their training; and to the law as the 'early' way of God's dealing with Israel; but now called 'beggarly' because it has lost its glory through the failure of man, and the introduction of Christ Himself. Galatians 4:3,9 . The word, with a similar meaning, is translated 'rudiments' in Colossians 2:8,20 , and 'principles' in Hebrews 5:12 .
2. The material elements of the universe, which will be melted with great heat in the day of the Lord. 2 Peter 3:10,12 .