The term stoicheion (Strong’s G4747) is a layered one and is thus variously employed. It refers to “any first thing, from which the others belonging to some series or composite whole take their rise, an element, first principal…elements, rudiments, primary and fundamental principles of any art, science, or discipline.” As such it is used on an element of spoken speech (not writing), elements as in that of which the universe consists, etc.
Hebrew 5:12 uses the term in terms of literal first principles, “when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles [stoicheion] of the oracles of God.”
2 Peter 3:10, 12 use it in the material elements manner, “the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements [stoicheion] shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up…the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements [stoicheion] shall melt with fervent heat?”
Other usages employ the term as indicative of that which we would term premises.
Galatians 4:3, 9 “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements [stoicheion] of the world…how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements [stoicheion], whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?”
Colossians 2:8, 20 “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments [stoicheion] of the world, and not after Christ…Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments [stoicheion] of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A plea: I have to pay for server usage and have made all content on this website free and always will. I support my family on one income and do research, writing, videos, etc. as a hobby. If you can even spare $1.00 as a donation, please do so: it may not seem like much but if each person reading this would do so, even every now and then, it would add up and really, really help. Here is my donate/paypal page.
Due to robo-spaming, I had to close the comment sections. However, you can comment on my Facebook page and/or on my Google+ page. You can also use the “Share / Save” button below this post.