# See that "Make sure that" # captures you Paul speaks of the way a person can believe false teachings as if someone had physically caught and held that person by force. # philosophy religious doctrines and beliefs that are not from God's word but are based on man's thoughts about God and life # empty deceit Paul speaks of false ideas that produce nothing as though they are containers with nothing in them. # the tradition of men ... the elemental spirits of the world The "tradition of men" may refer to Jewish traditions, while "the elemental spirits of the world" refers to pagan (Gentile) belief systems. Both of these are worthless. # the elemental spirits of the world Possible meanings are 1) spiritual powers that some people thought control what happens on earth, or 2) the laws or moral principles of the world.