Bible Dictionaries
Elements, Elemental Spirits
Holman Bible Dictionary
(Greek stoicheia ) The basic idea of stoichei is a member in a series. At Hebrews 5:12 the term means basic or fundamental principles of Christian belief. The meaning of the term in other New Testament contexts is disputed. In the Pauline uses ( Galatians 4:3 ,Galatians 4:3,4:9; Colossians 2:8 ,Colossians 2:8,2:20 ) English translations are divided between rudiments, that is, basic principles, (KJV, NAS, NIV) and elementary spirits (NRSV, REB, TEV). At 2Peter 3:10,2 Peter 3:12 most English translation render stoicheia as elements, that is, component parts. TEV takes the term with the preceding phrase, thus rendering it heavenly bodies.
Copyright Statement
These dictionary topics are from the Holman Bible Dictionary, published by Broadman & Holman, 1991. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Broadman & Holman.
Bibliography Information
Butler, Trent C. Editor. Entry for 'Elements, Elemental Spirits'. Holman Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hbd/e/elements-elemental-spirits.html. 1991.